1
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Li X, Bruckmann A, Dresselhaus T, Begcy K. Heat stress at the bicellular stage inhibits sperm cell development and transport into pollen tubes. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:2111-2128. [PMID: 38366643 PMCID: PMC11213256 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
For successful double fertilization in flowering plants (angiosperms), pollen tubes deliver 2 nonmotile sperm cells toward female gametes (egg and central cell, respectively). Heatwaves, especially during the reproduction period, threaten male gametophyte (pollen) development, resulting in severe yield losses. Using maize (Zea mays) as a crop and grass model system, we found strong seed set reduction when moderate heat stress was applied for 2 d during the uni- and bicellular stages of pollen development. We show that heat stress accelerates pollen development and impairs pollen germination capabilities when applied at the unicellular stage. Heat stress at the bicellular stage impairs sperm cell development and transport into pollen tubes. To understand the course of the latter defects, we used marker lines and analyzed the transcriptomes of isolated sperm cells. Heat stress affected the expression of genes associated with transcription, RNA processing and translation, DNA replication, and the cell cycle. This included the genes encoding centromeric histone 3 (CENH3) and α-tubulin. Most genes that were misregulated encode proteins involved in the transition from metaphase to anaphase during pollen mitosis II. Heat stress also activated spindle assembly check point and meta- to anaphase transition genes in sperm cells. In summary, misregulation of the identified genes during heat stress at the bicellular stage results in sperm cell development and transport defects ultimately leading to sterility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingli Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Bruckmann
- Department for Biochemistry I, Biochemistry Centre, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Dresselhaus
- Department of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kevin Begcy
- Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32611, USA
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2
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Luo L, Zheng Y, Li X, Chen Q, Yang D, Gu Z, Yang Y, Yang Y, Kong X, Yang Y. ICE1 interacts with IDD14 to transcriptionally activate QQS to increase pollen germination and viability. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38940322 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
In flowering plants, sexual reproductive success depends on the production of viable pollen grains. However, the mechanisms by which QUA QUINE STARCH (QQS) regulates pollen development and how transcriptional activators facilitate the transcription of QQS in this process remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1 (ICE1), a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, acts as a key transcriptional activator and positively regulates QQS expression to increase pollen germination and viability in Arabidopsis thaliana by interacting with INDETERMINATE DOMAIN14 (IDD14). In our genetic and biochemical experiments, overexpression of ICE1 greatly promoted both the activation of QQS and high pollen viability mediated by QQS. IDD14 additively enhanced ICE1 function by promoting the binding of ICE1 to the QQS promoter. In addition, mutation of ICE1 significantly repressed QQS expression; the impaired function of QQS and the abnormal anther dehiscence jointly affected pollen development of the ice1-2 mutant. Our results also showed that the enhancement of pollen activity by ICE1 depends on QQS. Furthermore, QQS interacted with CUT1, the key enzyme for long-chain lipid biosynthesis. This interaction both promoted CUT1 activity and regulated pollen lipid metabolism, ultimately determining pollen hydration and fertility. Our results not only provide new insights into the key function of QQS in promoting pollen development by regulating pollen lipid metabolism, but also elucidate the mechanism that facilitates the transcription of QQS in this vital developmental process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Landi Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, 666303, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, 666303, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Xieshengyang Li
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Danni Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, 666303, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Zhijia Gu
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Ya Yang
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yunqiang Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, 666303, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Xiangxiang Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, 666303, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yongping Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, 666303, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
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3
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Wang X, Li T, Xu J, Zhang F, Liu L, Wang T, Wang C, Ren H, Zhang Y. Distinct functions of microtubules and actin filaments in the transportation of the male germ unit in pollen. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5448. [PMID: 38937444 PMCID: PMC11211427 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49323-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Flowering plants rely on the polarized growth of pollen tubes to deliver sperm cells (SCs) to the embryo sac for double fertilization. In pollen, the vegetative nucleus (VN) and two SCs form the male germ unit (MGU). However, the mechanism underlying directional transportation of MGU is not well understood. In this study, we provide the first full picture of the dynamic interplay among microtubules, actin filaments, and MGU during pollen germination and tube growth. Depolymerization of microtubules and inhibition of kinesin activity result in an increased velocity and magnified amplitude of VN's forward and backward movement. Pharmacological washout experiments further suggest that microtubules participate in coordinating the directional movement of MGU. In contrast, suppression of the actomyosin system leads to a reduced velocity of VN mobility but without a moving pattern change. Moreover, detailed observation shows that the direction and velocity of VN's movement are in close correlations with those of the actomyosin-driven cytoplasmic streaming surrounding VN. Therefore, we propose that while actomyosin-based cytoplasmic streaming influences on the oscillational movement of MGU, microtubules and kinesins avoid MGU drifting with the cytoplasmic streaming and act as the major regulator for fine-tuning the proper positioning and directional migration of MGU in pollen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Tonghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Jiuting Xu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Fanfan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Lifang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Chun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyun Ren
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Guangdong Zhuhai-Macao Joint Biotech Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, 519087, Zhuhai, China.
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
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4
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Butel N, Qiu Y, Xu W, Santos-González J, Köhler C. Parental conflict driven regulation of endosperm cellularization by a family of Auxin Response Factors. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:1018-1026. [PMID: 38806655 PMCID: PMC11208147 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01706-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The endosperm is a reproductive tissue supporting embryo development. In most flowering plants, the initial divisions of endosperm nuclei are not succeeded by cellularization; this process occurs only after a specific number of mitotic cycles have taken place. The timing of cellularization significantly influences seed viability and size. Previous research implicated auxin as a key factor in initiating nuclear divisions and determining the timing of cellularization. Here we uncover the involvement of a family of clustered auxin response factors (cARFs) as dosage-sensitive regulators of endosperm cellularization. cARFs, maternally expressed and paternally silenced, are shown to induce cellularization, thereby restricting seed growth. Our findings align with the predictions of the parental conflict theory, suggesting that cARFs represent major molecular targets in this conflict. We further demonstrate a recurring amplification of cARFs in the Brassicaceae, suggesting an evolutionary response to parental conflict by reinforcing maternal control over endosperm cellularization. Our study highlights that antagonistic parental control on endosperm cellularization converges on auxin biosynthesis and signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Butel
- Department of Plant Reproductive Biology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Y Qiu
- Department of Plant Reproductive Biology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - W Xu
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
- INRAE Centre Ile-de-France - Versailles-Saclay, France, Versailles-Sacley, France
| | - J Santos-González
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - C Köhler
- Department of Plant Reproductive Biology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany.
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden.
