Abstract:

The DNA and cDNA fragments of M locus encoding protein kinase were initially amplified from genomic DNA and stigma cDNA in Brassica oleracea by using PCR , RT-PCR and other molecular methods. Their lengths were 1 615 bp and 1 294 bp respectively. For the first time, sequence analysis indicated that there was 98% identity of MLPK cDNA between Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa. In Brassica oleracea, the MLPK gene contained four introns, which were three introns less than those in Brassica rapa. Moreover, in two ends of introns of MLPK gene from Brassica oleracea, there were new base sequences which didn’t comply with typical GU-AG rule: TA and CG existed in the 5′ end of the third and the fourth intron of MLPK gene; CAGG and GT were found respectively in the 3’ end of the sequences. So we speculated that these new base sequences may have relation to a new splice process. These results provided some new insight into the molecular mechanism of self-incompatibility in Brassica oleracea.

Key words: Self-incompatibility, Signal transduction, MLPK gene, Intron, Splice