Characterization of the sequence coding for the clathrin coat assembly protein AP17 (σ2) associated with the plasma membrane from Zea mays and constitutive expression of its gene

Abstract

The cDNA and genomic sequences coding for the clathrin coat assembly protein AP17 (σ2) from maize and its corresponding mRNA accumulation have been analyzed. This protein in yeast and mammals has been shown to be part of the associated protein (AP) complex of clathrin in the plasma membrane. The availability of this sequence as well as a previous AP19 in a plant allows one to propose that specific AP complexes exist in plants in the Golgi complex and in the plasma membrane. The AP17 protein is encoded in maize by a single gene, and its mRNA accumulates in all the organs studied. In the immature embryo, it displays a pattern of expression typical of constitutively expressed genes.