AG and AGL Functions in Early Flower Development

花同源基因AGAMOUS （AG）是指定生殖器官鉴定和控制一个确定的花分生组织所必需的。根据花器官鉴定的ABC模型，AG是C功能所需的唯一已知基因。该实验室之前的工作已经证明，AG在花中也足以赋予C功能。本实验室最近的研究结果表明，AG是花分生组织特性的重要调节因子，它在不利于开花的条件下控制分生组织。在本提案中，马博士将着重于利用遗传和分子方法进一步表征AG功能。他将描述最近发现的两个弱ag突变体的表型特征。这些突变体的分析将为研究AG的功能提供新的思路。他将测试AG基因之间可能的相互作用，介导光对开花的控制。这可能揭示了AG的功能是如何受光信号调节的。他将通过分离增强和抑制突变来识别参与AG功能的新基因。这些新的突变应该为更好地理解AG功能提供新的切入点。此外，还将构建具有诱导AG功能的新构建体，分析AG作用的有效时空范围，为进一步研究AG功能（如靶基因的鉴定）做准备。这些研究可能会产生关于AG功能的新见解，以及关于MADS盒子基因的新见解。此外，在这些研究过程中产生的遗传资源将成为社区中其他人的宝贵工具。

The floral homeotic gene AGAMOUS (AG) is required for specifying reproductive organ identify and for controlling a determinate floral meristem. According to the ABC model for floral organ identify, AG is the only known gene required for the C function. Previous work in this laboratory has contributed to the demonstration that AG is also sufficient within the flower to confer C function. More recent results from this lab have shown that AG is an important regulator of floral meristem identity in that it controls the meristem under conditions not favorable for flowering. In this proposal, Dr. Ma will focus on the further characterization of AG function using genetic and molecular approaches. He will characterize the phenotypes of two recently discovered weak ag mutants. Analysis of these mutants will shed new light on AG function. He will test for possible interaction between AG genes mediating control of flowering by light. This may reveal how AG function my be regulated by light signals. He will identify new genes that participate in AG function by isolating enhancer and suppressor mutations. These new mutations should provide new entry points to a better understanding of AG function. In addition, new constructs that provide inducible AG function will be made to analyze the effective temporal and spatial ranges of AG action, and to prepare for further studies of AG functions, such as the identification of target genes. These studies will likely produce new insights about AG functions, and about MADS box genes in general. In addition, the genetic resources that will be generated during these studies will be valuable tools to others in the community.