Isolation and expression of an Arabidopsis 14-3-3-like protein gene

We have isolated an Arabidopsis gene, AFT1, which encodes a 14-3-3-like protein (AFT1). The wide distribution of the 14-3-3 protein family in eukaryotes and the high steady-state mRNA levels of the AFT1 gene in most tissues throughout Arabidopsis growth and development suggest that AFT1 plays an important role(s) in Arabidopsis. DNA blot analysis indicates that AFT1 is a single copy gene, therefore AFT1 should be a good target for studies involving antisense or sense RNA technologies as a means to determine AFT1's function in vivo.