A light- and developmentally-regulated DNA-binding interaction is common to the upstream sequences of the wheat Calvin cycle bisphosphatase genes.

We have characterised a DNA-binding interaction common to the upstream sequences of the wheat fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) and sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) genes. The recognition site for this sequence-specific binding activity, designated wheat FBPase factor (WF-1), is located within 125 bp of the transcription start site of each gene. Within these regions there are no sequence motifs similar to those shown to be important for light-regulated expression in other species. The binding activity was not detected in wheat root nuclear extracts, or in pea leaf extracts. There was a higher level of binding activity in light-grown than in dark-grown wheat leaves. The level was also found to decline when light-grown plants were given an extended dark treatment, but could be reinduced by light. Utilising the gradient of developmental maturity which exists within the wheat leaf it was found that WF-1 activity increases during leaf development.