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E van der Knaap

Publications and source records attributed to E van der Knaap.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

High-resolution fine mapping and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of sun, a locus controlling tomato fruit shape, reveals a region of the tomato genome prone to DNA rearrangements.

The locus sun on the short arm of tomato chromosome 7 controls morphology of the fruit. Alleles from wild relatives impart a round shape, while alleles from certain cultivated varieties impart an oval shape typical of roma-type tomatoes. We fine mapped the locus in two populations and investigated the genome organization of the region spanning and flanking sun. The first high-resolution genetic map of the sun locus was constructed using a nearly isogenic F(2) population derived from a cross between Lycopersicon pennellii introgression line IL7-4 and L. esculentum cv Sun1642. The mapping combined with results from pachytene FISH experiments demonstrated that the top of chromosome 7 is inverted in L. pennellii accession LA716. sun was located close to the chromosomal breakpoint and within the inversion, thereby precluding map-based cloning of the gene using this population. The fruit-shape locus was subsequently fine mapped in a population derived from a cross between L. esculentum Sun1642 and L. pimpinellifolium LA1589. Chromosome walking using clones identified from several large genomic insert libraries resulted in two noncontiguous contigs flanking sun. Fiber-FISH analysis showed that distance between the two contigs measured 68 kb in L. esculentum Sun1642 and 38 kb in L. pimpinellifolium LA1589, respectively. The sun locus mapped between the two contigs, suggesting that allelic variation at this locus may be due to an insertion/deletion event. The results demonstrate that sun is located in a highly dynamic region of the tomato genome.

Chromosome Mapping↗

The making of a bell pepper-shaped tomato fruit: identification of loci controlling fruit morphology in Yellow Stuffer tomato.

The heirloom tomato cultivar Yellow Stuffer produces fruit that are similar in shape and structure to fruit produced by the bell pepper varieties of garden pepper. To determine the genetic basis of this extreme fruit type in tomato, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was performed on an F(2) population derived from a cross between Yellow Stuffer and the related species, Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium, which produces a small, round fruit typical of most wild species. F(2) plants were analyzed for both fruit size and the degree to which their fruit resembled the bell pepper. Three QTL were determined to influence bell pepper shape and seven QTL influenced fruit mass. The map positions of all three bell shape and six out of seven fruit size QTL appear to be allelic to components of fruit morphology analyzed in this population and to major fruit morphology QTL reported previously, adding support to the hypothesis that the majority of fruit size and shape variation in cultivated tomato is attributable to allelic variation at a limited number of loci. However, novel loci controlling components of fruit morphology, such as elongated fruit shape, bumpiness, number of seed per fruit and flowers per inflorescence were identified in this study as well. The three bell shape loci involved are: bell2.1, bell2.2 and bell8.1, and appear to correspond to locule number2.1 ( lcn2.1) and fruit weight 2.2 ( fw2.2) and fruit shape 8.1 ( fs8.1), respectively. The Yellow Stuffer alleles at lcn2.1 and fw2.2 increase locule number and fruit size, respectively, hence contributing to the overall bell pepper shape. The Yellow Stuffer allele at fs8.1 causes convex locule walls, giving the extended, bumpy shape characteristic of bell peppers. In addition, most fruit size QTL correspond to loci controlling number of flowers per inflorescence and/or stem-end blockiness. Comparisons among previously identified fruit morphology loci in tomato, eggplant and pepper suggest that loci affecting several aspects of fruit morphology may be due to pleiotrophic effects of the same, orthologous loci in these species. Moreover, it appears that the evolution of bell pepper-shaped tomato fruit may have proceeded through mutations of some of the same genes that led to bell pepper-type fruit in garden pepper.

Capsicum↗

A novel gibberellin-induced gene from rice and its potential regulatory role in stem growth.

Os-GRF1 (Oryza sativa-GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR1) was identified in a search for genes that are differentially expressed in the intercalary meristem of deepwater rice (Oryza sativa L.) internodes in response to gibberellin (GA). Os-GRF1 displays general features of transcription factors, contains a functional nuclear localization signal, and has three regions with similarities to sequences in the database. One of these regions is similar to a protein interaction domain of SWI2/SNF2, which is a subunit of a chromatin-remodeling complex in yeast. The two other domains are novel and found only in plant proteins of unknown function. To study its role in plant growth, Os-GRF1 was expressed in Arabidopsis. Stem elongation of transformed plants was severely inhibited, and normal growth could not be recovered by the application of GA. Our results indicate that Os-GRF1 belongs to a novel class of plant proteins and may play a regulatory role in GA-induced stem elongation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of a gibberellin-induced leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase in deepwater rice and its interaction with kinase-associated protein phosphatase.

