15th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research - TAIR

T01-081
Characterization and mapping of photoperiodsensitive
suppressors of elf3-1
Kathryn E. Lynd(1), Karen A. Hicks(1)
1-Biology Department, Kenyon College
Flowering time in Arabidopsis is coordinated with daylength in order to
optimize growth and reproduction. Although many genes involved in the
photoperiodic control of flowering have been identified and characterized,
much remains unknown about this pathway, and it is unlikely that all
components have been identified. In order to identify additional genes that
regulate flowering, we have performed a screen for suppressors of the elf3-1
mutation, which causes photoperiod insensitive early flowering and elongated
hypocotyls. These suppressors delay flowering of elf3-1 and restore photoperiod
sensitivity; thus, they were designated photoperiod-sensitive suppressors
of elf3-1. We have determined the phenotypes caused by several pse
mutations in an otherwise wild-type background, and have identified two pse
mutants with weak single mutant phenotypes, pse7 and pse21, which we are
continuing to characterize. Using mapping, sequence analysis, and a complementation
test, we have found pse13 to be allelic to LUMINIDEPENDENS,
supporting the integration of signals from the photoperiodic and autonomous
pathways. Current models can explain how the pse13 mutation could correct
the early-flowering phenotype of elf3-1, but not how pse13 could correct the
lack of photoperiod sensitivity in elf3-1 plants.
15 th <strong>International</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Arabidopsis Research 2004 · Berlin
T01-082
EMB Genes of Arabidopsis with Unknown Cellular
Functions
Rosanna Pena-Muralla(1), Rebecca Rogers(1), David Meinke(1)
1-Department of Botany, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
Many genes of Arabidopsis thaliana are annotated to encode proteins with
unknown functions. Determining what functions these proteins perform is
a long-term objective of genomics efforts worldwide. We describe here a
collection of Arabidopsis genes with unknown functions required for normal
embryo development. These genes represent a valuable subset of the
Arabidopsis unknowns because they are known to be essential. Included in
this collection are proteins with defined motifs but uncertain cellular functions
and proteins with uncertain functions based on marginal BLASTP matches.
From an initial collection of 56 candidate unknowns with a knockout seed
phenotype (www.seedgenes.org), we have confirmed 30 gene identities through
the recovery of duplicate alleles derived from a combination of forward
and reverse genetics. Another four genes have been confirmed through
molecular complementation. Approximately half of the confirmed genes have
no paralogs in Arabidopsis and most do not appear to have counterparts
outside of plants. RT-PCR analysis confirmed that gene expression is for the
most part not embryo-specific, consistent with general functions throughout
the life cycle. We conclude that EMB genes represent a valuable resource for
identifying novel proteins associated with important plant processes.
Funded by the NSF 2010 Program and the S.R. Noble Foundation.
T01 Development 1 (Flower, Fertilization, Fruit, Seed)