title: The Arabidopsis STICHEL gene is a regulator of trichome branch number and encodes a novel protein.
abstract: Here, we analyze the STICHEL (STI) gene, which plays an important role in the regulation of branch number of the unicellular trichomes in Arabidopsis. We have isolated the STI locus by positional cloning and confirmed the identity by sequencing seven independent sti alleles. The STI gene encodes a protein of 1,218 amino acid residues containing a domain with sequence similarity to the ATP-binding eubacterial DNA-polymerase III gamma-subunits. Because endoreduplication was found to be normal in sti mutants the molecular function of STI in cell morphogenesis is not linked to DNA replication and, therefore, postulated to represent a novel pathway. Northern-blot analysis shows that STI is expressed in all organs suggesting that STI function is not trichome specific. The analysis of sti alleles and transgenic lines overexpressing STI suggests that STI regulates branching in a dosage-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Molekularbiologie Pflanzen, Entwicklungsgenetik, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hilmar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ilgenfritz
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouyer
authors.forename: Arp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnittger
authors.forename: Jaideep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kirik
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Nam-Hai
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jürgens
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hülskamp
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D020440:Gene Duplication; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014404:Tubulin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C474076:STICHEL protein, Arabidopsis; D014404:Tubulin