The plant-specific G protein γ subunit AGG3 influences organ size and shape in Arabidopsis thaliana

Shengjun Li; Yaju Liu; Leiying Zheng; Liangliang Chen; Na Li; Fiona Corke; Yaru Lu; Xiangdong Fu; Zhengge Zhu; Michael W Bevan; Yunhai Li

doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04083.x

The plant-specific G protein γ subunit AGG3 influences organ size and shape in Arabidopsis thaliana

New Phytol. 2012 May;194(3):690-703. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04083.x. Epub 2012 Mar 1.

Authors

Shengjun Li^{1

2}, Yaju Liu¹, Leiying Zheng³, Liangliang Chen^{1

2}, Na Li¹, Fiona Corke⁴, Yaru Lu^{1

5}, Xiangdong Fu¹, Zhengge Zhu⁵, Michael W Bevan⁴, Yunhai Li¹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
² Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China.
³ Centre of Bioenergy, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
⁴ Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
⁵ College of Biological Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China.

PMID: 22380792
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04083.x

Abstract

• Control of organ size and shape by cell proliferation and cell expansion is a fundamental developmental process, but the mechanisms that set the size and shape of determinate organs are largely unknown in plants. • Molecular, genetic, cytological and biochemical approaches were used to characterize the roles of the Arabidopsis thaliana G protein γ subunit (AGG3) gene in organ growth. • Here, we describe A. thaliana AGG3, which promotes petal growth by increasing the period of cell proliferation. Both the N-terminal region and the C-terminal domains of AGG3 are necessary for the function of AGG3. By contrast, analysis of a series of AGG3 derivatives with deletions in specific domains showed that the deletion of any of these domains cannot completely abolish the function of AGG3. The GFP-AGG3 fusion protein is localized to the plasma membrane. The predicted transmembrane domain plays an important role in the plasma membrane localization of AGG3. Genetic analyses revealed that AGG3 action requires a functional G protein α subunit (GPA1) and G protein β subunit (AGB1). • Our findings demonstrate that AGG3, GPA1 and AGB1 act in the same genetic pathway to influence organ size and shape in A. thaliana.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Arabidopsis / anatomy & histology*
Arabidopsis / genetics*
Arabidopsis / growth & development
Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
Brassica rapa / genetics
Cell Membrane / metabolism
Cell Proliferation
Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism
Flowers / anatomy & histology
Flowers / genetics
Flowers / growth & development
Fruit / anatomy & histology
Fruit / genetics
Fruit / growth & development
GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / genetics
GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / metabolism
GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits / genetics
GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits / metabolism
GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits / genetics
GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits / metabolism*
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / genetics*
Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
Plant Leaves / anatomy & histology
Plant Leaves / genetics
Plant Leaves / growth & development
Plants, Genetically Modified
Recombinant Fusion Proteins
Sequence Deletion
Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

AGB1 protein, Arabidopsis
AGG3 protein, Arabidopsis
Arabidopsis Proteins
Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
GPA1 protein, Arabidopsis
GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits
GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits
GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits
Recombinant Fusion Proteins
STN1 protein, Arabidopsis
Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins