Allele-Specific Interactions betweenCAST AWAYandNEVERSHEDControl Abscission inArabidopsisFlowers.
An advantage of analyzing abscission in genetically tractable model plants is the ability to make use of classic genetic tools such as suppression analysis. We have investigated the regulation of organ abscission by carrying out suppression analysis inArabidopsisflowers. Plants carrying mutations in theNEVERSHED(NEV) gene, which encodes an ADP-ribosylation factor GTPase-activating protein, retain their outer floral organs after fertilization. Mutant alleles ofCAST AWAY(CST), which encodes a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase, were found to restore organ abscission innevflowers in an allele-specific manner. To further explore the basis of the interactions betweenCSTandNEV, we tested whether the site of anevmutation is predictive of its ability to be suppressed. Our results suggest instead that the strength of anevallele influences whether organ abscission can be rescued by a specific allele ofCST.
Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford MS, USA.
William D
WD
Groner
Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford MS, USA.
Megan E
ME
Christy
Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford MS, USA.
Catherine M
CM
Kreiner
Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford MS, USA.
Sarah J
SJ
Liljegren
ARF GAP; CST; NEV; RLCK; abscission; cell separation; shedding