Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
6-2008
Journal or Book Title
The Plant Journal
Volume
54
Issue
5
First Page
888
Last Page
898
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03459.x
Abstract
The rth3 (roothairless 3) mutant is specifically affected in root hair elongation. We report here the cloning of the rth3 gene via a PCR-based strategy (amplification of insertion mutagenized sites) and demonstrate that it encodes a COBRA-like protein that displays all the structural features of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. Genes of the COBRA family are involved in various types of cell expansion and cell wall biosynthesis. The rth3 gene belongs to a monocot-specific clade of the COBRA gene family comprising two maize and two rice genes. While the rice (Oryza sativa) gene OsBC1L1 appears to be orthologous to rth3 based on sequence similarity (86% identity at the protein level) and maize/rice synteny, the maize (Zea mays L.) rth3-like gene does not appear to be a functional homolog of rth3based on their distinct expression profiles. Massively parallel signature sequencing analysis detected rth3 expression in all analyzed tissues, but at relatively low levels, with the most abundant expression in primary roots where the root hair phenotype is manifested.In situ hybridization experiments confine rth3 expression to root hair-forming epidermal cells and lateral root primordia. Remarkably, in replicated field trials involving near-isogenic lines, the rth3 mutant conferred significant losses in grain yield.
Rights
Re-use of this article is permitted in accordance with the Creative Commons Deed, Attribution 2.5, which does not permit commercial exploitation.
Copyright Owner
The authors
Copyright Date
2008
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Hochholdinger, Frank; Wen, Tsui-Jung; Chimot-Marolle, Patricia; Da Costa e Silva, Oswaldo; Bruce, Wesley; Lamkey, Kendall R.; Wienand, Udo; and Schnable, Patrick S., "The maize (Zea mays L.) roothairless3 gene encodes a putative GPI-anchored, monocot-specific, COBRA-like protein that significantly affects grain yield" (2008). Agronomy Publications. 43.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/agron_pubs/43
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agriculture Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Genetics Commons, Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons
Comments
This article is from The Plant Journal 54 (2008): 888–898, doi:10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03459.x. Posted with permission.