Functional analysis of the LACERATA gene of Arabidopsis provides evidence for different roles of fatty acid omega -hydroxylation in development

We describe lacerata (lcr) mutants of Arabidopsis, which display various developmental abnormalities, including postgenital organ fusions, and report cloning of the LCR gene by using the maize transposon Enhancer/Suppressor-mutator (En/Spm). The pleiotropic mutant phenotype could be rescued by genetic complementation of lcr mutants with the wild-type LCR gene. The LCR gene encodes a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, CYP86A8, which catalyzes omega-hydroxylation of fatty acids ranging from C12 to C18:1, as demonstrated by expression of the gene in yeast. Although palmitic and oleic acids were efficient substrates for LCR, 9,10-epoxystearate was not metabolized. Taken together with previous studies, our findings indicate that LCR-dependent omega-hydroxylation of fatty acids could be implicated in the biosynthesis of cutin in the epidermis and in preventing postgenital organ fusions. Strikingly, the same pathway seems to control trichome differentiation, the establishment of apical dominance, and senescence in plants.

Epidermal control of floral organ identity by class B homeotic genes in Antirrhinum and Arabidopsis

To assess the contribution of the epidermis to the control of petal and stamen organ identity, we have used transgenic Antirrhinum and Arabidopsis plants that expressed the Antirrhinum class B homeotic transcription factors DEFICIENS (DEF) and GLOBOSA (GLO) in the epidermis. Transgene expression was controlled by the ANTIRRHINUM FIDDLEHEAD (AFI) promoter, which directs gene expression to the L1 meristematic layer and, later, to the epidermis of differentiating organs. Transgenic epidermal DEF and GLO chimeras display similar phenotypes, suggesting similar epidermal contributions by the two class B genes in Antirrhinum. Epidermal B function autonomously controls the differentiation of Antirrhinum petal epidermal cell types, but cannot fully control the pattern of cell divisions and the specification of sub-epidermal petal cell-identity by epidermal signalling. This non-autonomous control is enhanced if the endogenous class B genes can be activated from the epidermis. The developmental influence of epidermal B function in Antirrhinum stamen development is very limited. In contrast, epidermal B function in Arabidopsis can control most if not all epidermal and sub-epidermal differentiation events in petals and stamens, without any contribution from the endogenous class B genes. Possible reasons for differences in the efficacy of B-function-mediated cell communication between the two species are discussed. Interestingly, our experiments uncovered partial incompatibility between class B functional homologues. Although the DEFICIENS/PISTILLATA heterodimer is functional in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, the APETALA3/GLOBOSA heterodimer is not.

Technical advance: display and isolation of transposon-flanking sequences starting from genomic DNA or RNA

Insertion mutagenesis using transposons has become a powerful tool for the isolation of genes involved in any given biochemical or developmental pathway. We describe here ligation-mediated PCR techniques for the isolation of sequences flanking the transposable elements En/Spm, Mu1 and Cin4 in Zea mays and Arabidopsis thaliana. Two versions of this transposon insertion display (TID) method use biotinylated linkers or biotinylated primers to rapidly isolate transposon-flanking sequences starting from digested genomic DNA. TID protocols have been employed to clone several genes from En/Spm insertion mutants of Arabidopsis. A novel procedure, expression TID (ETID), is also introduced, which provides a direct approach for the isolation of transposon insertions that tag transcribed portions of genes. ETID uses RNA as a starting material and exploits 5' RACE PCR to identify transposon copies that form parts of gene transcripts. The detection of several En/Spm insertion mutations in Arabidopsis illustrates the power of this method. ETID offers important advantages for the isolation of mutant alleles of novel genes that are expressed in specific tissues in plants and animals.

Characterization of the FIDDLEHEAD gene of Arabidopsis reveals a link between adhesion response and cell differentiation in the epidermis

We report the isolation of the FIDDLEHEAD (FDH) gene of Arabidopsis by transposon tagging. Three mutant alleles of FDH carrying insertions of the Enhancer/Suppressor-mutator transposon and one stable allele with a transposon footprint were generated in the Arabidopsis ecotype Columbia genetic background. Closer examination of the adaxial epidermis of rosette leaves revealed that in addition to provoking the previously described fusion phenotype in leaves and floral organs, mutations in FDH have a deleterious effect on trichome differentiation. FDH transcripts were detected exclusively in the epidermis of young vegetative and floral organs. Plants overexpressing FDH under control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter segregated fdh phenocopies, wild-type individuals, and plants showing severe retardation of growth and development. The dwarf plants displayed the most FDH expression, the fdh phenocopies generally the least. The protein product of FDH shows similarity to condensing enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis, particularly those of the FATTY ACID ELONGATION family.

Regulation of polar auxin transport by AtPIN1 in Arabidopsis vascular tissue

Polar auxin transport controls multiple developmental processes in plants, including the formation of vascular tissue. Mutations affecting the PIN-FORMED (PIN1) gene diminish polar auxin transport in Arabidopsis thaliana inflorescence axes. The AtPIN1gene was found to encode a 67-kilodalton protein with similarity to bacterial and eukaryotic carrier proteins, and the AtPIN1 protein was detected at the basal end of auxin transport-competent cells in vascular tissue. AtPIN1 may act as a transmembrane component of the auxin efflux carrier.