title: Analysis of TTG1 function in Arabis alpina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) the WD40 protein TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA1 (TTG1) controls five traits relevant for the adaptation of plants to environmental changes including the production of proanthocyanidin, anthocyanidin, seed coat mucilage, trichomes and root hairs. The analysis of different Brassicaceae species suggests that the function of TTG1 is conserved within the family.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this work, we studied the function of TTG1 in Arabis alpina (A. alpina). A comparison of wild type and two Aattg1 alleles revealed that AaTTG1 is involved in the regulation of all five traits. A detailed analysis of the five traits showed striking phenotypic differences between A. alpina and A. thaliana such that trichome formation occurs also at later stages of leaf development and that root hairs form at non-root hair positions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evolutionary conservation of the regulation of the five traits by TTG1 on the one hand and the striking phenotypic differences make A. alpina a very interesting genetic model system to study the evolution of TTG1-dependent gene regulatory networks at a functional level.
authors.forename: Divykriti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Span
authors.forename: Swen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schellmann
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coupland
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Albani
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.affiliation: Botanical Institute, Biocenter, Cologne University, Zülpicher Straße 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany. martin.huelskamp@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hülskamp
mesh_terms: D031214:Arabis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins