DAGOLIGN: Development and growth of leaves: identification of genetic networks

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0080

Key words (English)

Education; Training; Scientific Research; Social Aspects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: -HPRN-CT-2002-00267

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 4.1.1 Research training networks

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

The project aims at identifying the molecular components of the genetic networks controlling the architecture, growth and shape of leaves by using Arabidopsis as a model for simple leaf formation and its close relative Cardamine as a model for compound leaf formation. In Arabidospsis a set of 94 leaf mutant will form the core for high throughput positional cloning of growth and regulatory genes by using AFLP, INDEL and SNP molecular marker technology. Differential cDNA display on the leaf -inducible pin 1-1 Arabidopsis shoot apex will identify leafarchitecture genes. A set of knockout and activation tagged Arabidopsis lines is available and will be screened for additional leaf phenotypes, some of the sequences of the insertion sites will be used for reversed genetics.

The regulatory pathway controlled by the myb transcription factor, myb F23N20, with specific expression in the leaves will be analysed by using functional genomics tools. Genes that control compound leaf formation will be identified either in mutant screens or from the analysis of the KNOX pathway in Cardamine. The genetic networks themselves will be unravelled by investigation of the gene interactions at the genetic level. A model for growth in leaves using several parameters will be determined for simple and compound leaf wild types, which will enable to classify the mutants according to their growth defects. Genome-wide gene expression analyses will be performed on wild type and mutants at different growth stages by micro-array analysis in order to describe the molecular pathways that are acting during a specific growth stage or that are induced or inactivated upon mutation. A knowledge database will be generated for the in depth study of genotype-phenotype.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0080