We identified in deepwater rice (Oryza sativa L.) a gene encoding a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like transmembrane protein kinase, OsTMK (O. sativa transmembrane kinase). The transcript levels of OsTMK increased in the rice internode in response to gibberellin. Expression of OsTMK was especially high in regions undergoing cell division and elongation. The kinase domain of OsTMK was enzymatically active, autophosphorylating on serine and threonine residues. A cDNA encoding a rice ortholog of a kinase-associated type 2C protein phosphatase (OsKAPP) was cloned. KAPPs are putative downstream components in kinase-mediated signal transduction pathways. The kinase interaction domain of OsKAPP was phosphorylated in vitro by the kinase domain of OsTMK. RNA gel-blot analysis indicated that the expression of OsTMK and OsKAPP was similar in different tissues of the rice plant. In protein-binding assays, OsKAPP interacted with a receptor-like protein kinase, RLK5 of Arabidopsis, but not with the protein kinase domains of the rice and maize receptor-like protein kinases Xa21 and ZmPK1, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transcript level for a gene encoding a putative type 1a plasma membrane receptor is induced by gibberellin in deepwater rice.

In search for differentially expressed genes, a novel gene was identified whose transcript levels increased in response to gibberellin in the internodes of deepwater rice. Its expression was high in regions undergoing cell division and lower in the elongation and differentiation zones. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated that the gene may encode a type 1a receptor with an extracellular domain, a single transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of an ortholog of replication protein A1 (RPA1) is induced by gibberellin in deepwater rice.

Internodes of deepwater rice are induced to grow rapidly when plants become submerged. This adaptation enables deepwater rice to keep part of its foliage above the rising flood waters during the monsoon season and to avoid drowning. This growth response is, ultimately, elicited by the plant hormone gibberellin (GA). The primary target tissue for GA action is the intercalary meristem of the internode. Using differential display of mRNA, we have isolated a number of genes whose expression in the intercalary meristem is regulated by GA. The product of one of these genes was identified as an ortholog of replication protein A1 (RPA1). RPA is a heterotrimeric protein involved in DNA replication, recombination, and repair and also in regulation of transcription. A chimeric construct, in which the single-stranded DNA-binding domain of rice RPA1 was spliced into the corresponding region of yeast RPA1, was able to complement a yeast rpa1 mutant. The transcript level of rice RPA1 is high in tissues containing dividing cells. RPA1 mRNA levels increase rapidly in the intercalary meristem during submergence and treatment with GA before the increase in the level of histone H3 mRNA, a marker for DNA replication.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of differential display RT-PCR products using fluorescent primers and GENESCAN software.

Differential display reverse transcription PCR (DDRT-PCR) is a procedure used to identify the induction or repression of gene expression. In most DDRT-PCR protocols, radioisotopes are incorporated during PCR and the cDNA products are detected by autoradiography. This report describes the fluorescent labeling of cDNAs and their detection on automated sequencers from PE Applied Biosystems. A fluorescent tag can be incorporated into the PCR product by using either a labeled primer or a labeled dUTP. The fluorescent signals are analyzed by GENESCAN software. Fluorescent DDRT-PCR increases throughput and obviates the handling of hazardous radioisotopes. A PCR cycling profile, expected to give improved reproducibility, is also described. Because amplified cDNAs can't be recovered from the automated sequencer gel, suggestions are given for the identification and recovery of differentially expressed cDNAs.

Animals↗

Identification of a gibberellin-induced gene in deepwater rice using differential display of mRNA.

Differential display of mRNA was employed to identify gibberellin (GA)-regulated genes in deepwater rice. One of the first differentially displayed products identified was shown to be ten-fold induced after start of GA treatment. The sequence of the clone shows complete amino acid identity with histone H3, and its increased mRNA level correlates with the onset of DNA synthesis. We also identified a gene whose expression pattern did not change over the course of treatment with GA and can be used as standard to correct for loading differences on northern blots.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequential induction of nodulin gene expression in the developing pea nodule.

A set of cDNA clones have been characterized that represent early nodulin mRNAs from pea root nodules. By RNA transfer blot analyses, the different early nodulin mRNAs were found to vary in time course of appearance during the development of the indeterminate pea root nodule. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated that the transcripts were located in different zones, representing subsequent steps in development of the central tissue of the root nodule. ENOD12 transcripts were present in every cell of the invasion zone, whereas ENOD5, ENOD3, and ENOD14 transcripts were restricted to the infected cells in successive but partially overlapping zones of the central tissue. We conclude that the corresponding nodulin genes are expressed at subsequent developmental stages. The amino acid sequence derived from the nucleotide sequences of the cDNAs, in combination with the localization data, showed that ENOD5 is an arabinogalactan-like protein involved in the infection process, whereas ENOD3 and ENOD14 have a cysteine cluster suggesting that these are metal-binding proteins. Furthermore, we showed that there is a clear difference in the way Rhizobium induced the infection-related early nodulin genes ENOD5 and ENOD12. A factor acting over a long distance induced the ENOD12 gene, whereas a factor acting over a short distance activated the ENOD5 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