Poster abstracts

Poster number 45 submitted by Ruqiang Xu

Developmental Effects of Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor in Arabidopsis

Ruqiang Xu (Dept. of Botany, Miami University, Oxford. OH), Hongwei Zhao (Dept. of Botany, Miami University, Oxford. OH), Art Hunt (Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.), Q. Quinn Li (Dept. of Botany, Miami University, Oxford. OH)

Abstract:
The Polyadenylation of messenger RNA is essential for gene expression in eukaryotes. This process requires a complex of proteins, which have been characterized in mammals and yeast. The cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) is indispensable for both cleavage and polyadenylation reactions. Orthologues of Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor in Arabidopsis were identified and characterized by gene mutation, over- or under- expression. Unexpectedly, altered developmental and environmental responses were observed when normal expression levels of the genes were disturbed. These phenotypes include embryo lethal due to lack of female transmission of the AtCPSF73-II gene, male sterility due to delayed anther dehiscence by over-expression of the AtCPSF73-I gene. The gene encoding the 30 Kda subunit of CPSF is non-essential in Arabidopsis, mutant of which increases oxidative stress tolerance seemingly through altered responses of the protein to calmodulin. These results suggest the regulatory roles of mRNA polyadenylation that are beyond normal function in house-keeping.

Keywords: CPSF