The QM like protein gene encodes for ribosomal
protein L10, which is implicated in tumor
suppression, transcription factor regulation, and ribosome
stability in yeast and mammals. Present study describes
cloning of a full-length QM cDNA (CsQM) from tea leaves
using differential display of mRNA followed by rapid
amplification of cDNA ends. Expression of CsQM was
studied in leaves of different stages of development and
under various external cues. CsQM contained an open
reading frame of 651 bases, encoding 216 amino acids.
CsQM shared 71–87% and 85–91% identity at nucleotide
and amino acid sequences, respectively with QM genes
isolated from other plant species. During active-growth
period of tea, higher expression was observed in apical buds
that decreased gradually with increasing age of the leaf.
During dormancy season, the expression of CsQM gene was
severely down-regulated in all the leaves studied. CsQM
transcript was found to be down regulated in response to
drought stress and abscisic acid treatment but up-regulated
by gibberellic acid treatment. A positive association of
CsQM transcript abundance with active cellular growth
suggested its role in plant growth and developmen