Expression and sequence analysis of cDNAs induced during the early stages of tuberisation in different organs of the potato plant (Solanum tuberosum L.).

cDNA clones of two genes (TUB8 and TUB13) which show a 25-30-fold increase in transcript in the stolon tip during the early stages of tuberisation, have been isolated by differential screening. These genes are also expressed in leaves, stems and roots and the expression pattern in these organs changes on tuberisation. Southern analysis shows homologous sequences in the non-tuberising wild type potato species Solanum brevidens and in Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato). Sequence analysis reveals a high degree of similarity between the TUB13 cDNA, and a human S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene. The predicted TUB8 peptide sequence shows several repeats of alanine, glutamate and proline which suggests a structural role for the encoded protein.