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The TUMOROUS SHOOT DEVELOPMENT2 gene of Arabidopsis encoding a putative methyltransferase is required for cell adhesion and co‐ordinated plant development
Author(s) -
Krupková Eva,
Immerzeel Peter,
Pauly Markus,
Schmülling Thomas
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2007.03123.x
Subject(s) - meristem , mutant , biology , arabidopsis , gene , cell wall , cell adhesion , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , shoot , reporter gene , gene expression , cell , botany
Summary Mutations in the TUMOROUS SHOOT DEVELOPMENT2 ( TSD2 ) gene reduce cell adhesion, and in strongly affected individuals cause non‐coordinated shoot development that leads to disorganized tumor‐like growth in vitro . tsd2 mutants showed increased activity of axial meristems, reduced root growth and enhanced de‐etiolation. The expression domains of the shoot meristem marker genes KNAT1 and KNAT2 were enlarged in the mutant background. Soil‐grown tsd2 mutants were dwarfed, but overall showed morphology similar to that of the wild‐type (WT). The TSD2 gene was identified by map‐based cloning. It encodes a novel 684 amino acid polypeptide containing a single membrane‐spanning domain in the N‐terminal part and S ‐adenosyl‐ l ‐methionine binding and methyltransferase domains in the C‐terminal part. Expression of a TSD2:GUS reporter gene was detected mainly in meristems and young tissues. A green fluorescent protein‐tagged TSD2 protein localized to the Golgi apparatus. The cell‐adhesion defects indicated altered pectin properties, and we hypothesize that TSD2 acts as a pectin methyltransferase. However, analyses of the cell‐wall composition revealed no significant differences of the monosaccharide composition, the uronic acid content and the overall degree of pectin methylesterification between tsd2 and WT. The findings support a function of TSD2 as a methyltransferase, with an essential role in cell adhesion and coordinated plant development.