Abstract
To reveal the mechanisms underlying the differentiation of chloroplasts, activation tagging was applied to dedifferentiated calli to screen callus expression of RBCS (ces) , in which the expression of photosynthesis genes was elevated (Plant Cell Physiol. , 47, 319-331, 2006). Contrary to the functions of CES genes, we have tried to hunt genes for depression of the expression of photosynthesis genes in greened calli. We have established the culture condition under which calli become green. Mutants named sug (suppressed greening of calli) in which green calli change into white by activation tagging, have been selected. DNA prepared from sug mutants was subjected to thermal asymmetric interlaced (TAIL)-PCR, resulting in identification of 4 loci for sug mutations. Expression of genes around sug loci has been analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. Phenotypes of plants and calli in which candidate genes were over-expressed have been analyzed.
