Award details

GLK genes and the development of photosynthetic cell-types

Reference	G14764
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Jane Langdale
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Oxford
Department	Plant Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	218,456
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	29/10/2001
End date	28/10/2004
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Characterisation of the G2 gene in maize has led to the discovery of G2-like (GLK) genes in a number of plant species. GLK genes, which encode transcriptional activators that are expressed only in green tissues, have not been identified in any non-plant species. These observations, along with the g2 mutant phenotype in maize, suggest that GLK genes promote photosynthetic cell-type differentiation. This proposal aims to test two hypotheses. First, that a pair of GLK genes function reductantly to regulate photosynthetic development in C3 plants. Second, that either through spatial restriction or by specialisation of function, these genes do not act redundantly in all photosynthetic cell-types of C4 plants. Instead, the nature of GLK gene action within a particular cell determines whether that cell differentiates as C4 bundle sheath, C4 mesophyll or C3 mesophyll. The work will provide further insight into a fundamental process in plant development and may provide a unifying explanation of how photosynthetic differentiation is regulated in C4 and C3 plants.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
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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