HMG-COA REDUCTASE GENE FAMILIES THAT DIFFERENTIALLY ACCUMULATE TRANSCRIPTS IN POTATO-TUBERS ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY EXPRESSED IN FLORAL TISSUES

We isolated two full-length cDNA clones encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglu taryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) from potato (Solanum tuberosum) L. t ubers. The crones, designated hmg2.2 and hmg3.3, are members of previo usly described gene subfamilies. In addition to being induced by arach idonic acid in tubers, hmg2.2 transcript accumulates developmentally i n young flowers, and in mature sepals and ovaries, whereas transcript for hmg3.3 accumulates in mature petals and anthers. Our data suggest that members of specific HMGR-encoding gene subfamilies might be invol ved in both defense responses and flower development. Accumulation of different HMGR transcripts could provide some control of isoprenoid bi osynthesis by producing isoforms specific for classes of end-products produced in particular tissues.