Abstract
We report here the isolation and characterization of a cotyledon-specific albino locus of Arabidopsis, WHITE COTYLEDONS (WCO). This recessive mutation in the WCO locus, located on the top of Chromosome 1, results in albino cotyledons but green true leaves. An accumulation profile of chlorophylls and ultrastructure of chloroplasts indicate that WCO is necessary for development of functional chloroplasts in cotyledons but is dispensable in true leaves. This was further supported by the fact that the mutants request feeding of sucrose for their survival at the early seedling stage where true leaves have not emerged, but the mutants which have developed true leaves are able to grow autotrophically without sucrose supplementation. The wco mutants accumulate low levels of chloroplast mRNA encoding photosynthesis-related proteins and have a specific defect in 16S rRNA maturation in a cotyledon-specific manner. Although wco mutants exhibited abnormal chloroplasts and chloroplast gene expression in cotyledons, nuclear genes for photosynthetic components are expressed at similar levels to those found in wild-type siblings. This lack of suppression of the nuclear genes is not due to a defect in the signaling of the so-called "plastid factor" to the nucleus since normal suppression of the nuclear genes was observed in response to the photo-oxidative damage due to norflurazon application.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Arabidopsis / genetics*
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Arabidopsis / growth & development
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Arabidopsis / metabolism
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Cell Nucleus / genetics
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Chlorophyll / metabolism
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Chloroplasts / genetics
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Chloroplasts / metabolism
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Chloroplasts / ultrastructure
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Chromosome Mapping
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Cotyledon / genetics*
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Cotyledon / growth & development
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Cotyledon / metabolism
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DNA, Plant / genetics
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
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Glucuronidase / drug effects
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Glucuronidase / genetics
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Glucuronidase / metabolism
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Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes*
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Mutation
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Oxidation-Reduction
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Phenotype
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Photochemistry
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Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / genetics
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Plant Development
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Plant Leaves / genetics
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Plant Leaves / metabolism
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Plants / drug effects
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Plants / genetics
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Plants, Genetically Modified
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Pyridazines / pharmacology
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RNA, Plant / genetics
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RNA, Plant / metabolism
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / physiology
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / drug effects
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Sucrose / pharmacology
Substances
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DNA, Plant
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Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes
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Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
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Pyridazines
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RNA, Plant
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Chlorophyll
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Sucrose
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Glucuronidase
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norflurazone