The expression of an abscisic acid-responsive glycine-rich protein coincides with the level of seed dormancy in Fagus sylvatica.

By differential screening of a cDNA library constructed from poly (A+) RNA of ABA-treated seeds of Fagus sylvatica L., we have isolated an ABA-responsive clone that is present in dormant seeds and under conditions that maintain dormancy, but it tends to disappear under conditions breaking seed dormancy. A search of the sequence data bases showed that the clone codes for a Glycine-Rich Protein and has sequence similarity to RNA-binding proteins. The clone, which exibits the characteristics of lea-genes, is up-regulated by ABA and down-regulated by GA3. Paclobutrazol abolishes the effect of GA3, which is restored upon addition of GA3. The possible relationship of this Glycine-Rich Protein to seed dormancy in F. sylvatica is discussed.