title: Overexpression of PGA37/MYB118 and MYB115 promotes vegetative-to-embryonic transition in Arabidopsis.
abstract: Formation of somatic embryos from non-germline cells is unique to higher plants and can be manipulated in a variety of species. Previous studies revealed that overexpression of several Arabidopsis genes, including WUSCHEL (WUS)/PLANT GROWTH ACTIVATOR6 (PGA6), BABY BOOM, LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), and LEC2, is able to cause vegetative-to-embryonic transition or the formation of somatic embryos. Here, we report that a gain-of-function mutation in the Arabidopsis PGA37 gene, encoding the MYB118 transcription factor, induced vegetative-to-embryonic transition, the formation of somatic embryos from root explants, and an elevated LEC1 expression level. Double mutant analysis showed that WUS was not required for induction of somatic embryos by PGA37/MYB118. In addition, overexpression of MYB115, a homolog of PGA37/MYB118, caused a pga37-like phenotype. A myb118 myb115 double mutant did not show apparent developmental abnormalities. Collectively, these results suggest that PGA37/MYB118 and MYB115 promote vegetative-to-embryonic transition, through a signaling pathway independent of WUS.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and National Plant Gene Research Center (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xingchun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qi-Wen
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jinye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Nam-Hai
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Jianru
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuo
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C113191:LEC1 protein, Arabidopsis; C539388:MYB115 protein, Arabidopsis; C539387:MYB118 protein, Arabidopsis; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C116421:WUSCHEL protein, Arabidopsis; D004958:Estradiol