The awesome power of Arabidopsis genetics

Using mutagenized Arabidopsis plants we have isolated mutants defective in the acquisition of thermotolerance, the “hot” mutants We are continuing to study hot1, which encodes Hsp101, hot3, which encodes a translation initiation factor, and hot5, which encodes S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR).

 

thermotolerance

 

Arabidopsis plants which are pretreated with a mild heat stress develop thermotolerance and are more resistant to heat damage than plants which receive no pretreatment.