Isolation and cloning of a new gene encoding maize initiation factor

It was demonstrated that parental gene expression of maize in hybrid genetic background was different from that in their inbred lines. RT-PCR revealed a cDNA overexpressed in hybrid maize. The cDNA was reamplified and used to screen a corresponding cDNA library. A full length of a cDNA insert ZH01 was isolated and shown to have an open reading frame encoding 414a. a. Sequence comparison shows that ZH01 has extremely high similarity with the previously reported plant initiator factor elF-4A and distinct difference from another maize elF-4A gene MIF4A. Ovcrexpression of ZH01 in hybrid may involve vigorous growth of hybrid maize seedlings.