TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular cloning of ABNORMAL FLORAL ORGANS
T2 - A gene required for flower development in Arabidopsis
AU - Mande, Kumaran Kuppusamy
AU - De, Ye
AU - Yang, Wei Cai
AU - Griffith, Megan E.
AU - Chaudhury, Abdul M.
AU - Sundaresan, Venkatesan
PY - 1999/1/1
Y1 - 1999/1/1
N2 - We report the cloning and characterization of the gene ABNORMAL FLORAL ORGANS (AFO), which is required for normal flower development in Arabidopsis. afo mutant flowers show defects in all four floral whorls. The number of organs in each whorl varies. Most flowers consist of reduced numbers of petals and stamens, even though supernumerary sepals and carpels may be observed. Abnormal organ structure is evident from an early stage. Mosaic first whorl organs are common, with some sepals taking on petaloid or staminoid characteristics. Stamens are often deformed, having thin filaments and reduced anthers, yet occasionally producing viable pollen. Partial fertility is indicated by some seed setting. The afo-1 mutation is caused by insertion of a gene trap Ds transposable element. The AFO gene was cloned and is predicted to encode a novel protein of 229 amino acids. The expression of AFO mRNA by northern blot analysis in combination with mutant phenotype suggests that the AFO gene product plays an important role in Arabidopsis flower development. We also report that antherless, a previously described male-sterile mutation, is allelic to afo-1.
AB - We report the cloning and characterization of the gene ABNORMAL FLORAL ORGANS (AFO), which is required for normal flower development in Arabidopsis. afo mutant flowers show defects in all four floral whorls. The number of organs in each whorl varies. Most flowers consist of reduced numbers of petals and stamens, even though supernumerary sepals and carpels may be observed. Abnormal organ structure is evident from an early stage. Mosaic first whorl organs are common, with some sepals taking on petaloid or staminoid characteristics. Stamens are often deformed, having thin filaments and reduced anthers, yet occasionally producing viable pollen. Partial fertility is indicated by some seed setting. The afo-1 mutation is caused by insertion of a gene trap Ds transposable element. The AFO gene was cloned and is predicted to encode a novel protein of 229 amino acids. The expression of AFO mRNA by northern blot analysis in combination with mutant phenotype suggests that the AFO gene product plays an important role in Arabidopsis flower development. We also report that antherless, a previously described male-sterile mutation, is allelic to afo-1.
KW - ABNORMAL FLORAL ORGANS (AFO)
KW - Antherless
KW - Arabidopsis
KW - Ds transposable elements
KW - Flower development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032782285&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s004970050180
DO - 10.1007/s004970050180
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0032782285
SN - 0934-0882
VL - 12
SP - 118
EP - 122
JO - Sexual Plant Reproduction
JF - Sexual Plant Reproduction
IS - 2
ER -