REGULATION OF THE ARABIDOPSIS ADH-GENE BY ANAEROBIC AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES

The promoter of the alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh, E.C.1.1.1.1.) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. is inducible by the environmental stresses anaerobiosis, dehydration and low temperature. Analysis of the Adh promoter using 5'-deletion and substitution mutants has allowed the identification of promoter elements which interact differentially under the different stress conditions. One element, located between positions -160 and -140, consists of a GT/GC-rich motif and functions as a general stress responsive element (GSRE). The G-box-l sequence (-216 to -209) is necessary only for cold and dehydration induction. We have started to dissect the signal transduction pathways involved in the different environmental stress responses.