Pea ( Pisum sativum Linn.) actin gene family contains at least three isoforms (PEAcⅠ, PEAcⅡand PEAcⅢ), and the DNA sequence of these isoforms show high similarity in the coding regions and significant divergence in the untranslated regions. RT_PCR and Southern blotting using 3′_untranslated region (3′_UTR) as specific probe revealed that pea isoactin genes were expressed in roots, stems, leaves, tendrils, pollen and juvenile siliques, but displayed different patterns of transcript accumulation. Two_fold serial dilution electrophoresis showed PEAcⅠ mRNA preferentially accumulated in rapidly developing tissues: it peaked in seven days' stem; remained at a rather high level in leaves within a month but decreased significantly later; varied a little in tendrils and reached a median and a very low level respectively in juvenile siliques and in pollen. PEAcⅡ displayed somewhat similar expression pattern to PEAcⅠ. The observed differences in sequences and transcript accumulation patterns suggest that the individual pea actin genes may differ in their transcriptional regulation and cellular function. Phylogenetic tree of actins showed that pea actin isoforms are as diverged from each other as they are from other plant actins, and pea actins might have originated from a common ancestor before the divergence of the dicot and monocot plants.
