Abstract
Transcription factors control plant development and responses to environmental changes. Gene redundancy often interferes with many efforts for functional analyses of transcription factors using gene-knockout, antisense or RNAi technologies. We have developed a novel system, CRES-T, for functional analysis of redundant transcription factors. In this system, expression of the chimeric gene for a transcription factor fused to the EAR repression domain suppress the target genes and induce loss-of-function phenotypes in transgenic plants.
To clarify function of the TCP family in vivo, we made transgenic plants in which express the fusion gene for the chimeric TCP repressor. The transgenic plants had abnormal cotyledon and leaves with uneven shape and curvature. By contrast, the transgenic plants expressing TCP gene showed no visible phenotype. These results indicate that the TCP family has functions in development of cotyledon and leaf shape.
