Studies on the mechanisms of leaf formation from the viewpoint of shoot meristem function

本研究旨在揭示新梢分生组织的叶片形成机制。我们克隆了与地上部分生组织维持和叶片形态发生相关的WAF1基因。WAF1在小RNAa的调节中发挥作用。关于叶原基形成的时间调控，我们新发现了PLA3基因。结合PLA1和PLA2的结果，表明来自原有叶原基的信号在新叶原基的形成中起着重要的作用。我们还鉴定了调控叶片正面-背面、中央-侧向和基端-顶端格局的基因。

This research project has been carried out to reveal the mechanisms of leaf formation in relation to shoot meristem. We identified WAF1 gene that was associated with shoot meriatem maintenance and leaf morphogenesis. WAF1 functions in the regulation of small RNAa. As for temporal regulation of leaf primordium formation, we newly identified PLA3 gene. Together with the results of PLA1 and PLA2, it is indicated that signals from preexisting leaf primordia play important role on the formation of new leaf primordium. We also identified genes that regulate adaxial-abaxial, central-lateral and basal-apical patterns of leaves.