Nucleotide sequence of a tobacco cDNA encoding plastidic glutamine synthetase and light inducibility, organ specificity and diurnal rhythmicity in the expression of the corresponding genes of tobacco and tomato

A full-length cDNA encoding glutamine synthetase (GS) was cloned from a lambda-gt10 library of tobacco leaf RNA, and the nucleotide sequence was determined. An open reading frame accounting for a primary translation product consisting of 432 amino acids has been localized on the cDNA. The calculated molecular mass of the encoded protein is 47.2 kDa. The predicted amino acid sequence of this precursor shows higher homology to GS-2 protein sequences from other species than to a leaf GS-1 polypeptide sequence, indicating that the cDNA isolated encodes the chloroplastic isoform (GS-2) of tobacco GS. The presence of C- and N-terminal extensions which are characteristic of GS-2 proteins supports this conclusion. Genomic Southern blot analysis indicated that GS-2 is encoded by a single gene in the diploid genomes of both tomato and Nicotiana sylvestris, while two GS-2 genes are very likely present in the amphidiploid tobacco genome. Western blot analysis indicated that in etiolated and in green tomato cotyledons GS-2 subunits are represented by polypeptides of similar size, while in green tomato leaves an additional GS-2 polypeptide of higher apparent molecular weight is detectable. In contrast, tobacco GS-2 is composed of subunits of identical size in all organs examined. GS-2 transcripts and GS-2 proteins could be detected at high levels in the leaves of both tobacco or tomato. Lower amounts of GS-2 mRNA were detected in stems, corolla, and roots of tomato, but not in non-green organs of tobacco. The GS-2 transcript abundance exhibited a diurnal fluctuation in tomato leaves but not in tobacco leaves. White or red light stimulated the accumulation of GS-2 transcripts and GS-2 protein in etiolated tomato cotyledons. Far-red light cancelled this stimulation. The red light response of the GS-2 gene was reduced in etiolated seedlings of the phytochrome-deficient aurea mutant of tomato. These results indicate a phytochrome-mediated light stimulation of GS-2 gene expression during greening in tomato.