ARS | Publication request: ASSESMENT OF BIOCHEMICAL FUNCTION IN ARABIDOPSIS MUTANTS DEFECTIVE IN ACQUIRED THERMOTOLERANCE

Submitted to: Keystone Symposia
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: December 3, 2003
Publication Date: February 19, 2004
Citation: Cazzonelli, C.I., Burke, J.J., Velten, J.P. 2004. Assesment of biochemical function in arabidopsis mutants defective in acquired thermotolerance. Keystone Symposia.

Technical Abstract: Arabidopsis mutants (AtTS02 and AtTS223) defective in different processes required for developing thermotolerance were previously identified using a chlorophyll accumulation bioassay (Burke et al., 2000, Plant Physiology, Vol 123, pp 575-588 and poster #304). Characterization of these mutations for biochemical function rather then simply survival is necessary to provide further insight into the mechanisms of thermotolerance. For this purpose a luciferase-based heat tolerance assay was developed. A transgenic Arabidopsis line harboring the firefly luciferase gene under control of a modified CaMV 35S promoter was crossed to the original allele of each of the mutant lines. By use of a milder challenge, 44 degree C for 2 hours, and protective pretreatment, F2 progeny were analyzed for luciferase activity after heat acclimation. The ability of the mutant lines to recover and/or protect luciferase activity is discussed in context to their genetic characterization.