Hormonal Regulation of Expression of a Gene encoding Pod Storage Protein in Common Bean Plants

Pod storage protein (PSP) accumulates in both developing pods and wounded leaves of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Since jasmonic acid (JA) is known to be involved in wound responses, we examined hormonal regulation of PSP expression. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-induced expression of PSP was blocked by both salicylic acid (SA) and ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). The PSP promoter fused to β-glucuronidase (GUS) coding region was introduced into Arabidoposis thaliana using Agrobacterium infection. No MeJA-inducible GUS expression was found in the transformants. The chimeric gene was then introduced into stems of common bean using particle bombardment. Exogenously applied MeJA enhanced GUS activity, and this was prevented by both SA and ACC. Deletion analysis of the promoter indicated that the region between positions-747 and-555 included cis-regulatory elements for JA induction and ethylene suppression, and that cis-elements for SA-suppression were located in the region downstream of position-86.