Perspectives on Systematic Analyses of Gene Function in Arabidopsis thaliana: New Tools, Topics and Trends

Since the sequencing of the nuclear genome of Arabidopsis thaliana ten years ago, various large-scale analyses of gene function have been performed in this model species. In particular, the availability of collections of lines harbouring random T-DNA or transposon insertions, which include mutants for almost all of the ~27,000 A. thaliana genes, has been crucial for the success of forward and reverse genetic approaches. In the foreseeable future, genome-wide phenotypic data from mutant analyses will become available for Arabidopsis, and will stimulate a flood of novel in-depth gene-function analyses. In this review, we consider the present status of resources and concepts for systematic studies of gene function in A. thaliana. Current perspectives on the utility of loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutants will be discussed in light of the genetic and functional redundancy of many A. thaliana genes.

A Survey of Chloroplast Protein Kinases and Phosphatases in Arabidopsis thaliana

Protein phosphorylation is a major mode of regulation of metabolism, gene expression and cell architecture. In chloroplasts, reversible phosphorylation of proteins is known to regulate a number of prominent processes, for instance photosynthesis, gene expression and starch metabolism. The complements of the involved chloroplast protein kinases (cpPKs) and phosphatases (cpPPs) are largely unknown, except 6 proteins (4 cpPKs and 2 cpPPs) which have been experimentally identified so far. We employed combinations of programs predicting N-terminal chloroplast transit peptides (cTPs) to identify 45 tentative cpPKs and 21 tentative cpPPs. However, test sets of 9 tentative cpPKs and 13 tentative cpPPs contain only 2 and 7 genuine cpPKs and cpPPs, respectively, based on experimental subcellular localization of their N-termini fused to the reporter protein RFP. Taken together, the set of enzymes known to be involved in the reversible phosphorylation of chloroplast proteins in A. thaliana comprises altogether now 6 cpPKs and 9 cpPPs, the function of which needs to be determined in future by functional genomics approaches. This includes the calcium-regulated PK CIPK13 which we found to be located in the chloroplast, indicating that calcium-dependent signal transduction pathways also operate in this organelle.

GST-PRIME: a genome-wide primer design software for the generation of gene sequence tags

The availability of sequenced genomes has generated a need for experimental approaches that allow the simultaneous analysis of large, or even complete, sets of genes. To facilitate such analyses, we have developed GST-PRIME, a software package for retrieving and assembling gene sequences, even from complex genomes, using the NCBI public database, and then designing sets of primer pairs for use in gene amplification. Primers were designed by the program for the direct amplification of gene sequence tags (GSTs) from either genomic DNA or cDNA. Test runs of GST-PRIME on 2000 randomly selected Arabidopsis and Drosophila genes demonstrate that 93 and 88% of resulting GSTs, respectively, fulfilled imposed length criteria. GST-PRIME primer pairs were tested on a set of 1900 Arabidopsis genes coding for chloroplast-targeted proteins: 95% of the primer pairs used in PCRs with genomic DNA generated the correct amplicons. GST-PRIME can thus be reliably used for large-scale or specific amplification of intron-containing genes of multicellular eukaryotes.

Knock-out of the plastid ribosomal protein L11 in Arabidopsis: effects on mRNA translation and photosynthesis

The prpl11-1 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana was identified among a collection of T-DNA tagged lines on the basis of a decrease in the effective quantum yield of photosystem II. The mutation responsible was localized to Prpl11, a single-copy nuclear gene that encodes PRPL11, a component of the large subunit of the plastid ribosome. The amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis PRPL11 is very similar to those of L11 proteins from spinach and prokaryotes. In the prpl11-1 mutant, photosensitivity and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters are significantly altered owing to changes in the levels of thylakoid protein complexes and stromal proteins. The abundance of most plastome transcripts examined, such as those of genes coding for the photosystem II core complex and RbcL, is not decreased. Plastid ribosomal RNA accumulates in wild-type amounts, and the assembly of plastid polysomes on the transcripts of the rbcL, psbA and psbE genes remains mainly unchanged in mutant plants, indicating that lack of PRPL11 affects neither the abundance of plastid ribosomes nor their assembly into polysomes. However, in vivo translation assays demonstrate that the rate of translation of the large subunit of Rubisco (RbcL) is significantly reduced in prpl11-1 plastids. Our data suggest a major role for PRPL11 in plastid ribosome activity per se, consistent with its location near the GTPase-binding centre of the chloroplast 50S ribosomal subunit. Additional effects of the mutation, including the pale green colour of the leaves and a drastic reduction in growth rate under greenhouse conditions, are compatible with reduced levels of protein synthesis in plastids.

