Molecular cloning, characterization and tissue specific expression of an elongation factor 1A gene in Saccharum officinarum L.

A full-length asdcDNA clone (pSEF1.8) encoding an eukaryotic protein synthesis elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) has been isolated for the first time from Saccharum officinarum L. The nucleotide sequence and the deduced 448 amino acid sequence shares about 94 and 98% identity, respectively, to the Z. mays elongation factor 1A. Phylogenetic analysis also shows eEF1A from S. officinarum to have more sequence similarity with Z. mans eEF1A than other reported eukaryotic elongation factors. Southern analysis indicates the S. officinarum eEF1A to belong to a multigene family. Genomic reconstruction analysis using the cDNA insert from pSEF1.8 as the probe indicated the presence of about 20 copies of eEF1A gene per haploid sugarcane (S. officinarum L.) genome. Northern hybridization studies revealed the presence of eEF1A transcripts only in fully expanded green S. offcinarum leaves. No expression of this gene was observed in the roots and unexpanded leaves from light grown plants as well as in the unexpanded leaves, fully expanded leaves and the roots from dark grown plants. These results suggest light mediated as also tissue and development stage specific expression of eEF1A gene isolated from S. officinarum. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.