Cloning and characterization of an L1 layer-specific gene in Arabidopsis thaliana

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) of Arabidopsis thaliana constitutes the tunica of L1 and L2 and the corpus represented by L3 cells. Regulatory networks involved in establishing and maintaining this structure of shoot meristems remain largely unknown. In order to identify the genes that function in the SAM, we performed cDNA subtraction experiments between wild-type and terminal flower1 shoot apices. Here, we describe the cloning of a gene designated PDF1 (PROTODERMAL FACTOR1). In situ hybridization revealed that the expression of PDF1 is exclusively limited to the L1 layer of vegetative, inflorescence and floral meristems and to the protoderm of organ primordia. By contrast, PDF1 shows no detectable level of expression in the epidermis of mature organs. Specific expression of the PDF1 gene in protodermal cells is also observed during embryogenesis. The deduced amino acid sequence of PDF1 shares no significant homology with that of other known proteins but contains a putative signal peptide and novel proline-rich repeat motifs, suggesting a cell-wall protein. Possible roles of the PDF1 gene in the SAM are discussed.