Using Arabidopsis TILLING alleles of COMATOSE to understand germination potential

The CTS locus in Arabidopsis thaliana was identified to promote the transition from
embryo development to germination. Mutation of this locus results in reduction of
germination potential. This is caused by the disruption of the (3-oxidation pathway
which is essential in breaking down fatty acids to provide energy for embryo
expansion and radicle protrusion for the germination process. Mutant of CTS show
much ability to elongate roots on medium with O.SxMS plus 0.5% sucrose plus
varying concentrations of 2,4-DB as compared to their relative wild types.
The purpose of this study was to try to define an allelic series of cts to help structure
function studies and to find out more about the specific role of CTS. This was done
using TILLING alleles of CTS. These have point mutations caused by ethy
methanesulphate on the exons of the 'CTS locus.. The TILLING mutants were
determined with the aid of PCR analysis. To achieve the objectives phenotypic
analysis experiments were conducted. Root elongation phenotypic analysis results
after 8 days on medium with O.SxMS plus 0.5% sucrose plus 0.05ug/ml 2,4-DB after
8 days showed that the TILLING mutants had a higher mean root elongation length
than the wild type, Columbia big mama. The TILLING mutants C22 and C60.
exhibited significant root elongation (students, t- test, P< 0.05). The other known
mutant of CTS, cts-1 had a much higher significant mean root elongation length
when compared to its wild type Ler (students, t- test, P< 0.01).
The results obtained indicated that the TILLING mutants have a slightly defective poxidation
pathway when compared to the other known mutants of CTS