Formate dehydrogenase gene of Arabidopsis thaliana is induced by formaldehyde and not by formic acid

Variability of expression of formate dehydrogenase (FDH) caused by uptake o f C-1 compounds was examined by using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant . Effects of uptake of several C-1 compounds were evaluated by Northern blo t analysis using cDNA of A. thaliana FDH prepared by cloning on the basis o f known sequence. As a result, expression of the FDH gene in A. thaliana wa s not intensely influenced by formic acid, an inherent substrate for FDH, b ut strongly induced by its reduced form, formaldehyde.