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5
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Mizuta Y, Sakakibara D, Nagahara S, Kaneshiro I, Nagae TT, Kurihara D, Higashiyama T. Deep imaging reveals dynamics and signaling in one-to-one pollen tube guidance. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:2529-2549. [PMID: 38773320 PMCID: PMC11169409 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00151-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In the pistil of flowering plants, each ovule usually associates with a single pollen tube for fertilization. This one-to-one pollen tube guidance, which contributes to polyspermy blocking and efficient seed production, is largely different from animal chemotaxis of many sperms to one egg. However, the functional mechanisms underlying the directional cues and polytubey blocks in the depths of the pistil remain unknown. Here, we develop a two-photon live imaging method to directly observe pollen tube guidance in the pistil of Arabidopsis thaliana, clarifying signaling and cellular behaviors in the one-to-one guidance. Ovules are suggested to emit multiple signals for pollen tubes, including an integument-dependent directional signal that reaches the inner surface of the septum and adhesion signals for emerged pollen tubes on the septum. Not only FERONIA in the septum but ovular gametophytic FERONIA and LORELEI, as well as FERONIA- and LORELEI-independent repulsion signal, are involved in polytubey blocks on the ovular funiculus. However, these funicular blocks are not strictly maintained in the first 45 min, explaining previous reports of polyspermy in flowering plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Mizuta
- Institute for Advanced Research (IAR), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Daigo Sakakibara
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Shiori Nagahara
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Ikuma Kaneshiro
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
- Research Center for Computational Science, Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 38 Nishigo-Naka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Takuya T Nagae
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kurihara
- Institute for Advanced Research (IAR), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Higashiyama
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bukyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
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6
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Liu H, Yao X, Fan J, Lv L, Zhao Y, Nie J, Guo Y, Zhang L, Huang H, Shi Y, Zhang Q, Li J, Sui X. Cell wall invertase 3 plays critical roles in providing sugars during pollination and fertilization in cucumber. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:1293-1311. [PMID: 38428987 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
In plants, pollen-pistil interactions during pollination and fertilization mediate pollen hydration and germination, pollen tube growth, and seed set and development. Cell wall invertases (CWINs) help provide the carbohydrates for pollen development; however, their roles in pollination and fertilization have not been well established. In cucumber (Cucumis sativus), CsCWIN3 showed the highest expression in flowers, and we further examined CsCWIN3 for functions during pollination to seed set. Both CsCWIN3 transcript and CsCWIN3 protein exhibited similar expression patterns in the sepals, petals, stamen filaments, anther tapetum, and pollen of male flowers, as well as in the stigma, style, transmitting tract, and ovule funiculus of female flowers. Notably, repression of CsCWIN3 in cucumber did not affect the formation of parthenocarpic fruit but resulted in an arrested growth of stigma integuments in female flowers and a partially delayed dehiscence of anthers with decreased pollen viability in male flowers. Consequently, the pollen tube grew poorly in the gynoecia after pollination. In addition, CsCWIN3-RNA interference plants also showed affected seed development. Considering that sugar transporters could function in cucumber fecundity, we highlight the role of CsCWIN3 and a potential close collaboration between CWIN and sugar transporters in these processes. Overall, we used molecular and physiological analyses to determine the CsCWIN3-mediated metabolism during pollen formation, pollen tube growth, and plant fecundity. CsCWIN3 has essential roles from pollination and fertilization to seed set but not parthenocarpic fruit development in cucumber.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuehui Yao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingwei Fan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lijun Lv
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yalong Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Nie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yicong Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lidong Zhang
- Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin Kernel Cucumber Research Institute, Tianjin 300192, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Hongyu Huang
- Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin Kernel Cucumber Research Institute, Tianjin 300192, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Yuzi Shi
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiawang Li
- Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin Kernel Cucumber Research Institute, Tianjin 300192, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Xiaolei Sui
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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7
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Meng JG, Li SZ, Li HJ. Central cell: the key to determine persistent pollen tube attraction or termination. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024:10.1007/s11427-023-2534-2. [PMID: 38733514 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2534-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Guo Meng
- Center for Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation Western China (Chongqing) Science City, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Shi-Zhen Li
- Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Center for Molecular Agrobiology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hong-Ju Li
- Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Center for Molecular Agrobiology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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8
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Kamble NU. Guiding through: RALF signaling during the pollen tube growth in maize. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1576-1577. [PMID: 38267755 PMCID: PMC11062463 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Nitin Uttam Kamble
- Assistant Features Editor, The Plant Cell, American Society of Plant Biologists
- Biochemistry and Metabolism Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park NR4 7UH, UK
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9
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Zhou LZ, Wang L, Chen X, Ge Z, Mergner J, Li X, Küster B, Längst G, Qu LJ, Dresselhaus T. The RALF signaling pathway regulates cell wall integrity during pollen tube growth in maize. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1673-1696. [PMID: 38142229 PMCID: PMC11062432 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Autocrine signaling pathways regulated by RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTORs (RALFs) control cell wall integrity during pollen tube germination and growth in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). To investigate the role of pollen-specific RALFs in another plant species, we combined gene expression data with phylogenetic and biochemical studies to identify candidate orthologs in maize (Zea mays). We show that Clade IB ZmRALF2/3 mutations, but not Clade III ZmRALF1/5 mutations, cause cell wall instability in the sub-apical region of the growing pollen tube. ZmRALF2/3 are mainly located in the cell wall and are partially able to complement the pollen germination defect of their Arabidopsis orthologs AtRALF4/19. Mutations in ZmRALF2/3 compromise pectin distribution patterns leading to altered cell wall organization and thickness culminating in pollen tube burst. Clade IB, but not Clade III ZmRALFs, strongly interact as ligands with the pollen-specific Catharanthus roseus RLK1-like (CrRLK1L) receptor kinases Z. mays FERONIA-like (ZmFERL) 4/7/9, LORELEI-like glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor (LLG) proteins Z. mays LLG 1 and 2 (ZmLLG1/2), and Z. mays pollen extension-like (PEX) cell wall proteins ZmPEX2/4. Notably, ZmFERL4 outcompetes ZmLLG2 and ZmPEX2 outcompetes ZmFERL4 for ZmRALF2 binding. Based on these data, we suggest that Clade IB RALFs act in a dual role as cell wall components and extracellular sensors to regulate cell wall integrity and thickness during pollen tube growth in maize and probably other plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Zi Zhou
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Lele Wang
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Xia Chen
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Zengxiang Ge
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Julia Mergner
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Xingli Li
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Küster
- Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, Germany
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Gernot Längst
