Analysis of Vascular Pattern Formation in Leaves of Arabidopsis

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The PI proposes to identify the components of leaf vascular pattern formation, using a molecular genetic approach in Arabidopsis. The formation of the leaf vascular pattern has developmental consequences beyond the simple siting of veins. The developing veins of the leaf primordium appear to serve as morphogenetic centers that organize spatially much if not most of the differentiating leaf cell types. This makes functional sense, since many of the cell types must function in cooperation with the veins, requiring a defined spatial relationship. However, little is understood of the basis of the vascular pattern formation process, and both descriptive and experimental work is needed. Based on preliminary studies, vascular patterning is subject to genetic manipulation, in some but not all cases with effects on leaf morphology. This project includes the following three aims:1. Characterize four existing molecular markers for provascular cells in leaf primordia 2. Use a cell ablation strategy to address whether the developing vascular pattern directly influences leaf morphology and cell differentiation (as the PI hypothesizes) or whether vascularization accomodates leaf shapes and cell patterns created by other means3. Determine the roles of genes identified by existing and new vascular patterning mutants