18th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Cloning and Tissue Expression Studies of a KANADI4-like Gene from Zea mays
Jacqueline E. Weiss♦
Dr. Diane Janick-Buckner and Dr. Brent Buckner, Faculty Mentors
As part of a collaborative effort to identify genes involved in meristem function and early aspects of leaf development in maize, we are cloning maize homologs of known meristematic genes required in Arabidopsis. In Arabidopsis, the four KANADI gene family members are GARP domain-containing putative transcription factors. They are expressed in meristematic tissues of the plant, including vegetative and floral meristems. KANADI1-4 perform redundant functions and are involved in pattern formation of primordial leaves. Using the Arabidopsis KANADI protein sequences as queries of various maize sequence databases, we have identified an EST which is likely to encode a maize KANADI4-like protein. RT-PCR was performed on RNA isolated from shoot apical meristem-enriched tissue to demonstrate that this sequence is expressed in this tissue in maize. RT-PCR experiments on a variety of tissues demonstrates that the maize Kanadi4-like gene is expressed in meristematic tissue, data which is consistent with expression of Aradidopsis KANADI4.
Keywords: maize, KANADI, transcription factor, Arabidopsis
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 25-4
Location: VH 1432
Time: 10:30