- Biochemistry Center Regensburg, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Li-Jia Qu
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Thomas Dresselhaus
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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10
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Ali MF, Muday GK. Reactive oxygen species are signaling molecules that modulate plant reproduction. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:1592-1605. [PMID: 38282262 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can serve as signaling molecules that are essential for plant growth and development but abiotic stress can lead to ROS increases to supraoptimal levels resulting in cellular damage. To ensure efficient ROS signaling, cells have machinery to locally synthesize ROS to initiate cellular responses and to scavenge ROS to prevent it from reaching damaging levels. This review summarizes experimental evidence revealing the role of ROS during multiple stages of plant reproduction. Localized ROS synthesis controls the formation of pollen grains, pollen-stigma interactions, pollen tube growth, ovule development, and fertilization. Plants utilize ROS-producing enzymes such as respiratory burst oxidase homologs and organelle metabolic pathways to generate ROS, while the presence of scavenging mechanisms, including synthesis of antioxidant proteins and small molecules, serves to prevent its escalation to harmful levels. In this review, we summarized the function of ROS and its synthesis and scavenging mechanisms in all reproductive stages from gametophyte development until completion of fertilization. Additionally, we further address the impact of elevated temperatures induced ROS on impairing these reproductive processes and of flavonol antioxidants in maintaining ROS homeostasis to minimize temperature stress to combat the impact of global climate change on agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Foteh Ali
- Department of Biology and Center for Molecular Signaling, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
| | - Gloria K Muday
- Department of Biology and Center for Molecular Signaling, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, United States
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11
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Bente H, Köhler C. Molecular basis and evolutionary drivers of endosperm-based hybridization barriers. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:155-169. [PMID: 38298124 PMCID: PMC11060687 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
The endosperm, a transient seed tissue, plays a pivotal role in supporting embryo growth and germination. This unique feature sets flowering plants apart from gymnosperms, marking an evolutionary innovation in the world of seed-bearing plants. Nevertheless, the importance of the endosperm extends beyond its role in providing nutrients to the developing embryo by acting as a versatile protector, preventing hybridization events between distinct species and between individuals with different ploidy. This phenomenon centers on growth and differentiation of the endosperm and the speed at which both processes unfold. Emerging studies underscore the important role played by type I MADS-box transcription factors, including the paternally expressed gene PHERES1. These factors, along with downstream signaling pathways involving auxin and abscisic acid, are instrumental in regulating endosperm development and, consequently, the establishment of hybridization barriers. Moreover, mutations in various epigenetic regulators mitigate these barriers, unveiling a complex interplay of pathways involved in their formation. In this review, we discuss the molecular underpinnings of endosperm-based hybridization barriers and their evolutionary drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heinrich Bente
- Department of Plant Reproductive Biology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam 14476, Germany
| | - Claudia Köhler
- Department of Plant Reproductive Biology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam 14476, Germany
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
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12
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Butel N, Köhler C. Flowering plant reproduction. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R308-R312. [PMID: 38653196 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms, emerged approximately 150 to 200 million years ago. Since then, they have undergone rapid and extensive expansion, now encompassing around 90% of all land plant species. The remarkable diversification of this group has been a subject of in-depth investigations, and several evolutionary innovations have been proposed to account for their success. In this primer, we will specifically focus on one such innovation: the advent of seeds containing endosperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Butel
- Department of Plant Reproductive Biology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam 14476, Germany
| | - Claudia Köhler
- Department of Plant Reproductive Biology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam 14476, Germany; Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
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13
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Matsumoto H, Ueda M. Polarity establishment in the plant zygote at a glance. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261809. [PMID: 38436556 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The complex structures of multicellular organisms originate from a unicellular zygote. In most angiosperms, including Arabidopsis thaliana, the zygote is distinctly polar and divides asymmetrically to produce an apical cell, which generates the aboveground part of the plant body, and a basal cell, which generates the root tip and extraembryonic suspensor. Thus, zygote polarity is pivotal for establishing the apical-basal axis running from the shoot apex to the root tip of the plant body. The molecular mechanisms and spatiotemporal dynamics behind zygote polarization remain elusive. However, advances in live-cell imaging of plant zygotes have recently made significant insights possible. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we summarize our understanding of the early steps in apical-basal axis formation in Arabidopsis, with a focus on de novo transcriptional activation after fertilization and the intracellular dynamics leading to the first asymmetric division of the zygote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikari Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Minako Ueda
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
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14
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Ponvert N, Johnson MA. Synergid cell calcium oscillations refine understanding of FERONIA/LORELEI signaling during interspecific hybridization. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2024; 37:57-68. [PMID: 37934279 PMCID: PMC10879309 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-023-00483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Pollen tubes from closely related species and mutants lacking pollen tube MYB transcription factors are able to initiate FER/LRE-dependent synergid cell calcium oscillations. Reproductive isolation leads to the evolution of new species; however, the molecular mechanisms that maintain reproductive barriers between sympatric species are not well defined. In flowering plants, sperm cells are immotile and are delivered to female gametes by the pollen grain. After landing on the stigmatic surface, the pollen grain germinates a polarized extension, the pollen tube, into floral tissue. After growing via polar extension to the female gametes and shuttling its cargo of sperm cells through its cytoplasm, the pollen tube signals its arrival and identity to synergid cells that flank the egg. If signaling is successful, the pollen tube and receptive synergid cell burst, and sperm cells are released for fusion with female gametes. To better understand cell-cell recognition during reproduction and how reproductive barriers are maintained between closely related species, pollen tube-initiated synergid cell calcium ion dynamics were examined during interspecific crosses. It was observed that interspecific pollen tubes successfully trigger synergid cell calcium oscillations-a hallmark of reproductive success-but signaling fails downstream of key signaling genes and sperm are not released. This work further defines pollen tube-synergid cell signaling as a critical block to interspecific hybridization and suggests that the FERONIA/LORELEI signaling mechanism plays multiple parallel roles during pollen tube reception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Ponvert
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Mark A Johnson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
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15
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Wang W, Malka R, Lindemeier M, Cyprys P, Tiedemann S, Sun K, Zhang X, Xiong H, Sprunck S, Sun MX. EGG CELL 1 contributes to egg-cell-dependent preferential fertilization in Arabidopsis. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:268-282. [PMID: 38287093 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01616-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