Disruption of the Arabidopsis photosystem I gene psaE1 affects photosynthesis and impairs growth

The psae1-1 mutant of Arabidopsis was identified on the basis of a decrease in the effective quantum yield of photosystem II, among a collection of plants subjected to transposon tagging with the Enhancer element. The steady-state redox level and the rate of re-oxidation of P700 are significantly altered in psae1-1 mutants. The responsible mutation was localised to psaE1, one of two Arabidopsis genes that encode subunit E of photosystem I. An additional mutant allele, psae1-2, was identified by reverse genetics. In wild-type plants, the psaE1 transcript is expressed at a higher level than psaE2 mRNA. In the mutants, however, the E1 transcript was barely detectable, and was expressed only in small groups of wild-type cells resulting from somatic reversions. As a consequence, the amount of PsaE protein present in the mutant is significantly reduced. Concomitantly, the levels of other stromal photosystem I subunits (PsaC and PsaD) are also affected. Mutant plants showed a marked increase in light sensitivity and photoinhibition. Additional effects of the psae1 mutation include light green pigmentation, an increase in chlorophyll fluorescence and a decrease of approximately 50% in growth rate under greenhouse conditions.

The Mla (powdery mildew) resistance cluster is associated with three NBS-LRR gene families and suppressed recombination within a 240-kb DNA interval on chromosome 5S (1HS) of barley

Powdery mildew of barley, caused by Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei, is a model system for investigating the mechanism of gene-for-gene interaction between large-genome cereals and obligate-fungal pathogens. A large number of loci that confer resistance to this disease are located on the short arm of chromosome 5(1H). The Mla resistance-gene cluster is positioned near the telomeric end of this chromosome arm. AFLP-, RAPD-, and RFLP-derived markers were used to saturate the Mla region in a high-resolution recombinant population segregating for the (Mla6 + Mla14) and (Mla13 + Ml-Ru3) resistance specificities. These tightly linked genetic markers were used to identify and develop a physical contig of YAC and BAC clones spanning the Mla cluster. Three distinct NBS-LRR resistance-gene homologue (RGH) families were revealed via computational analysis of low-pass and BAC-end sequence data derived from Mla-spanning clones. Genetic and physical mapping delimited the Mla-associated, NBS-LRR gene families to a 240-kb interval. Recombination within the RGH families was at least 10-fold less frequent than between markers directly adjacent to the Mla cluster.

A superfamily of disease resistance gene analogs is located on all homoeologous chromosome groups of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

In this study, resistance gene analogs (RGAs) which were isolated from monocot crop species (wheat, barley, maize and rice) and contained conserved sequence motifs found within the nucleotide binding site - leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR) class of resistance genes, were used to assess their distribution in the wheat genome. The RGAs showed 30-70% amino acid identity to a previously isolated monocot NBS-LRR sequence from the Cre3 locus for cereal cyst nematode (CCN) resistance in wheat. We used the RGAs as probes to identify and map loci in wheat using recombinant inbred lines of an international Triticeae mapping family. RGA loci mapped across all seven homoeologous chromosome groups of wheat. This study demonstrated that the RGA mapping approach provides potential entry points toward identifying resistance gene candidates in wheat.Key words: wheat, disease resistance genes, nucleotide binding site, leucine rich repeat, resistance gene analogs.

Rapid reorganization of resistance gene homologues in cereal genomes

We used conserved domains in the major class (nucleotide binding site plus leucine-rich repeat) of dicot resistance (R) genes to isolate related gene fragments via PCR from the monocot species rice and barley. Peptide sequence comparison of dicot R genes and monocot R-like genes revealed shared motifs but provided no evidence for a monocot-specific signature. Mapping of these genes in rice and barley showed linkage to genetically characterized R genes and revealed the existence of mixed clusters, each harboring at least two highly dissimilar R-like genes. Diversity was detected intraspecifically with wide variation in copy number between varieties of a particular species. Interspecific analyses of R-like genes frequently revealed nonsyntenic map locations between the cereal species rice, barley, and foxtail millet although tight collinear gene order is a hallmark of monocot genomes. Our data suggest a dramatic rearrangement of R gene loci between related species and implies a different mechanism for nucleotide binding site plus leucine-rich repeat gene evolution compared with the rest of the monocot genome.

