title: Extensive functional pleiotropy of REVOLUTA substantiated through forward genetics.
abstract: In plants, genes may sustain extensive pleiotropic functional properties by individually affecting multiple, distinct traits. We discuss results from three genome-wide association studies of approximately 400 natural poplar (Populus trichocarpa) accessions phenotyped for 60 ecological/biomass, wood quality, and rust fungus resistance traits. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the poplar ortholog of the class III homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factor gene REVOLUTA (PtREV) were significantly associated with three specific traits. Based on SNP associations with fungal resistance, leaf drop, and cellulose content, the PtREV gene contains three potential regulatory sites within noncoding regions at the gene's 3' end, where alternative splicing and messenger RNA processing actively occur. The polymorphisms in this region associated with leaf abscission and cellulose content are suggested to represent more recent variants, whereas the SNP associated with leaf rust resistance may be more ancient, consistent with REV's primary role in auxin signaling and its functional evolution in supporting fundamental processes of vascular plant development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wood Science , University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada BC V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: Ilga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Porth
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klápste
authors.forename: Athena D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: McKown
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: La Mantia
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hamelin
authors.forename: Oleksandr
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Skyba
authors.forename: Faride
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Unda
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: Quentin C B
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Cronk
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ehlting
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.forename: Yousry A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: El-Kassaby
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D058685:Genetic Pleiotropy; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins