ROOT-SPECIFIC EXPRESSION OF A ZEA-MAYS GENE ENCODING A NOVEL GLYCINE-RICH PROTEIN, ZMGRP3

The isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone from Zea mays codin g for a novel glycine-rich protein (GRP) is described. The correspondi ng 1.4 kb mRNA accumulates exclusively in roots (primary, lateral semi nal and crown roots) of young maize seedlings, following developmental ly specific patterns. In agreement with previously described GRPs from other plant species the derived protein sequence exhibits a hydrophob ic domain at the N-terminal region followed by repeated glycine-rich m otifs. Genomic Southern analysis indicates that the zmGRP3 gene is pre sent in the maize genome as one or two copies or at a low copy number.