Methionine-induced stabilization of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor mRNA

摘要

Supplemental methionine in a complete culture medium increased the Bowman-Birk-type protease inhibitor (BBPI) level in cultured developing soyabean (Glycine max) cv. Provar cotyledons. The increase of BBPI level was paralleled by an increase in themRNA level. Nuclear run-on analysis showed that transcriptional activities of the BBPI genes were not different between cotyledons cultured in media with or without added methionine. Kinetics of changes in BBPI mRNA levels suggested a change in BBPI mRNAstability upon adding or omitting methionine from the medium. Direct measurement of BBPI mRNA by the use of cordycepin revealed that BBPI mRNAs were much more stable in cotyledons cultured in medium supplemented with methionine than in cotyledons cultured in medium without methionine. No major difference or heterogeneity in the length of BBPI mRNA poly(A) tails in cotyledons cultured in medium with or without methionine was seen.