Expression of a gibberellin 2-oxidase gene around the shoot apex is related to phase transition in rice

A major catabolic pathway for gibberellin (GA) is initiated by 2 beta -hydr oxylation, a reaction catalyzed lay GA 2-oxidase. We have isolated and char acterized a cDNA, designated Oryza sativa GA 2-oxidase 1 (OsCA2ox1) from ri ce (Oryza sativa L. cv Nippoonbare) that encodes a GA 2-oxidase. The encode d protein, produced by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, convert ed GA(1), GA(4), GA(9), GA(20), and GA(44) to the corresponding 2 beta -hyd roxylated products GA(8), GA(34), GA(51), GA(29), and GA(98), respectively. Ectopic expression of the OsGA2ox1 cDNA in transgenic rice inhibited stem elongation and the development of reproductive organs. These transgenic pla nts were deficient in. endogenous CA,. These results indicate that OsGA2ox1 encodes a GA 2-oxidase, which is functional not only in vitro hut also in vivo. OsGA2ox1 was expressed in shoot apex and roots but not in leaves and stems. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that OsGA2ox1 mRNA was local ized in a rings at the basal region of leaf primordia and young leaves. Thi s ring-shaped expression around the shoot apex was drastically decreased af ter the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth It was abse nt in the floral meristem, but it was still present in the lateral meristem that remained in the vegetative phase. These observations suggest that OsG A2ox1 controls the level of bioactive GAs in the shoot apical meristem; the refore, reduction in its expression may contribute to the early development of the inflorescence meristem.