Expression of a novel chickpea Rab-GDI cDNA mainly in seedlings

Small GTPases of the Rab family are important proteins that take part in th e control of vesicular membrane traffic, and the Rab-specific GDP dissociat ion inhibitor protein is one of the most important accessory proteins that regulate this process. A cDNA clone (CanGDI) encoding a Rab-specific GDP di ssociation inhibitor was isolated from a cDNA library from growing epicotyl s of Cicer arietinum L, cv. Castellana. CanGDI was expressed mainly in seed lings showing weak expression in adult tissues. The protein encoded by CanG DI may be regulating specific Rab proteins from tissues with active cell di vision and elongation. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevie r SAS.