Plant Physiol, August 2002, Vol. 129, pp. 1423-1429
Double Labeling of KNOTTED1 mRNA and Protein Reveals Multiple
Potential Sites of Protein Trafficking in the Shoot
Apex1
David
Jackson*
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
11724
Recent reports indicate that several plant mRNAs and proteins are
able to traffic intercellularly through plasmodesmata. Localization studies can reveal differences between mRNA and protein localization that would be indicative of such a process. However, subtle differences could be missed when comparing localization in adjacent sections, especially in developmental studies where adjacent sections through immature apical regions may be one or more cells removed from each
other. Therefore, we have developed a novel method for double localization of KNOTTED1 mRNA and protein in sections through the maize
(Zea mays) shoot apex. The advantage of double labeling is revealed in our demonstration of novel potential sites of
cell-to-cell trafficking of KNOTTED1 protein in the shoot apical
region. The technique should be applicable to any gene products where
the appropriate probes are available and will, therefore, help to determine the extent of protein and/or mRNA trafficking in plants.
1
The work on KN1 trafficking was supported by the
National Science Foundation Integrative Plant Biology division
(grant no. 9727959).
*
E-mail jacksond{at}cshl.org; fax 516-367-8369.
www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.006049.
© 2002 American Society of Plant Physiologists
