Gacek, K. (Katarzyna) (2013) Cell-cell communication in early developing seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Sexual reproduction and the formation of seeds are key events in the life
cycle of flowering plants. The development of the seed is achieved through the
coordinated growth of its three components: embryo, endosperm and maternal
integuments. Recent genetic studies have revealed that the tight co-ordination of the
growth of the three tissues is mediated by cell-cell communication, most likely
involving transmembrane receptors and secreted peptides that act as ligands.
However, precisely which proteins are involved and how their activities are
regulated remains poorly understood. The aim of my thesis is to investigate the
putative roles of receptor like kinases (RLKs) in the coordination of growth during
early seed development. Although there are 600 RLKs in the Arabidopsis genome,
only a few of them have been assigned with a biological function. Mutation in one
leucine-rich-repeat RLK (IKU2) gene confers a small seed phenotype. To decipher
the role of IKU2 during seed development and reveal its interaction with other
receptor kinases known to play a key role during plant reproduction and
development, genetic analyses were performed with SERK1/SERK2, EMS1/EXS,
ERECTA and the newly identified IKU2-LIKE. The results from these analyses,
suggest that both IKU2 and ERECTA genetically interact to regulate seed size.
Interestingly, this work has also revealed that an IKU2 homologue, named IKU2-
LIKE (IKL), as well as EMS1 also genetically interact with IKU2 and play a role in
seed development. To better understand the function of the IKU2 receptor kinase a
biochemical analysis was conducted, which revealed that the kinase domain is
strictly required for IKU2 function. Together these findings support a pivotal role for
IKU2 and associated receptor like kinases, specifically ERECTA, in regulating the
co-ordinated growth and development of the Arabidopsis seed.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QK Botany Q Science > QP Physiology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Arabidopsis thaliana -- Seeds -- Growth, Cell interaction, Cellular signal transduction
Official Date:	January 2013
Dates:	Date Event January 2013 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Life Sciences
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Gutierrez Marcos, Jose
Extent:	xv, 204 leaves : illustrations, charts.
Language:	eng

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