XVI International Botanical Congess
The plastid psbA gene, encoding the D1 polypeptide of photosystem II, is transcribed by a plastid encoded E. coli-like RNA polymerase. To analyze the structure of the psbA promoter, we constructed transplastomic tobacco plants with a GFP reporter gene expressed from psbA promoter derivatives. A wild type or mutated psbA promoter core was fused to the reporter gene via a linker sequence containing synthesized SD signal to exclude the stabilization of reporter mRNAs by the 5'-untranslated leader region. Chloroplasts in the transformed plants expressing GFP from a wild type psbA promoter gave a green fluorescence. Developmental expression of GFP from the mutated psbA promoters will be examined.