Cohesin complexes hold sister chromatids together during mitosis and meiosis and play an important role in DNA repair, transcription, and gene regulation. Cohesin binding is dependent upon the SCC2/ SCC4 adherin loader complex. This complex is not prebound to chromosomes, but rather binds coordinately with cohesins.  Previous studies have shown that inactivation of SCC2 or SCC4 in yeast results in lethality. In humans, SCC2/SCC4 mutations result in complex developmental abnormalities such as Cornelia de Lange syndrome. In this study, we aim to gain insight into the specific role of SCC4 in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.  We show that complete inactivation of SCC4 results in embryo lethality. To further study the roles of SCC4, we have generated transgenic plants in which SCC4 expression is reduced by RNA interference.  Specifically, lines of plants that express SCC4 RNAi constructs from the constitutive 35S, inducible PX7, and meiosis-specific DMC1 promoters have been generated and are being characterized.  The phenotypes of transgenic plants are being compared to wild type plants, with an emphasis on the role of SCC4 in meiosis, gamete development, and embryogenesis.

Molecular and cellular characterization of arabidopsis SCC4

247th National Meeting (2014)

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