Genes involved in root architecture and in arsenic phytoremediation

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Genes involved in root architecture and in arsenic phytoremediation

Antonio Leyva			contact
GENES INVOLVED IN ROOT ARCHITECRURE & IN ARSENIC PHYTOREMEDIATION
Postdoctorals: Gabriel Castrillo Sanna Olsson Eduardo Sánchez Bermejo	Predoctoral: Mohan T. C.	Technician: Yolanda Leo Del Puerto

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Antonio Leyva's group The particular interest of my group is the identification of relevant genes involved in root architecture and arsenic tolerance as a source for molecular tools with biotechnological potential in arsenic phytoremediation and/or nutrient absorption.

In the context of phytoremediation we were able to identify mutants altered in phosphate accumulation displaying an outstanding capacity to incorporate arsenic.

The characterization of these mutants uncovered the identification of an arsenic signalling pathway involved in plant tolerance to arsenate, operating in naturally selected variants. In addition we have identified several arsenic responsive genes that are being used to isolate mutants altered in arsenic signalling.

The group is also involved in the molecular control of root architecture. With this objective we have isolated a collection of Arabidopsis mutants altered in left-right asymmetry or thigmotropism.

Other mutants altered in root architecture exhibited a suppression root apical dominance together with a disruption in cytokinin sensitivity. We are currently isolating the mutated genes.

Selected Publications

Franco-Zorrilla JM, Valli A, Todesco M, Mateos I, Puga MI, Rubio-Somoza I, Leyva A, Weigel D, García JA, Paz-Ares J. Target mimicry provides a new mechanism for regulation of microRNA activity. Nat Genet. 2007 Aug;39(8):1033-7.

Catarecha P, Segura MD, Franco-Zorrilla JM, García-Ponce B, Lanza M, Solano R, Paz-Ares J, Leyva A. A mutant of the Arabidopsis phosphate transporter PHT1;1 displays enhanced arsenic accumulation. Plant Cell. 2007 Mar;19(3):1123-33.

González E, Solano R, Rubio V, Leyva A, Paz-Ares J. PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER TRAFFIC FACILITATOR1 is a plant-specific SEC12-related protein that enables the endoplasmic reticulum exit of a high-affinity phosphate transporter in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 2005 Dec;17(12):3500-12.

Hilson P, Allemeersch J, Altmann T, Aubourg S, Avon A, Beynon J, Bhalerao RP, Bitton F, Caboche M, Cannoot B, Chardakov V, Cognet-Holliger C, Colot V, Crowe M, Darimont C, Durinck S, Eickhoff H, de Longevialle AF, Farmer EE, Grant M, Kuiper MT, Lehrach H, Léon C, Leyva A, Lundeberg J, Lurin C, Moreau Y, Nietfeld W, Paz-Ares J, Reymond P, Rouzé P, Sandberg G, Segura MD, Serizet C, Tabrett A, Taconnat L, Thareau V, Van Hummelen P, Vercruysse S, Vuylsteke M, Weingartner M, Weisbeek PJ, Wirta V, Wittink FR, Zabeau M, Small I. Versatile gene-specific sequence tags for Arabidopsis functional genomics: transcript profiling and reverse genetics applications. Genome Res. 2004 Oct;14(10B):2176-89.

de León BG, Zorrilla JM, Rubio V, Dahiya P, Paz-Ares J, Leyva A. Interallelic complementation at the Arabidopsis CRE1 locus uncovers independent pathways for the proliferation of vascular initials and canonical cytokinin signalling. Plant J. 2004 Apr;38(1):70-9.

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