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A novel zinc-finger protein with a proline-rich domain mediates ABA-regulated seed dormancy in Arabidopsis

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Abstract

Seed dormancy is an important developmental process that prevents pre-harvest sprouting in many grains and other seeds. Abscisic acid (ABA), a plant hormone, plays a crucial role in regulating dormancy but the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood. An Arabidopsis zinc-finger gene, MEDIATOR OF ABA-REGULATED DORMANCY 1(MARD1) was identified and functionally analyzed. MARD1expression is up-regulated by ABA. A T-DNA insertion in the promoter region downstream of two ABA-responsive elements (ABREs) renders MARD1unable to respond to ABA. The mard1 seeds are less dormant and germinate in total darkness; their germination is resistant to external ABA at the stage of radicle protrusion. These results suggest that this novel zinc-finger protein with a proline-rich N-terminus is an important downstream component of the ABA signaling pathway that mediates ABA-regulated seed dormancy in Arabidopsis.

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Author notes

  1. Yuehui He

    Present address: Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Physiology/Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Program, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546-0236, USA

    Yuehui He & Susheng Gan

  2. Cornell Genomics Initiative and Department of Horticulture, 119 Plant Science, Ithaca, NY, 14853-5904, USA

    Susheng Gan

Authors
  1. Yuehui He
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  2. Susheng Gan
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He, Y., Gan, S. A novel zinc-finger protein with a proline-rich domain mediates ABA-regulated seed dormancy in Arabidopsis . Plant Mol Biol 54, 1–9 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLAN.0000028730.10834.e3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLAN.0000028730.10834.e3

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