Poster: Cell division

Abs # 669: Characterization of syn4, a mitotic cohesion gene, in Arabidopsis thaliana

Presenter:	Liu, Zhe , liuz2@muohio.edu
Authors	Liu, Zhe  (A)   Makaroff, Chris A (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Miami University

The proper pairing, segregation of sister chromatids are critical to cell division. Sister chromatid cohesion is required during mitosis and meiosis. In previous studies, we identified and characterized three Arabidopsis cohesion proteins, SYN1, SYN2 and SYN3. SYN1 is essential for meiosis. SYN2 and SYN3 may participate in chromosome cohesion during mitosis. We also identified another protein in SYN family, SYN4. We overexpressed N- terminal of SYN4 protein and raised its antibody in the rabbit. Mean while, we also raised the antibody against SYN2 since SYN2 might involve in mitosis too. By doing immunolocalization in Arabidopsis suspension cells and pollen mother cells, we found that both SYN4 and SYN2 proteins are associated with chromosome arm in the interphase and early prophase during mitosis and they are degraded in late prophase. During meiosis cell division, we didn’t find SYN4 and SYN2 signal at all. In order to study the specific gene function of SYN4, we are silencing SYN4 gene using RNAi. By conducting RT-PCR and immunoblotting, we found that SYN4 protein is expressed everywhere of the plant. We are making RNAi mutants under 35s and DMC1 promoters. After Agrobacterium transfection, we expect the different phenotypes of the mutants. We are also studying the T-DNA inserted syn4 plants.