Adaxial-abaxial patterning: a novel function of the GABA shunt

Plant Signal Behav. 2012 Jul;7(7):705-7. doi: 10.4161/psb.20346. Epub 2012 Jul 1.

Abstract

Adaxial-abaxial patterning in lateral organ development is important for proper tissue differentiation and the entire shape of the organs. Although many transcriptional regulators are known to be involved in adaxial-abaxial patterning, the molecular mechanisms of the initial step of adaxial-abaxial polarity formation are still unclear. To determine these mechanisms, we have been analyzing the abaxial-specific expression of FILAMENTOUS FLOWER (FIL), which encodes a putative transcription factor. Recently, we found that the enf1 mutant, which has a mutation in the succinicsemialdehyde (SSA)-degrading enzyme, reduces the robustness of FIL expression patterning and has abnormally shaped leaves. ( 1) Here, we show that the transcriptomic data of enf1 provide more information on the relationship between SSA and adaxial-abaxial patterning, and we discuss the novel metabolic pathways of SSA production and the potential that the enf1 mutant represents a new tool in research on adaxial-abaxial polarity formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Biological Transport
  • Body Patterning* / genetics
  • Cotyledon / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant / genetics
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid