Specific transcription and reinitiation of 2,4-D-induced genes in tobacco nuclei

In order to study the effects of trans-acting factors on cis-acting elements in plant genes an in vitro reinitiating nuclear transcription system is needed. Here we report that run-on experiments with nuclei isolated from 2,4-D-treated auxin-starved early-stationary-phase cells of tobacco clearly show reitintiation of transcription of specific 2,4-D-induced genes. Using gamma-thio nucleotides and [alpha-32P]-UTP we were able to demonstrate the presence of reinitiated labelled specific RNAs after isolation on a mercury-agarose affinity column. Addition of heparin as an inhibitor blocked this reinitiation. In a primer extension assay we found that the new transcripts initiate at approximately the same site as used in vivo.