A NEW ARABIDOPSIS NUCLEIC-ACID BINDING-PROTEIN GENE IS HIGHLY EXPRESSED IN DIVIDING CELLS DURING DEVELOPMENT

An Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA encoding a new RNA-binding protein (RBP37 ) was cloned from a silique cDNA library. The predicted amino acid seq uence corresponds to a REP containing two RNA recognition motifs (RRM) and a basic domain. An affinity for nucleic acids was confirmed in bi nding assays using in vitro synthesised AtRBP37 protein. in situ hybri disation experiments on sections of flowers and siliques showed expres sion only in growing organs: gynoecium, petals, filaments and during e arly-embryogenesis expression is located in the embryo proper and the suspensor up to late heart stage. Expression is not detected in the em bryo during maturation. This results suggests an expression pattern co rrelated with dividing cells.