During double fertilization in angiosperms, the pollen tube delivers two sperm cells into an embryo sac; one sperm cell fuses with an egg cell, and the other sperm cell fuses with the central cell. It has long been proposed that the preference for fusion with one or another female gamete cell depends on the sperm cells and occurs during gamete recognition. However, up to now, sperm-dependent preferential fertilization has not been demonstrated, and results on preferred fusion with either female gamete have remained conflicting. To investigate this topic, we generated Arabidopsis thaliana mutants that produce single sperm-like cells or whose egg cells are eliminated; we found that although the three different types of sperm-like cell are functionally equivalent in their ability to fertilize the egg and the central cell, each type of sperm-like cell fuses predominantly with the egg cell. This indicates that it is the egg cell that controls its preferential fertilization. We also found that sperm-activating small secreted EGG CELL 1 proteins are involved in the regulation of egg-cell-dependent preferential fertilization, revealing another important role for this protein family during double fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Raphael Malka
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maria Lindemeier
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Cyprys
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sophie Tiedemann
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kaiting Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuecheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hanxian Xiong
- School of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Stefanie Sprunck
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Meng-Xiang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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16
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Seidel T, Artmann PJ, Gkekas I, Illies F, Baack AL, Viefhues M. Microfluidic Single-Cell Study on Arabidopsis thaliana Protoplast Fusion-New Insights on Timescales and Reversibilities. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:295. [PMID: 38256848 PMCID: PMC10820889 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Plant cells are omnipotent and breeding of new varieties can be achieved by protoplast fusion. Such fusions can be achieved by treatment with poly(ethylene glycol) or by applying an electric field. Microfluidic devices allow for controlled conditions and targeted manipulation of small batches of cells down to single-cell analysis. To provide controlled conditions for protoplast fusions and achieve high reproducibility, we developed and characterized a microfluidic device to reliably trap some Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts and induced cell fusion by controlled addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, with a molecular weight of 6000). Experiments were conducted to determine the survival rate of isolated protoplasts in our microfluidic system. Afterward, PEG-induced fusion was studied. Our results indicate that the following fusion parameters had a significant impact on the fusion efficiency and duration: PEG concentration, osmolality of solution and flow velocity. A PEG concentration below 10% led to only partial fusion. The osmolality of the PEG fusion solution was found to strongly impact the fusion process; complete fusion of two source cells sufficiently took part in slightly hyper-osmotic solutions, whereas iso-osmotic solutions led to only partial fusion at a 20% PEG concentration. We observed accelerated fusion for higher fluid velocities. Until this study, it was common sense that fusion is one-directional, i.e., once two cells are fused into one cell, they stay fused. Here, we present for the first time the reversible fusion of protoplasts. Our microfluidic device paves the way to a deeper understanding of the kinetics and processes of cell fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Seidel
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Philipp Johannes Artmann
- Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanosciences, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Ioannis Gkekas
- Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanosciences, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Franziska Illies
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
- Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanosciences, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Baack
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Martina Viefhues
- Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanosciences, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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17
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Kato M, Watari M, Tsuge T, Zhong S, Gu H, Qu LJ, Fujiwara T, Aoyama T. Redundant function of the Arabidopsis phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase genes PIP5K4-6 is essential for pollen germination. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 117:212-225. [PMID: 37828913 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) is a key enzyme producing the signaling lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2 ] in eukaryotes. Although PIP5K genes are reported to be involved in pollen tube germination and growth, the essential roles of PIP5K in these processes remain unclear. Here, we performed a comprehensive genetic analysis of the Arabidopsis thaliana PIP5K4, PIP5K5, and PIP5K6 genes and revealed that their redundant function is essential for pollen germination. Pollen with the pip5k4pip5k5pip5k6 triple mutation was sterile, while pollen germination efficiency and pollen tube growth were reduced in the pip5k6 single mutant and further reduced in the pip5k4pip5k6 and pip5k5pip5k6 double mutants. YFP-fusion proteins, PIP5K4-YFP, PIP5K5-YFP, and PIP5K6-YFP, which could rescue the sterility of the triple mutant pollen, preferentially localized to the tricolpate aperture area and the future germination site on the plasma membrane prior to germination. Triple mutant pollen grains under the germination condition, in which spatiotemporal localization of the PtdIns(4,5)P2 fluorescent marker protein 2xmCHERRY-2xPHPLC as seen in the wild type was abolished, exhibited swelling and rupture of the pollen wall, but neither the conspicuous protruding site nor site-specific deposition of cell wall materials for germination. These data indicate that PIP5K4-6 and their product PtdIns(4,5)P2 are essential for pollen germination, possibly through the establishment of the germination polarity in a pollen grain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Kato
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Machiko Watari
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Tsuge
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Sheng Zhong
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Hongya Gu
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Li-Jia Qu
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Takashi Fujiwara
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Takashi Aoyama
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
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18
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Li T, Zhu S, Li Y, Yao J, Wang C, Fang S, Pan J, Chen W, Zhang Y. Characteristic of GEX1 genes reveals the essential roles for reproduction in cotton. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127645. [PMID: 37879575 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
GEX1 (gamete expressed 1) proteins are critical membrane proteins conserved among flowering plants that are involved in the nuclear fusion and embryonic development. Herein, we identified the 32 GEX1 proteins from representative land plants. In cotton, GEX1 genes expressed in various tissues across all stages of the life cycle, especially in pollen. Subcellular localization indicated the position of GhGEX1 protein was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Experimental research has demonstrated that GhGEX1 has the potential to improve the partial abortion phenotype in Arabidopsis. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of GhGEX1 exhibited the seed abortion. Paraffin section of the ovule revealed that the polar nuclear fusion of ghgex1 plants remains at a standstill when the wild type has developed into a normal embryo. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that the DEGs of reproductive-related processes and membrane-related processes were repressed in the pollen of knockout lines. The predicted protein interactions showed that GhGEX1 probably functioned through interactions with proteins related to reproduction and membrane. From all these investigations, it was possible to conclude that the GEX1 proteins are evolutionarily conserved in flowering plants and elucidated the pivotal roles during fertilization and early embryonic development in cotton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengyu Li
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China; National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shouhong Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Yan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Jinbo Yao
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Chenlei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Shengtao Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Jingwen Pan
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Wei Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China.
| | - Yongshan Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Anyang 455000, China.
