Abstract
Sterols are isoprenoid-type lipids that are biosynthesized via the cytosolic mevalonate pathway. Through the study of several sterol biosynthetic genes, we have identified that sterols play important roles on cell elongation, senescence, male gametophyte development and chloroplast differentiation. To understand total physiological function of sterols, we have comprehensively collected and characterized Arabidopsis mutants lacking sterol biosynthetic genes.
Mutants on 19 loci were obtained as homozygote genotype. The sterol accumulation and profiles of these 19 mutants were quantitatively analyzed. The gene expression profiles of these mutants were examined by microarray analyses and the data were analyzed statistically. The results of sterol analyses and transcriptomics suggest that the magnitude of influence of sterol deficiency is compared with that of brassinosteroid deficiency. Although the alteration of sterol composition also affects gene expression profiles, the magnitude of influence was less than that that of sterol and brassinosteroid deficiency.
