title: The glucocorticoid-inducible GVG system causes severe growth defects in both root and shoot of the model legume Lotus japonicus.
abstract: During the past decade, the legume Lotus japonicus has emerged as an important model system for study of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Controlled expression of genes involved in symbiosis from an inducible promoter at specific time points would be a valuable tool for investigating gene function in L. japonicus. We have attempted to study the function of the putative transcription factors LjNDX and LjCPP1 by expression from the GVG inducible system. This study showed that the GVG system itself causes growth disturbances in L. japonicus. Shoot internode elongation and root pericycle cell division are affected when the chimeric GVG transcription factor is activated. We suggest that deficient auxin signaling could cause the phenotype observed and conclude that the GVG inducible system is not well suited for use in the model legume L. japonicus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Gene Expression, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Aarhus, Gustav Wieds Vej 10, DK-8000 Aarhus C., Denmark.
authors.forename: Stig Uggerhøj
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cvitanich
authors.forename: Birgit Kristine
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Hougaard
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roussis
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grønlund
authors.forename: Dorthe Bødker
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Line Askou
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Frøkjaer
authors.forename: Erik Ostergaard
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D017931:DNA Primers; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000070116:Lotus / Q000254:growth & development*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D005875:Gibberellins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014157:Transcription Factors