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19
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Khalaf EM, Shrestha A, Reid M, McFadyen BJ, Raizada MN. Conservation and diversity of the pollen microbiome of Pan-American maize using PacBio and MiSeq. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1276241. [PMID: 38179444 PMCID: PMC10764481 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1276241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Pollen is a vector for diversification, fitness-selection, and transmission of plant genetic material. The extent to which the pollen microbiome may contribute to host diversification is largely unknown, because pollen microbiome diversity within a plant species has not been reported, and studies have been limited to conventional short-read 16S rRNA gene sequencing (e.g., V4-MiSeq) which suffers from poor taxonomic resolution. Here we report the pollen microbiomes of 16 primitive and traditional accessions of maize (corn) selected by indigenous peoples across the Americas, along with the modern U.S. inbred B73. The maize pollen microbiome has not previously been reported. The pollen microbiomes were identified using full-length (FL) 16S rRNA gene PacBio SMRT sequencing compared to V4-MiSeq. The Pan-American maize pollen microbiome encompasses 765 taxa spanning 39 genera and 46 species, including known plant growth promoters, insect-obligates, plant pathogens, nitrogen-fixers and biocontrol agents. Eleven genera and 13 species composed the core microbiome. Of 765 taxa, 63% belonged to only four genera: 28% were Pantoea, 15% were Lactococcus, 11% were Pseudomonas, and 10% were Erwinia. Interestingly, of the 215 Pantoea taxa, 180 belonged to a single species, P. ananatis. Surprisingly, the diversity within P. ananatis ranged nearly 10-fold amongst the maize accessions analyzed (those with ≥3 replicates), despite being grown in a common field. The highest diversity within P. ananatis occurred in accessions that originated near the center of diversity of domesticated maize, with reduced diversity associated with the north-south migration of maize. This sub-species diversity was revealed by FL-PacBio but missed by V4-MiSeq. V4-MiSeq also mis-identified some dominant genera captured by FL-PacBio. The study, though limited to a single season and common field, provides initial evidence that pollen microbiomes reflect evolutionary and migratory relationships of their host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman M. Khalaf
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Anuja Shrestha
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Michelle Reid
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | - Manish N. Raizada
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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20
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Shrestha A, Limay-Rios V, Brettingham DJL, Raizada MN. Bacteria existing in pre-pollinated styles (silks) can defend the exposed male gamete fertilization channel of maize against an environmental Fusarium pathogen. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1292109. [PMID: 38111882 PMCID: PMC10726056 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1292109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
In flowering plants, fertilization requires exposing maternal style channels to the external environment to capture pollen and transmit its resident sperm nuclei to eggs. This results in progeny seed. However, environmental fungal pathogens invade developing seeds through the style. We hypothesized that prior to environmental exposure, style tissue already possesses bacteria that can protect styles and seed from such pathogens. We further hypothesized that farmers have been inadvertently selecting immature styles over many generations to have such bacteria. We tested these hypotheses in maize, a wind-pollinated crop, which has unusually long styles (silks) that are invaded by the economically-important fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Fg). Here, unpollinated silk-associated bacteria were cultured from a wild teosinte ancestor of maize and diverse maize landraces selected by indigenous farmers across the Americas, grown in a common Canadian field for one season. The bacteria were taxonomically classified using 16S rRNA sequencing. In total, 201 bacteria were cultured, spanning 29 genera, 63 species, and 62 unique OTUs, dominated by Pseudomonas, Pantoea and Microbacterium. These bacteria were tested for their ability to suppress Fg in vitro which identified 10 strains belonging to 6 species: Rouxiella badensis, Pantoea ananatis, Pantoea dispersa, Pseudomonas koreensis, Rahnella aquatilis, and Ewingella americana. Two anti-Fg strains were sprayed onto silks before/after Fg inoculation, resulting in ≤90% reductions in disease (Gibberella ear rot) and 70-100% reductions in associated mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol and zearalenone) in progeny seeds. These strains also protected progeny seeds post-harvest. Confocal fluorescent imaging showed that one silk bacterium (Rouxiella AS112) colonized susceptible entry points of Fg on living silks including stigmatic trichomes, wounds, and epidermal surfaces where they formed thick biofilms. Post-infection, AS112 was associated with masses of dead Fg hyphae. These results suggest that the maize style (silk) is endowed with potent bacteria from the mother plant to protect itself and progeny from Fusarium. The evidence suggests this trait may have been selected by specific indigenous peoples, though this interpretation requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuja Shrestha
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Victor Limay-Rios
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Ridgetown, ON, Canada
| | | | - Manish N. Raizada
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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21
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Xu H, Bartley L, Libault M, Sundaresan V, Fu H, Russell S. The roles of a novel CDKB/KRP/FB3 cell cycle core complex in rice gametes and initiation of embryogenesis. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2023; 36:301-320. [PMID: 37491485 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-023-00474-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The cell cycle controls division and proliferation of all eukaryotic cells and is tightly regulated at multiple checkpoints by complexes of core cell cycle proteins. Due to the difficulty in accessing female gametes and zygotes of flowering plants, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying embryogenesis initiation despite the crucial importance of this process for seed crops. In this study, we reveal three levels of factors involved in rice zygotic cell cycle control and characterize their functions and regulation. Protein-protein interaction studies, including within zygote cells, and in vitro biochemical analyses delineate a model of the zygotic cell cycle core complex for rice. In this model, CDKB1, a major regulator of plant mitosis, is a cyclin (CYCD5)-dependent kinase; its activity is coordinately inhibited by two cell cycle inhibitors, KRP4 and KRP5; and both KRPs are regulated via F-box protein 3 (FB3)-mediated proteolysis. Supporting their critical roles in controlling the rice zygotic cell cycle, mutations in KRP4, KRP5 and FB3 result in the compromised function of sperm cells and abnormal organization of female germ units, embryo and endosperm, thus significantly reducing seed-set rate. This work helps reveal regulatory mechanisms controlling the zygotic cell cycle toward seed formation in angiosperms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengping Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
| | - Laura Bartley
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Marc Libault
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68503, USA
| | | | - Hong Fu
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Scott Russell
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
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22
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Kobayashi N, Nishikawa SI. Nuclear Fusion in Yeast and Plant Reproduction. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3608. [PMID: 37896071 PMCID: PMC10609895 DOI: 10.3390/plants12203608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear fusion is essential for the sexual reproduction of various organisms, including plants, animals, and fungi. During the life cycle of flowering plants, nuclear fusion occurs three times: once during female gametogenesis and twice during double fertilization, when two sperm cells fertilize the egg and the central cell. Haploid nuclei migrate in an actin filament-dependent manner to become in close contact and, then, two nuclei fuse. The nuclear fusion process in plant reproduction is achieved through sequential nuclear membrane fusion events. Recent molecular genetic analyses using Arabidopsis thaliana showed the conservation of nuclear membrane fusion machinery between plants and the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These include the heat-shock protein 70 in the endoplasmic reticulum and the conserved nuclear membrane proteins. Analyses of the A. thaliana mutants of these components show that the completion of the sperm nuclear fusion at fertilization is essential for proper embryo and endosperm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanami Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan;
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23
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Subramaniam B, Bartlett M. Re-imagining Reproduction: The Queer Possibilities of Plants. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:946-959. [PMID: 37024265 PMCID: PMC10563651 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
How did plant sexuality come to so hauntingly resemble human sexual formations? How did plant biology come to theorize plant sexuality with binary formulations of male/female, sex/gender, sperm/egg, active males and passive females-all of which resemble western categories of sex, gender, and sexuality? Tracing the extant language of sex and sexuality in plant reproductive biology, we examine the histories of science to explore how plant reproductive biology emerged historically from formations of colonial racial and sexual politics and how evolutionary biology was premised on the imaginations of racialized heterosexual romance. Drawing on key examples, the paper aims to (un)read plant sexuality and sexual anatomy and bodies to imagine new possibilities for plant sex, sexualities, and their relationalities. In short, plant sex and sexuality are not two different objects of inquiry but are intimately related-it is their inter-relation that is the focus of this essay. One of the key impulses from the humanities that we bring to this essay is a careful consideration of how terms and terminologies are related to each other historically and culturally. In anthropomorphizing plants, if plant sexuality were modeled on human sexual formations, might a re-imagination of plant sexuality open new vistas for the biological sciences? While our definitions of plant sexuality will always be informed by contemporary society and culture, interrogating the histories of our theories and terminologies can help us reimagine a biology that allows for new and more accurate understandings of plants, plant biology, and the evolution of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banu Subramaniam
- Department of Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies, UMass Amherst, 130 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Madelaine Bartlett
- Department of Biology, UMass Amherst, 611 N Pleasant St, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Dresselhaus T, van der Linde K. Plant reproduction: Fertilization SALvaged by the central cell. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1013-R1015. [PMID: 37816321 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Flowering plants evolved glandular synergid cells assisting female gametes to attract pollen tubes carrying sperm cells. A recent study shows how central cells serve as a back-up to ensure pollen tube attraction and reproductive success in the absence of the assistants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dresselhaus
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Karina van der Linde
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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Pachamuthu K, Borges F. Epigenetic control of transposons during plant reproduction: From meiosis to hybrid seeds. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 75:102419. [PMID: 37480640 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
The regulation of transposable elements (TEs) requires overlapping epigenetic modifications that must be reinforced every cell division and generation. In plants, this is achieved by multiple pathways including small RNAs, DNA methylation, and repressive histone marks that act together to control TE expression and activity throughout the entire life cycle. However, transient TE activation is observed during reproductive transitions as a result of epigenome reprogramming, thus providing windows of opportunity for TE proliferation and epigenetic novelty. Ultimately, these events may originate complex TE-driven transcriptional networks or cell-to-cell communication strategies via mobile small RNAs. In this review, we discuss recent findings and current understanding of TE regulation during sexual plant reproduction, and its implications for fertility, early seed development, and epigenetic inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannan Pachamuthu
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000, Versailles, France. https://twitter.com/@KannanPachamut1
| | - Filipe Borges
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000, Versailles, France.
