Characterization and expression of transcripts induced by oxygen deprivation in maize (Zea mays L.).

Until recently, the only genes described in plants induced by oxygen deprivation (anoxia or hypoxia) encoded enzymes of glucose-phosphate metabolism. In the present study, two flooding-induced maize (Zea mays L.) genes that may serve a different function have been identified. These genes, with unique kinetics of mRNA induction under flooding conditions, were not induced by heat, cold, or salt stress or by seedling death. The predicted protein sequence of one gene, wusl1005, is similar to that of several other plant genes, including a nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) xyloglucan-endo-transglycosylase. The predicted protein sequence of the other gene showed no significant homology to genes of known function, indicating that both of these genes may play novel roles in the maize response to oxygen deprivation.