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Mutation in the Arabidopisis thaliana DEK1 calpain gene perturbs endosperm and embryo development while over-expression affects organ development globally

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Abstract

A T-DNA insertion in the Arabidopsis thaliana DEK1 gene, encoding a calpain-like cysteine proteinase with a predicted membrane anchor, causes unorganized embryo development displaying irregular mitotic divisions in the embryo proper and suspensor. Embryo development is arrested at the globular stage, and the embryo proper lacks a defined protoderm. In the endosperm, the aleurone-like peripheral cell layer is partly or completely lacking. The Arabidopsis DEK1 wild-type transcript is expressed evenly throughout the endosperm and the embryo in developing seed as determined using in situ hybridization. The conclusion that the observed phenotype is caused by a T-DNA insertion in the Arabidopsis DEK1 gene is confirmed by complementation with the Arabidopisis DEK1 genomic sequence, as well as analysis of a second T-DNA insertion allele. Over-expression of the Arabidopsis DEK1 gene coding sequence under the control of the 35S promoter causes a number of developmental phenotypes, including a global lack of trichomes, leaves exhibiting improper dorsiventral symmetry and aberrant cell organization in flowers. We interpret the data to suggest a role for DEK1 in providing cells with positional clues for an appropriate developmental context within plant tissues.

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Abbreviations

DAP:

Days after pollination

dek:

Defective kernel

MPSS:

Massively parallel signature sequencing

PPB:

Preprophase band

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Barbro Sæther (Norwegian Arabidopsis Research Centre, University of Oslo, Norway) for help with in situ hybridizations, Elin Ørmen and Trygve Krekling (Agricultural University of Norway) for technical assistance with microscopy techniques, Kjetil Fosnes (Agricultural University of Norway) for technical assistance with construct design and Fred Gruis (Pioneer Hi-Bred) for critical reading of this manuscript. The work of S.E. Lid, L. Olsen, R. Nestestog and H-G. Opsahl-Sorteberg was supported by the Norwegian Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway

    Stein Erik Lid, Lene Olsen, Ragnhild Nestestog & Hilde-Gunn Opsahl-Sorteberg

  2. DuPont Crop Genetics, Molecular Genetics Group, 1 Innovation Way, Newark, DE, 19711, USA

    Milo Aukerman & Mark Mucha

  3. Department of Biology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA, 70504-2451, USA

    Roy C. Brown & Betty Lemmon

  4. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, A DuPont Company, 7300 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, 50131-1004, USA

    Odd-Arne Olsen

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  1. Stein Erik Lid
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  2. Lene Olsen
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  9. Odd-Arne Olsen
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Correspondence to Odd-Arne Olsen.

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Lid, S.E., Olsen, L., Nestestog, R. et al. Mutation in the Arabidopisis thaliana DEK1 calpain gene perturbs endosperm and embryo development while over-expression affects organ development globally. Planta 221, 339–351 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-004-1448-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-004-1448-6

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