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Zhai X, Bai J, Xu W, Yang X, Jia Z, Xia W, Wu X, Liang Q, Li B, Jia N. The molecular chaperone mtHSC70-1 interacts with DjA30 to regulate female gametophyte development and fertility in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 115:1677-1698. [PMID: 37294615 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Arabidopsis mitochondria-targeted heat shock protein 70 (mtHSC70-1) plays important roles in the establishment of cytochrome c oxidase-dependent respiration and redox homeostasis during the vegetative growth of plants. Here, we report that knocking out the mtHSC70-1 gene led to a decrease in plant fertility; the fertility defect of the mutant was completely rescued by introducing the mtHSC70-1 gene. mtHSC70-1 mutants also showed defects in female gametophyte (FG) development, including delayed mitosis, abnormal nuclear position, and ectopic gene expression in the embryo sacs. In addition, we found that an Arabidopsis mitochondrial J-protein gene (DjA30) mutant, j30+/- , had defects in FG development and fertility similar to those of mtHSC70-1 mutant. mtHSC70-1 and DjA30 had similar expression patterns in FGs and interacted in vivo, suggesting that these two proteins might cooperate during female gametogenesis. Further, respiratory chain complex IV activity in mtHSC70-1 and DjA30 mutant embryo sacs was markedly downregulated; this led to the accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Scavenging excess ROS by introducing Mn-superoxide dismutase 1 or catalase 1 gene into the mtHSC70-1 mutant rescued FG development and fertility. Altogether, our results suggest that mtHSC70-1 and DjA30 are essential for the maintenance of ROS homeostasis in the embryo sacs and provide direct evidence for the roles of ROS homeostasis in embryo sac maturation and nuclear patterning, which might determine the fate of gametic and accessory cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Zhai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- College of Agriculture and Forestry, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
| | - Jiaoteng Bai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Wenyan Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xiujuan Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Zichao Jia
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Wenxuan Xia
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Qi Liang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Bing Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
- Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Ning Jia
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
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Weng Z, Deng Y, Tang F, Zhao L, Zhao L, Wang Y, Dai X, Zhou Z, Cao Q. Screening and optimisation of in vitro pollen germination medium for sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas). PLANT METHODS 2023; 19:93. [PMID: 37644497 PMCID: PMC10463589 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-023-01050-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sweetpotato is an important vegetable and food crop that is bred through sexual crosses and systematic selection. The use of in vitro germination of sweetpotato pollen to test its viability has important theoretical and practical implications for improving the efficiency of sweetpotato crossbreeding by controlling pollination and conducting research on sweetpotato pollen biology. RESULTS In this study, we observed the morphological structure of sweetpotato pollen under a scanning electron microscope (SEM), developed an effective method for the in vitro germination of sweetpotato pollen, and examined the viability of sweetpotato pollen after treating plants at different temperatures before blossoming. Sweetpotato pollen grains are spherical, with an average diameter of 87.07 ± 3.27 μm (excluding spines), with multiple germination pores and reticulate pollen surface sculpture. We applied numerous media to sweetpotato pollen germination in vitro to screen the initial medium and optimised the medium components through single-factor design. The most effective liquid medium for in vitro sweetpotato pollen germination contained 50 g/L Sucrose, 50 g/L Polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG4000), 100 mg/L Boric acid and 300 mg/L Calcium nitrate, with a pH = 6.0. The optimum growth temperature for pollen development in sweetpotato was from 25 to 30 °C. Neither staining nor in situ germination could accurately determine the viability of sweetpotato pollen. CONCLUSIONS In vitro germination can be used to effectively determine sweetpotato pollen viability. The best liquid medium for in vitro germination of sweetpotato pollen contained 50 g/L Sucrose, 50 g/L Polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG4000), 100 mg/L Boric acid and 300 mg/L Calcium nitrate, with the pH adjusted to 6.0. This study provides a reliable medium for the detection of sweetpotato pollen viability, which can provide a theoretical reference for sweetpotato genetics and breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongkuan Weng
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China
| | - Yitong Deng
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China
| | - Fen Tang
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China
| | - Lukuan Zhao
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China
| | - Lingxiao Zhao
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China
| | - Xibin Dai
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China
| | - Zhilin Zhou
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China
| | - Qinghe Cao
- Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District/Institute of Sweetpotato Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China.
