XVI International Botanical Congess

Tortula ruralis is becoming an important model system for the study of posttranscriptional gene control in response to severe water deficit. A cDNA expression library was constructed from desiccated gametophytes and screened for the presence of RNA-binding proteins. We have isolated a cDNA (qRNP4) with significant similarity to an early light-inducible protein (ELIP)-like gene. ELIPs are nuclear encoded, cloroplast-localized proteins that have been identified in other desiccation-tolerant plants and are postulated to stabilize photosynthetic structures in the desiccated state. Expression analysis of qRNP4, i.e. Northern blot hybridization using total and polysomal RNA, will be presented.(Supported in part by USDA NRI Grant 97-35100-4476 to AJW).