[Cloning and expression characteristics of protein phosphatase gene ZmPP2C of Zea mays roots].

According to the conserved motifs of plant protein phosphatase 2C gene, degenerate oligonucleotides were designed. A full cDNA sequence of PP2C gene from Zea mays L. roots was cloned by RT-PCR. It was named ZmPP2C and had 936 bp. Southern blot showed that the ZmPP2C gene was a low copy in the Zea mays genome, and there was a small PP2C gene family. Northern blot showed that the expression of ZmPP2C gene was significantly different among Zea mays tissues. Zea mays roots treated with CaCl(2), MgCl(2), PEG, EGTA, and ABA for 24 h, the ZmPP2C expression increased only by CaCl(2) treatment. It showed the transcription of ZmPP2C gene was induced by Ca(2+), or in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner.