Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA for plastidic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

A cDNA encoding plastidic Cu/Zn-SOD was isolated from rice. The deduced amino acid sequence included a transit peptide in the amino-terminal residues and showed a high similarity to those of plastidic Cu/Zn-SODs from other plants. The level of expression of this transcript was high in green leaves and differed from that of other rice SOD mRNAs in various tissues.