Award details

Genetic regulation of leaf development

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA245
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Mary Byrne
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	127,529
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	02/05/2006
End date	01/05/2009
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Shoots are derived from a group of cells at the apex of the plant. These cells are organized into a defined structure called the shoot apical meristem. Cells in the centre of the meristem are undifferentiated and divide to give rise to daughter cells in the peripheral region of the meristem. Some of these peripheral region cells undergo many divisions and differentiate in the process of forming a leaf. The flattened simple leaf lamina of Arabidopsis and many other plants result from development along three axes. These are from tip-to-base, top-to-bottom and middle-to-edge. I am interested in genes that control these early events in leaf development. Mutations in the gene ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 (AS1) in Arabidopsis result in changes in leaf development. as1 leaves are lobed compared with the simple leaf of wild type. Another set of genes further alters the as1 mutant leaf. These modifiers of as1 are called PIGGYBACK (PGY) genes. Mutations in PGY genes by themselves do not significantly affect leaf development. However, plants carrying both pgy and as1 mutations form leaf outgrowths on the top surface of the main plant leaf. The development of these extra leaves is similar to that of normal leaves. Therefore studying PGY genes will help us understand how normal leaves develop. One PGY gene has been cloned. The research we are carrying out aims to determine how this PGY gene affects leaf development by analysis of interactions with other genes required for leaf development. The research also aims to determine the molecular function of this PGY gene.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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