Expression of the S-locus receptor kinase multigene family in Brassica oleracea

Abstract

The S-receptor kinase (SRK) gene which is implicated in the self-incompatibility system of Brassica oleracea is one member of a large and complex family of similar sequences. Genomic and cDNA clones were isolated for the authentic, S-linked SRK29 gene and its DNA sequence determined. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of SRK29 and other members of the family in stigma, leaf and root tissues. The SRK was found to be stigma-specific whereas, for instance, K3 transcripts appeared in all three tissues. The RT-PCR analysis also demonstrated the existence of partially processed intermediates for several of the kinase transcripts and, in the case of SRK29, a product apparently resulting from the splicing of a cryptic intron. RFLP analysis of an F2 family segregating for the S29 allele was used to show S-linkage for the SRK and possibly for the K2 sequence. The K8 kinase probe also revealed a minor RFLP which segregated with the S-locus.