Role of AGL11 in Ovule and Seed Development

植物生殖发育是近年来研究的热点，MADS-box调控基因家族成员已被证明控制这一复杂过程的关键方面。心皮和由此产生的果实可以说是最复杂的植物器官，而MADS-box基因的AGAMOUS （AG）分支是心皮和果实发育所必需的。在这一单系分支中有4个密切相关的基因，包括AG、SHATTERPROOF1 （SHP1）、SHP2和AGL11。AG基因编码公认的花器官鉴定ABC模式的C功能，是心皮鉴定所必需的。SHP基因在果实发育过程中发挥冗余作用，以指定开裂区的分化，这是种子传播所必需的过程。这一重要基因分支的最后一个成员AGL11的突变等位基因已经被分离出来。对agl11突变体的初步分析表明，agl11是正常胚珠和种子发育以及种子正常传播过程所必需的。此外，当AGL11突变与SHP1和SHP2突变结合时，胚珠发育完全被破坏。这些研究表明，AGL11、SHP1和SHP2在确定胚珠身份方面起着冗余的作用。有了AGL11突变等位基因，下一步不仅是确定AGL11在胚珠/心皮/种子/果实发育中的作用，而且是全面剖析AG基因分支的个体和冗余活性。这些研究对研究不同植物种类的类似发育过程具有深远的意义。最初的研究将集中在agl11和agl11 shp1 shp2突变表型的详细描述上。为了充分探索AG与该基因分支的其他成员的个体和重叠活性，我们将制作AG的不稳定等位基因。我们将探索AGL11和其他agg进化支基因之间的相互作用，以及许多已知的参与胚珠和心皮发育的基因。这些研究将涉及将这些胚珠/心皮发育基因的突变等位基因引入agl11和agl11 shp1 shp2突变背景。在这些基因研究的同时，AGL11 RNA的表达将在每个突变体中进行监测，我们将监测AGL11和AGL11 shp1 shp2背景中每个胚珠/心皮发育基因的表达。这些研究将为理解拟南芥胚珠/心皮/种子/果实发育的遗传和分子相互作用提供一个概念框架。

0110462YanofskyPlant reproductive development has been the subject of intensive investigation in recent years, and members of the MADS-box family of regulatory genes have been shown to control key aspects of this complex process. The carpels and resulting fruit are arguably the most complex plant organs, and the AGAMOUS (AG) clade of MADS-box genes is necessary for carpel and fruit development. There are four closely related genes within this monophyletic clade, including AG, SHATTERPROOF1 (SHP1), SHP2 and AGL11. The AG gene, which encodes the C function of the widely-recognized ABC model of flower organ identity, is necessary for carpel identity. The SHP genes act redundantly during fruit development to specify differentiation of the dehiscence zone, a process that is required for seed dispersal. Mutant alleles for AGL11, the final member of this important clade of genes have been isolated. The initial analyses of agl11 mutants demonstrate that AGL11 is required for normal ovule and seed development, and for the normal process of seed dispersal. Moreover, when mutations in AGL11 are combined with mutations in both SHP1 and SHP2, ovule development is completely abolished. These studies indicate that AGL11, SHP1 and SHP2 act redundantly to specify ovule identity. With agl11-mutant alleles in hand, the next step is not only to define the roles of AGL11 during ovule/carpel/seed/fruit development, but to fully dissect the individual and redundant activities of the AG clade of genes. These studies should have far-reaching implications for the study of similar developmental processes in diverse plant species. Initial studies will focus on a detailed description of the agl11 and agl11 shp1 shp2 mutant phenotypes. Unstable alleles of AG will be made in order to fully explore the individual and overlapping activities of AG with the other members of this gene clade. Interactions will be explored between AGL11 and the other AG-clade genes with the many known genes involved in ovule and carpel development. These studies will involve the introduction of mutant alleles for these ovule/carpel development genes into the agl11 and agl11 shp1 shp2 mutant backgrounds. In parallel with these genetic studies, the expression of AGL11 RNA will be monitored in each of these mutants and we will monitor the expression of each of the ovule/carpel development genes in the agl11 and agl11 shp1 shp2 backgrounds. Together these studies should provide a conceptual framework for understanding the genetic and molecular interactions that underlie ovule/carpel/seed/fruit development in Arabidopsis.