Ectopic expression of an Arabidopsis single zinc finger gene in tobacco results in dwarf plants.
A survey of the Arabidopsis thaliana databases revealed that single C2H2 zinc finger protein genes comprise a large gene family (approximately 30 genes). No known phenotype has been associated with any of these genes except SUPERMAN. One of these genes, designated AtZFP10 (A. thaliana single zinc finger protein), was isolated by RT-PCR in the present study. The AtZFP10 gene was expressed at low levels in the flowers, axillary meristems and siliques, and at very low levels in the stems in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of the AtZFP10 gene driven by a constitutive promoter resulted in abnormal Arabidopsis plants and only one plant was recovered. Tobacco plants overexpressing the AtZFP10 gene displayed dwarfing, abnormal leaf phenotypes and early flowering that correlated with the level of expression of the AtZFP10 gene. No differences were observed in cell size between the AtZFP10 transgenic plants and the wild-type plants. Application of exogenous GA3 did not restore the wild-type phenotype, but it did reduce the dwarfing phenotype. Deletion of the leucine-rich region at the carboxyl terminus of the AtZFP10 gene resulted in transgenic plants that were not phenotypically different from wild-type plants suggesting a role for the leucine-rich region as essential for normal function.
Dinkins
Randy
R
Department of Agronomy, N212 Agriculture Science Center Building North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091, USA. rddink1@uky.edu
Pflipsen
Christina
C
Thompson
Allison
A
Collins
Glenn B
GB
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005875:Gibberellins; C466941:ZFP10 protein, Arabidopsis