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Meng JG, Xu YJ, Wang WQ, Yang F, Chen SY, Jia PF, Yang WC, Li HJ. Central-cell-produced attractants control fertilization recovery. Cell 2023; 186:3593-3605.e12. [PMID: 37516107 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Animal fertilization relies on hundreds of sperm racing toward the egg, whereas, in angiosperms, only two sperm cells are delivered by a pollen tube to the female gametes (egg cell and central cell) for double fertilization. However, unsuccessful fertilization under this one-pollen-tube design can be detrimental to seed production and plant survival. To mitigate this risk, unfertilized-gamete-controlled extra pollen tube entry has been evolved to bring more sperm cells and salvage fertilization. Despite its importance, the underlying molecular mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. In this study, we report that, in Arabidopsis, the central cell secretes peptides SALVAGER1 and SALVAGER2 in a directional manner to attract pollen tubes when the synergid-dependent attraction fails or is terminated by pollen tubes carrying infertile sperm cells. Moreover, loss of SALs impairs the fertilization recovery capacity of the ovules. Therefore, this research uncovers a female gamete-attraction system that salvages seed production for reproductive assurance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Guo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yin-Jiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei-Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shu-Yan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Peng-Fei Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wei-Cai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong-Ju Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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29
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Yu TY, Gao TY, Li WJ, Cui DL. "Single-pole dual-control" competing mode in plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1149522. [PMID: 37457334 PMCID: PMC10348426 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1149522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Plant development and pattern formation depend on diffusible signals and location cues. These developmental signals and cues activate intracellular downstream components through cell surface receptors that direct cells to adopt specific fates for optimal function and establish biological fitness. There may be a single-pole dual-control competing mode in controlling plant development and microbial infection. In plant development, paracrine signaling molecules compete with autocrine signaling molecules to bind receptors or receptor complexes, turn on antagonistic molecular mechanisms, and precisely regulate developmental processes. In the process of microbial infection, two different signaling molecules, competing receptors or receptor complexes, form their respective signaling complexes, trigger opposite signaling pathways, establish symbiosis or immunity, and achieve biological adaptation. We reviewed several "single-pole dual-control" competing modes, focusing on analyzing the competitive commonality and characterization of "single-pole dual-control" molecular mechanisms. We suggest it might be an economical protective mechanism for plants' sequentially and iteratively programmed developmental events. This mechanism may also be a paradigm for reducing internal friction in the struggle and coexistence with microbes. It provides extraordinary insights into molecular recognition, cell-to-cell communication, and protein-protein interactions. A detailed understanding of the "single-pole dual-control" competing mode will contribute to the discovery of more receptors or antagonistic peptides, and lay the foundation for food, biofuel production, and crop improvement.
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30
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Bai Q, Wang L, Huang S, Ali K, Li G, Ren H, Zheng B. The receptor-like kinase EMS1 and BRI1 coordinately regulate stamen elongation via the transcription factors BES1/BZR1 in Arabidopsis. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 331:111673. [PMID: 36931564 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plants possess a large family of receptor kinase proteins to mediate cell-to-cell and cell-to-environment communication, and these regulations are essential for plant growth and development as well as resistance to biotic or abiotic stresses. EMS1 is a receptor kinase which involved in tapetum cell fate determination during anther development, while brassinosteroid (BR) receptor, BRI1, controls most aspects of plant growth and development. Although EMS1 and BRI1 are known to regulate independent biological processes, they interact with identical components of the downstream signaling pathways. However, the biological processes other than the tapetum development controlled by the EMS1 signal are not clear. Here, we report that EMS1 signaling-related mutants exhibited an insufficient stamen elongation phenotype, similar to BR signaling mutants. Transgenic expression of BRI1 restored the short filament phenotype of ems1. Conversely, co-expression of EMS1 and TPD1 also restored the short filaments of BRI1 mutants, bri1. Genetic experiments confirmed that EMS1 and BRI1 regulate filament elongation through their downstream transcription factors BES1/BZR1. Molecular analysis suggested that the decrease in BR signaling output in filaments of the ems1 mutant caused deficient filament development. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo experiments proved BES1 interacts with filament-specific transcription factor MYB21. Together, we found that the two receptor-like kinases (RLKs) EMS1 and BRI1 are cooperatively involved in the regulation of filament elongation via the transcription factors BES1/BZR1. These results indicated that the biological processes regulated by EMS1 and BRI1 in plants are both independent and interactive, which provides us with insights into multidimensional molecular control of the RLK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunwei Bai
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Lihaitian Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Shengdi Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Khawar Ali
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Guishuang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Hongyan Ren
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Bowen Zheng
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
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Zhang R, Shi PT, Zhou M, Liu HZ, Xu XJ, Liu WT, Chen KM. Rapid alkalinization factor: function, regulation, and potential applications in agriculture. STRESS BIOLOGY 2023; 3:16. [PMID: 37676530 PMCID: PMC10442051 DOI: 10.1007/s44154-023-00093-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Rapid alkalinization factor (RALF) is widespread throughout the plant kingdom and controls many aspects of plant life. Current studies on the regulatory mechanism underlying RALF function mainly focus on Arabidopsis, but little is known about the role of RALF in crop plants. Here, we systematically and comprehensively analyzed the relation between RALF family genes from five important crops and those in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Simultaneously, we summarized the functions of RALFs in controlling growth and developmental behavior using conservative motifs as cues and predicted the regulatory role of RALFs in cereal crops. In conclusion, RALF has considerable application potential in improving crop yields and increasing economic benefits. Using gene editing technology or taking advantage of RALF as a hormone additive are effective way to amplify the role of RALF in crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Peng-Tao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Min Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huai-Zeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wen-Ting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kun-Ming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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Li S, Hu Y, Yang H, Tian S, Wei D, Tang Q, Yang Y, Wang Z. The Regulatory Roles of MYC TFs in Plant Stamen Development. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 333:111734. [PMID: 37207819 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The stamen, as the male reproductive organ of flowering plants, plays a critical role in completing the life cycle of plants. MYC transcription factors are members of the bHLH IIIE subgroup and participate in a number of plant biological processes. In recent decades, a number of studies have confirmed that MYC transcription factors actively participate in the regulation of stamen development and have a critical impact on plant fertility. In this review, we summarized how MYC transcription factors play a role in regulating secondary thickening of the anther endothecium, the development and degradation of the tapetum, stomatal differentiation, and the dehydration of the anther epidermis. With regard to anther physiological metabolism, MYC transcription factors control dehydrin synthesis, ion and water transport, and carbohydrate metabolism to influence pollen viability. Additionally, MYCs participate in the JA signal transduction pathway, where they directly or indirectly control the development of stamens through the ET-JA, GA-JA, and ABA-JA pathways. By identifying the functions of MYCs during plant stamen development, it will help us to obtain a more comprehensive understanding not only on the molecular functions of this TF family but also the mechanisms underlying stamen development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirui Li
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Olericulture, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Yao Hu
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Olericulture, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Huiqing Yang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Olericulture, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Shibing Tian
- The Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chongqing 400055, China.
| | - Dayong Wei
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Olericulture, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Qinglin Tang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Olericulture, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Yang Yang
- The Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chongqing 400055, China.
