Abstract
Recessive mutations in ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2) display asymmetric leaf-shape, altered venation pattern, higher potency of regeneration and ectopic expression of class1-KNOX in leaves of arabidopsis. AS2 is a plant-specific novel protein that belongs to novel AS2/LOB-family. To investigate the function of AS2 protein, we constructed and analyzed 35S:AS2-GR transgenic arabidopsis. Transiently expressed AS2-GFP-GR fusion proteins localized in nuclei of BY-2 cells dependently on Dex. High amount of AS2-GR fusion proteins were accumulated in 35S:AS2-GR transgenic arabidopsis independently from Dex. 35S:AS2-GR transgenic arabidopsis exhibited hyponastic leaves or growth-arrest when they were treated with 10 nM or 100 nM Dex, respectively. Finally, 35S:AS2-GR transgenic plants could exhibit flat and symmetric leaves dependently on Dex even in as2-1 background. Thus we concluded that AS2-GR fusion protein was functional and that AS2 was nuclear protein. Recently, we are analyzing the effects of chemical compounds on the phenotype of 35S:AS2-GR transgenic and as2 mutant plants.
