RUL1 to RUL3:Characterization of three novel genes from Arabidopsis thaliana

在共塑连接改变的突变筛选中，发现了一个基因（RUG8），该基因编码一种以前未被表征的“功能未知的蛋白质”。我们发现该蛋白很可能是一种新的转录因子，影响拟南芥根系发育，包括静止中心的形成、细胞成熟和径向模式，以及根细胞之间的共塑性连接。本研究重点研究了与RUG8具有显著结构和序列同源性的三个类似RUG8的基因，RUL1至RUL3。像RUG8一样，这些基因编码以前未被表征的蛋白质。所有三个RUL3 cdna和启动子都被克隆，并对可用的突变系进行了初步分析。由于RUG8、RUL2和RUL3是核定位的，对RUL3突变体的首次分析揭示了与RUG8突变体相似的表型改变（韧皮部GFP卸载减少和根发育改变）。本项目的目的是研究RUL1、RUL2和RUL3的功能和生理特征。

In a mutant screen for altered symplastic connectivity, a gene (RUG8) was identified that encodes a previously uncharacterized “protein of unknown function”. We showed that this protein is most likely a novel transcription factor that affects Arabidopsis root development, including the formation of the quiescent center, cellular maturation and radial patterning - but also the symplastic connectivity between root cells. The present proposal focuses on the characterization of three RUG8-like genes, RUL1 to RUL3 that show significant structural and sequence homologies to RUG8. Like RUG8, these genes encode previously uncharacterized proteins. All three RUL3 cDNAs and promoters were cloned, and preliminary analyses of available mutant lines were performed. As RUG8, RUL2 and RUL3 are nuclear localized, and first analyses of a rul3 mutant revealed phenotypic alterations (reduced unloading of GFP from the phloem and altered root development) that are similar to those found in rug8 mutants. The aim of the present project is the functional and physiological characterization of RUL1, RUL2 and RUL3.