STRUCTURE OF THE RICE GLUTAREDOXIN (THIOLTRANSFERASE) GENE

We have isolated the gene encoding a glutaredoxin in rice (Oryza saliv a L.) and determined the nucleotide (nt) sequence of about a 4.2 kb lo ng. The cloned gene (gRASC8) was found to contain four exons interrupt ed by three introns. The first exon begins the ATG translation start c odon and the four exons code for a protein composed of 112 amino acids . The tetrapeptide -Cys-Pro-Phe-Cys- [-Cys-Pro-Phe(Tyr)-Cys-] which co nstitutes an active site of Escherichia coli and mammalian glutaredoxi ns, was conserved. The nt sequence contained consensus TATA and CAAT b oxes, and two polyadenylation signals. Southern blot analysis of rice genomic DNA suggests that there are two copies of the glutaredoxin gen es in rice.