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- Title
The paramutated SULFUREA locus of tomato is involved in auxin biosynthesis.
- Authors
Ehlert, Britta; Schöttler, Mark Aurel; Tischendorf, Gilbert; Ludwig-Müller, Jutta; Bock, Ralph
- Abstract
The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) sulfurea mutation displays trans-inactivation of wild-type alleles in heterozygous plants, a phenomenon referred to as paramutation. Homozygous mutant plants and paramutated leaf tissue of heterozygous plants show a pigment-deficient phenotype. The molecular basis of this phenotype and the function of the SULFUREA gene (SULF) are unknown. Here, a comprehensive physiological analysis of the sulfurea mutant is reported which suggests a molecular function for the SULFUREA locus. It is found that the sulf mutant is auxin-deficient and that the pigment-deficient phenotype is likely to represent only a secondary consequence of the auxin deficiency. This is most strongly supported by the isolation of a suppressor mutant which shows an auxin overaccumulation phenotype and contains elevated levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Several lines of evidence point to a role of the SULF gene in tryptophan-independent auxin biosynthesis, a pathway whose biochemistry and enzymology is still completely unknown. Thus, the sulfurea mutant may provide a promising entry point into elucidating the tryptophan-independent pathway of IAA synthesis.
- Subjects
TOMATO genetics; AUXIN; BIOSYNTHESIS; GENETIC mutation; PHENOTYPES
- Publication
Journal of Experimental Botany, 2008, Vol 59, Issue 13, p3635
- ISSN
0022-0957
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/jxb/ern213