Poster: Integrated Plant Biology

Abs # 88: A Genetic screen for stress-responsive Arabidopsis mutants

Presenter:	RamaDevi, Saddikuti , ramadevi@iastate.edu
Authors	RamaDevi, Saddikuti  (A)   Chengbin, Xiang  (A)   David, Oliver J (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Iowa State University, Department of Botany

The adaptive responses to environmental stress are crucial for plant survival and crop productivity. One central process of adaptive responses is the activated expression of defense-related genes. A complex stress-signaling network is starting to emerge for higher plants. Accumulating evidence has shown that the Activation Sequence-1 (as-1) cognate promoter elements have been recruited by the promoters of plant defense-related genes as well as by plant pathogen promoters and may play important roles in the activation of defense-related genes, the ultimate stress signal recipients. One central question is how diverse stress signals converge on this type of elements to activate defense genes against biotic and abiotic stresses and remains unanswered. To identify additional signaling components in the JA-, SA-, H₂O₂-, xenobiotics, and heavy metals-signaling network, we have taken advantage of a single as-1-type cis element-driven GUS reporter Arabidopsis line that is responsive to JA, SA, H₂O₂, xenobiotics, and heavy metals. T-DNA insertional mutagenesis has been conducted in the reporter background and an efficient mutant screen has been established for isolating mutants with altered responses to JA, SA, H₂O₂, xenobiotics, and heavy metals. A number of mutants have been isolated. This high throughput mutant screen and mutant characterization will be presented.