Molecular characterization of two Brassica napus genes related to oleosins which are highly expressed in the tapetum

Summary Two highly homologous Brassica napus flower cDNA clones, Sta 41‐2 and Sta 41‐9, were isolated and characterized. These clones were shown to correspond to genes expressed in the tapetum from the early uninucleate microspore stage to the dinucleate stage. The predicted Sta 41‐2 and Sta 41‐9 proteins possessed characteristics similar to oleosins such as a polar N‐terminal domain, a large relatively conserved hydrophobic domain and a long C‐terminal domain which consisted of four different groups of repeats. In addition, like oleosins, the Sta 41‐2 and Sta 41‐9 proteins have a basic pl, lack a signal peptide and are found in a tissue which accumulates lipids in small lipid bodies.