Abstract
Although genetic analysis has identified genes involved in seed germination many components still remain to be discovered. We have investigated seed germination of Arabidopsis using chemical genetics. As with mutational analysis, the phenotype caused by small molecule are used as a starting point to identify genes in a particular biological process.
From 10,000 non-annotated chemical library, 5 compounds (E compounds) were identified which inhibit cotyledon greening and expansion. Interestingly ABA or GA signaling mutants showed altered response to E compounds. Consistent with this, genetic screening for E compounds resistant mutants identified new alleles of ABA and GA response mutants. Surprisingly, suppressor screens also identified new alleles of elongated hypocotyl1 locus (hy1). Although hy1 is known photomorphogenesis mutant it is also allele of genome uncoupled2 locus which is involved in plastid retrograde signal. In this presentation, we will discuss possible involvement of E compounds on hormone, light and plastid retrograde signaling.
