Poster: Cell division

Abs # 668: Characterization and Functional Analysis of Genes Regulating Cell Division and Differentiation in Arabidopsis

Presenter:	Yang, Chang-Hsien , chyang@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
Authors	Liao, Pei-Chun  (A)   Kong, Lih-Ren  (A)   Yang, Chang-Hsien  (A)
Affiliations:	(A): National Chung Hsing University

Three proteins showed strong interaction with AtRING1, an Arabidopsis E3 RING finger protein, were identified in yeast two-hybrid assays. Cor47 is an ABA and cold-responsive gene, At1g27730 is a putative salt tolerance zinc finger gene, whereas At1g13930 encoded a hypothetical protein with unknown function. These three genes showed a similar expression pattern and their mRNA was expressed throughout the developmentand in most organs tested. Interestingly, ectopic expression antisense of either Cor47, At1g27730 or At1g13930, produced extremely similar abnormal phenotype as seen in 35S::AtRING1 antisense plants. Shoot apical meristem formation and leaf development was severe altered in these transgenic Arabidopsis. This result indicated that AtRING1, Cor47, At1g27730 and At1g13930, should positively interact in regulating cell division and differentiation in shoot apical meristem in Arabidopsis. A gene encoded copper chaperone (CCH)-related protein that interacted with Cor47 protein was identified. Furthermore, functional analysis of genes of Arabidopsis further identified three genes also possibly involved in the cell division and differentiation. Shoot and leaf formation was altered in transgenic Arabidopsis ectopically expressed either AtMYBL1, a R2R3-MYB gene, or AtPTPL1, a protein tyrosine phosphatase gene. By contrast, shoot, leaf and flower formation was altered in transgenic Arabidopsis ectopically expressed antisense of AtYipL1, a Yippee-like gene. AtMYBL1, AtPTPL1 and AtYipL1 were all expressed constitutively throughout the development and in different organs. Further analysis of genes characterized in this study should lead a deeper understanding of the mechanisms regulating the cell division and differentiation during various development processes in plants.