Metabolite and gene expression profiles were utilised in order to investigate
potential metabolic signals with the ability to affect gene expression in
germinating seeds and young seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana. A previously
suggested role of acetate in germination was investigated using acn1, a
previously identified acetate non utilisation mutant. A general repression in
metabolism was observed in the mutant. A number of genes involved in seed
storage and development were repressed in acn1 indicating that disruption to
acetate metabolism affects aspects of seedling development and metabolism.
The acn1 mutant was used to investigate interactions between acetate and
carbohydrate signalling. The expression of sucrose responsive genes was altered
in acn1 suggesting that organic acid signalling mechanisms cross-talk with sugar, stress and developmental signalling pathways. Non-targeted metabolite and gene expression profiles were produced for imbibed seeds and young seedlings. A metabolic switch preceded a re-organisation in gene expression for the metabolites measured in this experiment. Correlation of metabolite and gene expression profiles identified potential regulatory relationships between genes and metabolites during development.