Researchers Study Cotton Kinesin Gene GhKIS13A1
June 21, 2017| |
Cotton fiber is differentiated from single cell of ovule epidermis. A number of genes are involved in fiber formation, however, only a few fiber genes have been studied. The Kinesin 13 subfamily was found to play vital roles during cell division and cell elongation, and is believed to be involved in the regulation of cotton fiber development.
Yan-Jun Li and Shou-Hong Zhu from the Shihezi University in China cloned and studied the GhKIS13A1 gene, a member of the Kinesin 13 subfamily. Analysis showed that GhKIS13A1 maintained low expression levels during cotton fiber development. Assays also showed that the GhKIS13A1 protein has microtubule binding activity and basal ATPase activity that can be activated significantly by the presence of microtubules.
Overexpression of GhKIS13A1 in Arabidopsis reduced leaf trichomes and the percentage of three-branch trichomes, and increased two-branch and shriveled trichomes. Furthermore, when expressed in the Arabidopsis Kinesin-13a-1 mutant, GhKIS13A1 rescued the defective trichome branching of the mutant, making it normal.
These results suggest that GhKIS13A1 regulates the number and branching pattern of leaf trichomes. With the similarities between cotton fibers and Arabidopsis trichomes, it is believed that GhKIS13A1 may also be involved in the regulation of cotton fiber development.
For more on this study, read the article in BMC Biotechnology.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- GM Crop Approvals Boost Bioengineered Foods Market, Report
- African Countries Launch the Global Report on Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops
- Student to Boost Vitamin A Content of Chickpea
- Research Found Way to Improve Nitrogen Fixation in Legumes
- Farmer Perspective Brought to Biotech Regulatory Discussions
- American Soybean Association: Biotech Essential to Feed 9.7B People in 2050
- China Approves Import of GM Crops from the U.S.
- Heat Tolerant Lentils Endure Increasing Global Temperatures
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Partners with Bayer to Improve Wheat Yields
- Researchers Unlock the Genetic Secrets of Plant Cell Walls
-
Research Highlights
- Researchers Study Cotton Kinesin Gene GhKIS13A1
- Overexpression of a Blueberry DDF1 Gene Confers Increased Tolerance to Freezing
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Kenya's Imaginature Seeks Approval for Field Trial of GE Baby's Breath Flowers
- Defense Secret of E. coli Revealed
-
Plant
- Multi-Site Genome Editing in Cotton using CRISPR-Cas9 System
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (May 14, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet