CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CDNA CLONES ENCODING PHENYLALANINE AMMNONIA-LYASE IN BARLEY

Five cDNA clones encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase from a barley ro ot cDNA library were isolated. Southern analysis of barley genomic DNA also revealed at least five different pal genes in barley genome. Thr ee nearly full-length cDNA clones (hpal2, hpal3, and hpal7) were furth er characterized and found to be highly similar to wheat and rice PAL sequences. The amount of pal transcripts was highest in the roots and lowest in the leaves. Transcript levels of pal were rapidly and strong ly, but transiently, increased after treatment with mercuric chloride, whereas the expression was later after fungal inoculation. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Ireland Ltd.