ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKE1 gene, a member of the AS2/LOB family, controls proximal-distal patterning in Arabidopsis petals.
The formation and the development of the floral organs require an intercalate expression of organ-specific genes. At the same time, meristem-specific genes are repressed to complete the differentiation of the organs in the floral whorls. In an Arabidopsis activation tagging population, a mutant affected in inflorescence architecture was identified. This gain-of-function mutant, designated downwards siliques1 (dsl1-D), has shorter internodes and the lateral organs such as flowers are bending downwards, similar to the loss-of-function brevipedicellus (bp) mutant. The affected gene in dsl1-D appeared to be ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKE1 (ASL1)/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES domain gene 36 (LBD36), which is a member of the ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2)/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES (LOB) domain gene family. Analysis of the loss-of-function mutant asl1/lbd36 did not show morphological aberration. Double mutant analysis of asl1/lbd36 together with as2, the ASL1/LBD36 closest homologue, demonstrates that these two members of the AS2/LOB family act partially redundant to control cell fate determination in Arabidopsis petals. Moreover, molecular analysis revealed that overexpression of ASL1/LBD36 leads to repression of the homeobox gene BP, which supports the model that an antagonistic relationship between ASL/LBD and homeobox members is required for the differentiation of lateral organs.
Chalfun-Junior
Antonio
A
Business Unit Bioscience, Plant Research International, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Franken
John
J
Mes
Jurriaan J
JJ
Marsch-Martinez
Nayelli
N
Pereira
Andy
A
Angenent
Gerco C
GC
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D013489:Suppression, Genetic
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C096746:HglK protein, Anabaena