TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA2 , a Trichome and Seed Coat Development Gene of Arabidopsis, Encodes a WRKY Transcription Factor

Mutants of a new gene, TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA2 (TTG2), show disruptions to trichome development and to tannin and mucilage production in the seed coat. The gene was tagged by the endogenous transposon Tag1 and shown to encode a WRKY transcription factor. It is the first member of this large, plant-specific family known to control morphogenesis. The functions of all other WRKY genes revealed to date involve responses to pathogen attack, mechanical stress, and senescence. TTG2 is strongly expressed in trichomes throughout their development, in the endothelium of developing seeds (in which tannin is later generated) and subsequently in other layers of the seed coat, and in the atrichoblasts of developing roots.…

• MU
  Monash University
• AR
  Australian Research Council