Journal Article

Identification of Mendel's white flower character

Frew, Tonya J, Thomson, Susan J, Coyne, Clarice J, Ellis, T.H. Noel, Davies, Kevin M, Jacobs, Jeanne M.E, Hellens, Roger P, Timmerman-Vaughan, Gail M, Hofer, Julie M.I, Allan, Andrew C, Moreau, Carol, Fiers, Mark W.E.J, Bendahmane, Abdelhafid, Schwinn, Kathy E, Lin-Wang, Kui, Murray, Sarah R

2010

Overview

Background: The genetic regulation of flower color has been widely studied, notably as a character used by Mendel and his predecessors in the study of inheritance in pea. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used the genome sequence of model legumes, together with their known synteny to the pea genome to identify candidate genes for the A and A2 loci in pea. We then used a combination of genetic mapping, fast neutron mutant analysis, allelic diversity, transcript quantification and transient expression complementation studies to confirm the identity of the candidates. Conclusions/Significance: We have identified the pea genes A and A2. A is the factor determining anthocyanin pigmentation in pea that was used by Gregor Mendel 150 years ago in his study of inheritance. The A gene encodes a bHLH transcription factor. The white flowered mutant allele most likely used by Mendel is a simple G to A transition in a splice donor site that leads to a mis-spliced mRNA with a premature stop codon, and we have identified a second rare mutant allele. The A2 gene encodes a WD40 protein that is part of an evolutionarily conserved regulatory complex.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Agriculture / Alleles / alternative splicing / Analysis / anthocyanins / Arabidopsis thaliana / Automation / basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors / Bioinformatics / Biosynthesis / Carica papaya / chromosome mapping / Codons / Color / Complementation / conserved sequences / Corn / Deoxyribonucleic acid / DNA / flowering / flowers / Flowers & plants / Flowers - genetics / Food / Gene expression / Gene mapping / Gene mutation / Genes / Genes, Plant / Genetic diversity / Genetics / Genetics and Genomics / Genetics and Genomics/Functional Genomics / Genetics and Genomics/Gene Discovery / Genetics and Genomics/Gene Expression / Genetics and Genomics/Gene Function / Genetics and Genomics/Plant Genetics and Gene Expression / Genetics and Genomics/Population Genetics / Genomes / Genomics / Helix-loop-helix proteins (basic) / Heredity / inheritance (genetics) / Integrated software / Legumes / loci / Mathematical models / messenger RNA / mutants / Mutation / Nonsense mutation / Nucleotide sequence / peas / Pigmentation / Pisum sativum / Plant Biology / Plant Biology/Plant Genetics and Gene Expression / Plant introductions / RNA, Messenger - genetics / Stop codon / Synteny / Transcription (Genetics) / Transcription factors / Trees