Overexpression of Arabidopsis ACK1 alters leaf morphology and retards growth and development.
Cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) play important roles in the plant cell cycle, a highly coordinated process in plant growth and development. To understand the regulatory network involving the CDKs, we have examined the role of ACK1, a gene that has significant homology to known ICKs (inhibitors of CDKs), but occupies a distinct branch of the ICK phylogenetic tree. Overexpression of ACK1 in transgenic Arabidopsis significantly inhibited growth, leading to effects such as serration of leaves, as a result of strong inhibition of cell division in the leaf meristem. ACK1 transgenic plants also differed morphologically from control Arabidopsis plants, and the cells of ACK1 transgenics were more irregular than the corresponding cells of control plants. These results suggest that ACK1 acts as a CDK inhibitor in Arabidopsis, and that the alterations in leaf shape may be the result of restricted cell division.
Han
Woong
W
Division of Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Kangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.
Rhee
Hae-Ik
HI
Cho
Jeong Woo
JW
Ku
Maurice S B
MS
Song
Pill Soon
PS
Wang
Myeong-Hyeon
MH
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C494427:p22ack1 protein, Arabidopsis