Methylation pattern of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes from rice (Oryza sativa)

Abstract

A restriction map of rice (Oryza sativa) rDNA was established for EcoRI, BamHI and Bg1II. The methylation pattern of these genes was studied using HpaII and MspI. Surprisingly, rice rDNA was found much more sensitive to these enzymes than the rDNA of the other plant species studied so far. No difference was observed between the methylation pattern of rDNA prepared from embryos grown in aerobic or anaerobic conditions although there is a marked difference between the rates of rRNA synthesis in these two situations.