Abstract
PHOSPHORYLETHANOLAMINE CYTIDYLYLTRANSFERASE 1 (PECT1) encodes CDP-ethanolamine synthase involved in the CDP-ethanolamine pathway to the biosynthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in Arabidopsis thaliana. We herein created pect1-4/pect1-6 F1 plants by a cross between the weak mutant allele pect1-4 and the null allele pect1-6. These plants contained a decreased amount of PE relative to the wild type and showed dwarfism, such as small rosette leaves and a short stem. pect1-4/pect1-6 F1 plants showed reduced cell numbers and limited cell expansion and intercellular space development in rosette leaves and stems, and a short meristematic zone in the root apices. Moreover, stronger fluorescence was observed around meristematic tissues of ProPECT1:PECT1-EYFP:TerNOS plants. These results suggested the importance of PECT1 in cell proliferation. We also discuss the importance of PECT1 in the development of intercellular spaces and cell expansion, which could be related to excretion of proteins via lipid vesicles.
