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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP) to Investigate Arabidopsis thaliana Root Development at a Cell Type-Specific Scale
Published on: May 14, 2020
Ribosomal proteins promote leaf adaxial identity
Yao Yao1, Qihua Ling, Hua Wang
1National Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.
Ribosomal proteins RPL28A and RPL5A are crucial for establishing leaf polarity. Mutations in these ribosomal protein genes disrupt leaf patterning, highlighting the role of translational control in plant development.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
Background:
- Leaf polarity (abaxial-adaxial) is essential for plant development and function.
- Leaf patterning involves complex regulatory networks including transcription factors, small RNAs, and chromatin remodeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel genes involved in establishing leaf polarity.
- To investigate the role of ribosomal proteins in leaf development and patterning.
Main Methods:
- Identification and characterization of asymmetric leaves1/2 enhancer5 (ae5) and ae6 mutants.
- Analysis of leaf phenotypes in single and double mutants.
- Gene sequencing to identify mutations in ribosomal protein genes (RPL28A, RPL5A, RPL5B, RPL24B).
Main Results:
- Mutants ae5 and ae6 exhibited abnormal leaf patterning, with abaxial features appearing on the adaxial side.
- Double mutants (ae5 as1/2, ae6 as1/2) showed severely abaxialized leaves.
- Mutations in RPL28A, RPL5A, RPL5B, and RPL24B genes resulted in similar plant phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Specific ribosomal proteins (RPL28A, RPL5A, RPL5B, RPL24B) are essential for leaf polarity establishment.
- The translational function of the ribosome plays a critical role in regulating key components during leaf patterning.
- Ribosome subunit-mediated translational control is vital for plant development.
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