DNA stress checkpoint control in Arabidopsis thaliana by WEE1

The WEE1 kinase is a conserved cell cycle inhibitor that, together with CDC25, controls CDK activity and consequently the G2/M progression in yeast and animals. The same control mechanism is utilized by the DNA damage checkpoint to induce a cell cycle arrest upon DNA stress. In plants, a homolog of the WEE1 gene is present and is also responsible for phosphorylation of CDKs, although only during DNA damage. Plants that not contain a functional WEE1 gene develop normally during normal growth circumstances, but show a hypersensitive growth response to replication stress. To understand this, a transcriptomics analysis was performed, indicating prolonged S-phase duration. A role for WEE1 during S phase was substantiated by its specific accumulation in replicating nuclei that suffered from DNA stress. Besides an extended replication phase, WEE1 knockout plants accumulated dead cells that were associated with the onset of premature vascular differentiation. Furthermore, a new synchronization method for Arabidopsis roots was presented and the initial research on the posttranslational control of plant WEE1 was executed, both providing intriguing results.

Grantor dc:publisher

Ghent University. Faculty of Sciences

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Cools, Toon

Contributors dc:contributor

• De Veylder, Lieven
• Inzé, Dirk

• Biology and Life Sciences
• vascular differentiation
• synchronization
• checkpoints
• DNA damage
• WEE1
• cell cycle

Statement dc:rights

• info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/1216535
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/1216535/file/4335544

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:archive.ugent.be:1216535