Study of Arabidopsis NADP-ME1 during seed development and hydric stress

ARIAS, CINTIA LUCÍA; BADIA, MARIANA BEATRIZ; ANDREO, CARLOS SANTIAGO; DRINCOVICH, MARÍA FABIANA; GERRARD WHEELER, MARIEL CLAUDIA; SAIGO, MARIANA

Congreso; 11th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology; 2015

Arabidopsis present four NADP malic enzymes, three of them with a cytosolic localization (ME1-3). ME2 is the main isoform as shows a constitutive and elevated expression, ME1 and ME3, on the other hand, present a restricted expression that depends on tissue and growth?s conditions. In this work we study the participation of ME1 during seed development and hydric stress, the two main situations where ME1 expression has been seen; and its relation with absicic acid (ABA) signaling. The expression pattern of this isoform during seed development and hydric stress treatments, resemble those of ABA induced genes. Phenotypic analysis of plants with modified levels of ME1 including: seed germination, seed viability, seed content, main and secondary roots length, stomatal opening and drought tolerance, was performed. The experimental results together with in silico analysis suggest that ME1 plays a very specialized role compared to other family members, linked to ABA signaling, as intermediate or end effector.