Modes of action study of seed germination inhibitor germostatin by forward genetics screening

Abstract

Active molecules uncovered through chemical genetics studies have provided unique molecular genetic tools with which to study specific life processes. Different strategies have been developed to study the modes of action of these small molecules, especially for the target identification, including affinity chromatography (for target identification) and genetic/genomic methods. In this chapter we describe the protocols for a conventional forward genetics screening against seed germination inhibitors to study their working mechanism in model plant Arabidopsis. Such methods have been applied to study small molecules germostatin and triplin, the copper ion-binding small molecule.