Soluble starch synthase I effects differences in amylopectin structure between indica and japonica rice varieties

The effect of soluble starch synthase I (SSI) on differences of amylopectin structure between the indica and japonica rice varieties was investigated. Native-PAGE/active staining analysis showed that the SSI activity of an indica rice variety, 'Kasalath', was significantly lower than that of a japonica rice variety, 'Nipponbare', and that the low activity in 'Kasalath' was maintained during seed development. The result of northern blot analyses suggests that the low expression of SSI in 'Kasalath' is controlled at the transcription levels of SSI mRNA. Chain length distribution of amylopectin in F-3 endosperms derived from a cross between two varieties showed that not only SSIIa but also SSI regulated the population of short chains. These results indicate that the low activity of SSI gives rise to the decrease of short chains in amylopectin of indica rice varieties, suggesting that SSI effects the differences in physicochemical properties between two varieties.