Abstract
To dissect vascular pattern formation genetically, we have isolated and analyzed van mutants of arabidopsis that are characterized by fragmented minor veins. Here we report the map-based cloning of the VAN3 gene.
Fine chromosome mapping of the van3 mutation localized it at the position of 30 cM of chromosome V. Sequencing of this region revealed that a single base substitution, G to A, exists in one of the predicted CDS of the van3 genome. We introduced the wild-type genome fragment containing this candidate CDS into the plants heterozygous for the van3 mutation. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of the resultant T2 progenies confirmed that this fragment can rescue the vascular defect of the van3 mutant, leading to the conclusion that the candidate CDS corresponds to the VAN3 gene. The predicted product of the VAN3 gene shares sequence similarity with Arf GTPase-activating protein involved in the vesicle transport process.
