Diverse expression profiles of 21 rice peroxidase genes.

Secretory class III plant peroxidases (POXs) catalyze the oxidation of various reductants, and are encoded by a large multigene family. In rice, 42 independent expressed sequence tags for POXs have been identified. By RNA gel blot analysis using specific probes, we show here that 21 rice POX genes are unique in their developmental, organ specific and external stimuli-responsive expression. This would suggest that encoded POX isoenzymes are involved in a broad range of physiological processes in rice plants, individually.