Map kinase signalling to the plant cell cycle: an integrated functional genomic approach

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Perception of external signals impacts on the plant cell cycle to control growth and developmental responses by unknown mechanisms. Members of the 120 Arabidopsis MAP kinase signalling components, with largely unknown functions, are likely to play key roles. We will use a unique custom microarray distinguishing all Arabidopsis MAP kinases and cell cycle genes to (1) analyse the effects of external treatments triggering a variety of hormonal, stress and environmental cues; (2) profile existing plants where all MAP kinase pathways are genetically modified by knockout or constitutive activation of all 10 MAPKKs and hence link pathways and signals to the cell cycle. Detailed analysis of key controllers of the cell cycle will finally provide a mechanism how MAPK signalling pathways regulate the cell cycle in Arabidopsis. (Joint with BBS/B/13314).