Identification and genetic mapping of four novel genes that regulate leaf development in Arabidopsis

Molecular and genetic characterizations of mutants have led to a better understanding of many developmental processes in the model system Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the leaf development that is specific to plants has been little studied. With the aim of contributing to the genetic dissection of leaf development, we have performed a large-scare screening for mutants with abnormal leaves. Among a great number of leaf mutants we have generated by T-DNA and transposon tagging and ethylmethae sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis, four independent mutant lines have been identified and studied genetically. Phenotypes of these mutant lines represent the defects of four novel nuclear genes designated LL1 (LOTUS LEAF 1), LL2 (LOTUS LEAF 2), URO (UPRIGHT ROSETTE), and EIL (ENVIRONT CONDITION INDUCED LESION). The phenotypic analysis indicates that these genes play important roles during leaf development. FOr the further genetic analysis of these genes and the map-based cloning of LL1 and LL2, we have mapped these genes to chromosome regions with an efficient and rapid mapping method.

Isolation of a (+)-δ-cadinene synthase gene CAD1-A and analysis of its expression pattern in seedlings of Gossypium arboreum L.

The cotton sesquiterpene cyclase, (+)-δ-cadinene synthase.is encoded by a gene family, which can be divided into two subfamilies: CAD1-A and CAD1-C. The gene CAD1-A was isolated from G. arboreum. In situ hybridization performed on seven-day-old cotton seedlings localized transcripts of both the CAD1-A and CAD1-C mainly in lateral root primordium and apical ground meristem, vascular tissues of emerging lateral roots, and also in procambium and some subepidermal cells of the hypocotyl. The CAD1-A promoter showed a similar tissue-specificity in transgenic tobacco plants. Histochemistry showed occurrence of sesquiterpene aldehydes in outer cells of the lateral root tips, as well as in pigment glands. The CAD1 gene expression in G. arboreum seedlings and the spatial pattern of sesquiterpene biosynthesis constitute a chemical defense machinery in cotton seedlings.

Application of FLUPD-DD-PCR to the study of mRNA expression of glioma cells cultured under the condition of serum starvation

Fluorescently labeled universal primer directed differential display polymerase chain reaction technique (FLUPD-DD-PCR), an improved DD-PCR, is reported for the study of mRNA expression of glioma cells cultured with the serum starvation. The fluorescently labeled universal primer (FLUP) facilitates analysis of PCR products on an auto-sequencer. Compared with the traditional DD-PCR, FLUPD-DD-PCR has advantages of separation of target bands and measurement of mRNA expression quantitatively by adopting Cy5-labeled universal primer. And then the silver staining method has been used to recover the bands for use as template in re-pcr. in this study, 4 differential ESTs, of which 3 are novel ESTs, have been obtained. This work indicates some special novel genes, which can be induced to express under serum absent condition, are involved in coping with serum starvation stress on glioma cells growth.

Exon structure requirements for yeast tRNA ligase

Different nucleotides were introduced into nucleotides 32, 37 and 38 of yeast tRNAphe precursors via oligonucleotide directed mutations. Pre-tRNAs were prepared using T7-transcription in vitro and spliced with the purified yeast tRNA endonuclease and tRNA ligase. It is demonstrated that tRNA ligase activities will be inhibited by the 5’-double-stranded end of 3’-halves.