Isolation by differential display and characterization of a tobacco auxin-responsive cDNA Nt-gh3, related to GH3

By use of differential display, we have isolated a new early auxin-responsive cDNA in Nicotiana tabacum. Nt-gh3 had 70% identity with the unique GH3 sequence isolated in soybean by Hagen et al. [Planta 162 (1984) 147–153] and is thus the first reported cDNA related to this gene until now. Nt-gh3 mRNA accumulates within a short time after auxin treatment, responds to very low concentrations of NAA (as little as 10−9 M) and specifically to active auxins. Nt-gh3 mRNA is demonstrated to be one of the most relevant early molecular markers of primary auxin response.