A PCR-based approach for isolating pathogen resistance genes from potato with potential for wide application in plants

Plant genes for pathogen resistance can be used to engineer disease resistant crops. Oligonucleotides were designed from sequence motifs conserved between resistance genes of tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana and used as PCR primers in potato DNA. Amplification products were obtained that were homologous to known resistance genes and linked without recombination with the nematode resistance locus Gro1 and the Phytophthora infestans resistance locus R7 of potato. Map positions of PCR-derived potato gene fragments were also correlated with resistance loci of the related tomato and tobacco genomes. Our results indicate that plant resistance genes that are effective against nematodes, fungi, viruses and bacteria may be isolated based on common sequence motifs and PCR methodology.

Marker enrichment and high-resolution map of the segment of potato chromosome VII harbouring the nematode resistance gene Gro1

The dominant allele Gro1 confers on potato resistance to the root cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis. The Gro1 locus has been mapped to chromosome VII on the genetic map of potato, using RFLP markers. This makes possible the cloning of Gro1 based on its map position. As part of this strategy we have constructed a high-resolution genetic map of the chromosome segment surrounding Gro1, based on RFLP, RAPD and AFLP markers. RAPD and AFLP markers closely linked to Gro1 were selected by bulked segregant analysis and mapped relative to the Gro1 locus in a segregating population of 1105 plants. Three RFLP and one RAPD marker were found to be inseparable from the Gro1 locus. Two AFLP markers were identified that flanked Gro1 at genetic distances of 0.6 cM and 0.8 cM, respectively. A genetic distance of 1 cM in the Gro1 region corresponds to a physical distance of ca. 100 kb as estimated by long-range restriction analysis. Marker-assisted selection for nematode resistance was accomplished in the course of constructing the high-resolution map. Plants carrying the resistance allele Gro1 could be distinguished from susceptible plants by marker assays based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

A high-resolution map of the vicinity of the R1 locus on chromosome V of potato based on RFLP and AFLP markers

The R1 allele confers on potato a race-specific resistance to Phytophthora infestans. The corresponding genetic locus maps on chromosome V in a region in which several other resistance genes are also located. As part of a strategy for cloning R1, a high-resolution genetic map was constructed for the segment of chromosome V that is bordered by the RFLP loci GP21 and GP179 and includes the R1 locus. Bulked segregant analysis and markers based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP markers) were used to select molecular markers closely linked to R1. Twenty-nine of approximately 3200 informative AFLP loci displayed linkage to the R1 locus. Based on the genotypic analysis of 461 gametes, eight loci mapped within the GP21-GP179 interval. Two of those could not be separated from R1 by recombination. For genotyping large numbers of plants with respect to the flanking markers GP21 and GP179 PCR based assays were also developed which allowed marker-assisted selection of plants with genotypes Rr and rr and of recombinant plants.

Co-replication of several isotypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus

Genome segments of the foot-and-mouth disease virus isolates O1Lombardy and O3 Venezuela that encode, among other products, capsid protein VP1 were amplified using PCR, and the products were cloned and sequenced. The alignment of up to 11 O3-specific sequences revealed six silent nucleotide changes a well as six changes that cause amino acid substitutions in capsid protein VP1 at positions 45, 83, 141, 145, 170 and 178. The heterogeneity of three O1-specific sequences consisted of seven silent exchanges and amino acid changes at positions 85 and 134 on VP1. Amplification, subclonning and sequencing of cloned O3-specific cDNA was performed to examine the nature of the sequence heterogeneity. As no difference was found among five subcloned sequences, we conclude that the Taq polymerase copied the DNA correctly. The sequence heterogeneity observed with both virus isolates is, therefore, consistent with the quasispecies structure of foot-and-mouth disease virus. Furthermore, amino acid changes at a number of sites have been found to be involved in the formation or modulation of neutralizing epitopes. The novel aspect of this study is the ability to estimate, by cloning of PCR products, the number of virus isotypes, possibly varying in antigenicity, that are able to co-propagate. Seven isotypes of O3 Venezuela were identified. Some are of particular interest because they exhibit a change at VP1 codon 145 that causes the replacement of arginine, possibly essential for virus attachment to cells, by isoleucine.