title: Ectopic expression of atRSZ33 reveals its function in splicing and causes pleiotropic changes in development.
abstract: Splicing provides an additional level in the regulation of gene expression and contributes to proteome diversity. Herein, we report the functional characterization of a recently described plant-specific protein, atRSZ33, which has characteristic features of a serine/arginine-rich protein and the ability to interact with other splicing factors, implying that this protein might be involved in constitutive and/or alternative splicing. Overexpression of atRSZ33 leads to alteration of splicing patterns of atSRp30 and atSRp34/SR1, indicating that atRSZ33 is indeed a splicing factor. Moreover, atRSZ33 is a regulator of its own expression, as splicing of its pre-mRNA is changed in transgenic plants. Investigations by promoter-beta-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion and in situ hybridization revealed that atRSZ33 is expressed during embryogenesis and early stages of seedling formation, as well as in flower and root development. Ectopic expression of atRSZ33 caused pleiotropic changes in plant development resulting in increased cell expansion and changed polarization of cell elongation and division. In addition, changes in activity of an auxin-responsive promoter suggest that auxin signaling is disturbed in these transgenic plants.
authors.affiliation: Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University Departments at the Vienna Biocenter, Institut für Med. Biochemie, University of Vienna, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalyna
authors.forename: Sergiy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lopato
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barta
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens; D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005328:Fetal Viability / Q000502:physiology; D035264:Flowers / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C469364:At2g37340 protein, Arabidopsis; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins