ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKE11 gene, a member of the AS2/LOB family of Arabidopsis, causes pleiotropic alteration in transgenic cockscomb (Celosia cristata)

Abstract

ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKE11 gene of Arabidopsis is a member of the ArabidopsisASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2)/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES (LOB) domain gene family. With the exception of ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (as2), mutants of AS2/LOB family genes reported so far have not displayed any obvious phenotypes. Therefore, the effects of mutant asl11 are most likely masked by functional redundancy. To elucidate the role of ASL11 gene in plant growth and development, we introduced 35S:ASL11 to Arabidopsis plants via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Data suggest that the observed phenotypes might be caused by misexpression of KNOX genes triggered by 35S:ASL11. However, it is possible that these phenotypes might be generated by an artifact due to the effect of the production of ASL11 RNAs, which might affect expression of unidentified members of the AS2/LOB family, which includes 42 members and other unknown genes. The cockscomb transformation systems that we have established facilitate the use of this species for studies on gene manipulation and expression. Therefore, here, we extend our studies to include additional transformants; namely, we report transformation of ASL11 gene to cockscomb plants. A total of 46 T1 35S:ASL11 plants were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), confirmed by assay of ASL11-GFP fusion proteins. The leaves of some 35S:ASL11 plants (13/46) showed lobed or rumpled patterns. Shoot apical meristems of some 35S:ASL11 plants (18/46) displayed pin-like structures that lacked organ primordial. Data suggest that these malformed phenotypes might be triggered by ectopic expression of KNOX genes caused by 35S:ASL11. In general, all data indicate that ASL11, a transcription factor, might be involved in regulating KNOX gene expression in plant development.