Novel factor EAL that genetically interacts with ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 (AS1) and AS2 in the adaxial-abaxial polarity of leaves is involved in cell division in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

Mutants of ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 (AS1) and AS2 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana showed asymmetrically lobed and downwardly curled leaves. In these mutants, leaves, especially petioles, are shorter than that of wild type plants. It has been reported that as1 and as2 mutants show the abaxialized leaf. To elucidate the molecular function of AS1 and AS2 in the formation of adaxial-abaxial polarity, we isolated several enhancer mutants that enhance the defects in the adaxial-abaxial polarity in the leaves of as1 mutant. We designated one of the enhancer mutants as enhancer of asymmetric leaves1 and asymmetric leaves2 (eal). In as1 eal and as2 eal double mutants, abaxialized filamentous leaves were observed. EAL gene encodes a protein well conserved from fungi to mammals. In this report, we will present the effects of eal mutation in cell division.