HOTHEAD (gene)

HOTHEAD is an Arabidopsis thaliana gene that encodes a flavin adenine dinucleotide-containing oxidoreductase. This gene has a role in the creation of the carpel during the formation of flowers through the fusion of epidermal cells.^[1] Observations of reversion of the hothead phenotype and genotype led to the suggestion that the plants were able to "remember" the sequences of genes present in their ancestors, possibly through a cache of complementary RNA.^[2] This report attracted broad attention,^[3] and alternative explanations were suggested.^[4][5] Later research suggested that the supposed reversion phenomenon was due to the plants having a pronounced bias towards outcrossing (because of their floral defects), rather than self-fertilizing at high rates, as is typical for A. thaliana.^[6][7][8][9]

External links and further reading

• Recommendations of 2005 paper on F1000 (most rated paper in the history of the site): http://f1000.com/prime/1024824
• Post by Ogden (2013) describing a follow-up paper: http://blog.f1000research.com/2013/02/04/meddling-with-mendel/
• News piece by Gawrylewski (2008): http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/26000/title/Mendel-upended-/
• HOTHEAD locus page: https://www.arabidopsis.org/servlets/TairObject?type=locus&id=30300

References

1. Krolikowski KA, Victor JL, Wagler TN, Lolle SJ, Pruitt RE (August 2003). "Isolation and characterization of the Arabidopsis organ fusion gene HOTHEAD". Plant J. 35 (4): 501–11. doi:10.1046/j.1365-313x.2003.01824.x. PMID 12904212.
2. Lolle SJ, Victor JL, Young JM, Pruitt RE (March 2005). "Genome-wide non-mendelian inheritance of extra-genomic information in Arabidopsis". Nature. 434 (7032): 505–9. doi:10.1038/nature03380. PMID 15785770.
3. Wade, Nicholas (2005-03-23). "Startling scientists, plant fixes its flawed gene". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
4. Chaudhury, A. (2005). "Hothead healer and extragenomic information". Nature. 437 (7055): E1–E2. Bibcode:2005Natur.437E...1C. doi:10.1038/nature04062. PMID 16136082.
5. Comai L, Cartwright RA (2005). "A toxic mutator and selection alternative to the non-Mendelian RNA cache hypothesis for hothead reversion". Plant Cell. 17 (11): 2856–8. doi:10.1105/tpc.105.036293. PMC 1276014. PMID 16267378. summary
6. Peng P, Chan SW, Shah GA, Jacobsen SE (September 2006). "Plant genetics: increased outcrossing in hothead mutants". Nature. 443 (7110): E8; discussion E8–9. doi:10.1038/nature05251. PMID 17006468.
7. Lolle S. J.; et al. (2006). "Increased outcrossing in hothead mutants (Reply)". Nature. 443 (7110): E8–E9. Bibcode:2006Natur.443E...8L. doi:10.1038/nature05252.
8. Pennisi E (2006). "Genetics. Pollen contamination may explain controversial inheritance". Science. 313 (5795): 1864. doi:10.1126/science.313.5795.1864. PMID 17008492.
9. Mercier R, Jolivet S, Vignard J, et al. (December 2008). "Outcrossing as an explanation of the apparent unconventional genetic behavior of Arabidopsis thaliana hth mutants". Genetics. 180 (4): 2295–7. doi:10.1534/genetics.108.095208. PMC 2600959. PMID 18845842.