| | - Zhimin Wang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Olericulture, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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33
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Wang Y, Shi D, Zhu H, Yin H, Wang G, Yang A, Song Z, Jing Q, Shuai B, Xu N, Yang J, Chen H, Wang G. Revisiting maize Brittle endosperm-2 reveals new insights in BETL development and starchy endosperm filling. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 332:111727. [PMID: 37149228 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Rerouting the starch biosynthesis pathway in maize can generate specialty types, like sweet corn and waxy corn, with a drastically increasing global demand. Hence, a fine-tuning of starch metabolism is relevant to create diverse maize cultivars for end-use applications. Here, we characterized a new maize brittle endosperm mutant, referred to as bt1774, which exhibited decreased starch content but a dramatic increase of soluble sugars at maturity. Both endosperm and embryo development was impaired in bt1774 relative to the wild-type (WT), with a prominently arrested basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL). Map-based cloning revealed that BRITTLE ENDOSPERM2 (Bt2), which encodes a small subunit of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), is the causal gene for bt1774. A MuA2 element was found to be inserted into intron 2 of Bt2, leading to a severe decrease of its expression, in bt1774. This is in line with the irregular and loosely packed starch granules in the mutant. Transcriptome of endosperm at grain filling stage identified 1, 013 differentially expressed genes in bt1774, which were notably enriched in the BETL compartment, including ZmMRP1, Miniature1, MEG1, and BETLs. Gene expression of the canonical starch biosynthesis pathway was marginally disturbed in Bt1774. Combined with the residual 60% of starch in this nearly null mutant of Bt2, this data strongly suggests that an AGPase-independent pathway compensates for starch synthesis in the endosperm. Consistent with the BETL defects, zein accumulation was impaired in bt1774. Co-expression network analysis revealed that Bt2 probably has a role in intracellular signal transduction, besides starch synthesis. Altogether, we propose that Bt2 is likely involved in carbohydrate flux and balance, thus regulating both the BETL development and the starchy endosperm filling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyan Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Dongsheng Shi
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hui Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Hanxue Yin
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Gaoyang Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Anqi Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Zhixuan Song
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Qingquan Jing
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Bilian Shuai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-Energy Crops, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Ningkun Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jianping Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Hongyu Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
| | - Guifeng Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, CIMMYT-China (Henan) Joint Center of Wheat and Maize, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
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Weng X, Shen Y, Jiang L, Zhao L, Wang H. Spatiotemporal organization and correlation of tip-focused exocytosis and endocytosis in regulating pollen tube tip growth. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 330:111633. [PMID: 36775070 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pollen tube polar growth is a key cellular process during plant fertilization and is regulated by tip-focused exocytosis and endocytosis. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics and localizations of apical exocytosis and endocytosis in the tip region are still a matter of debate. Here, we use a refined spinning-disk confocal microscope coupled with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching for sustained live imaging and quantitative analysis of rapid vesicular activities in growing pollen tube tips. We traced and analyzed the occurrence site of exocytic plasma membrane-targeting of Arabidopsis secretory carrier membrane protein 4 and its subsequent endocytosis in tobacco pollen tube tips. We demonstrated that the pollen tube apex is the site for both vesicle polar exocytic fusion and endocytosis to take place. In addition, we disrupted either tip-focused exocytosis or endocytosis and found that their dynamic activities are closely correlated with one another basing on the spatial organization of actin fringe. Collectively, our findings attempt to propose a new exocytosis and endocytosis-coordinated yin-yang working model underlying the apical membrane organization and dynamics during pollen tube tip growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Weng
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yifan Shen
- Utahloy International School of Guangzhou, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Liwen Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Centre for Cell and Developmental Biology and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; Institute of Plant Molecular Biology & Agricultural Biotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lifeng Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Hao Wang
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Li H, Feng B, Li J, Fu W, Wang W, Chen T, Liu L, Wu Z, Peng S, Tao L, Fu G. RGA1 alleviates low-light-repressed pollen tube elongation by improving the metabolism and allocation of sugars and energy. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:1363-1383. [PMID: 36658612 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Low-light stress compromises photosynthetic and energy efficiency and leads to spikelet sterility; however, the effect of low-light stress on pollen tube elongation in the pistil remains poorly understood. The gene RGA1, which encodes a Gα-subunit of the heterotrimeric G-protein, enhanced low-light tolerance at anthesis by preventing the cessation of pollen tube elongation in the pistil of rice plants. In this process, marked increases in the activities of acid invertase (INV), sucrose synthase (SUS) and mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chain complexes, as well as the relative expression levels of SUTs (sucrose transporter), SWEETs (sugars will eventually be exported transporters), SUSs, INVs, CINs (cell-wall INV 1), SnRK1A (sucrose-nonfermenting 1-related kinase 1) and SnRK1B, were observed in OE-1 plants. Accordingly, notable increases in contents of ATP and ATPase were presented in OE-1 plants under low-light conditions, while they were decreased in d1 plants. Importantly, INV and ATPase activators (sucrose and Na2 SO3 , respectively) increased spikelet fertility by improving the energy status in the pistil under low-light conditions, and the ATPase inhibitor Na2 VO4 induced spikelet sterility and decreased ATPase activity. These results suggest that RGA1 could alleviate the low-light stress-induced impairment of pollen tube elongation to increase spikelet fertility by promoting sucrose unloading in the pistil and improving the metabolism and allocation of energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubo Li
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
- Crop Production and Physiology Center (CPPC), College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Baohua Feng
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juncai Li
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
- Agronomy College, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Weimeng Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenting Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lianmeng Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhihai Wu
- Agronomy College, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Shaobing Peng
- Crop Production and Physiology Center (CPPC), College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Longxing Tao
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guanfu Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
- Agronomy College, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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Moreira D, Kaur D, Pereira AM, Held MA, Showalter AM, Coimbra S. Type II arabinogalactans initiated by hydroxyproline-O-galactosyltransferases play important roles in pollen-pistil interactions. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 114:371-389. [PMID: 36775989 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) are hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins containing a high sugar content and are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. AGPs have long been suggested to play important roles in sexual plant reproduction. The synthesis of their complex carbohydrates is initiated by a family of hydroxyproline galactosyltransferase (Hyp-GALT) enzymes which add the first galactose to Hyp residues in the protein backbone. Eight Hyp-GALT enzymes have been identified so far, and in the present work a mutant affecting five of these enzymes (galt2galt5galt7galt8galt9) was analyzed regarding the reproductive process. The galt25789 mutant presented a low seed set, and reciprocal crosses indicated a significant female gametophytic contribution to this mutant phenotype. Mutant ovules revealed abnormal callose accumulation inside the embryo sac and integument defects at the micropylar region culminating in defects in pollen tube reception. In addition, immunolocalization and biochemical analyses allowed the detection of a reduction in the amount of glucuronic acid in mutant ovary AGPs. Dramatically low amounts of high-molecular-weight Hyp-O-glycosides obtained following size exclusion chromatography of base-hydrolyzed mutant AGPs compared to the wild type indicated the presence of underglycosylated AGPs in the galt25789 mutant, while the monosaccharide composition of these Hyp-O-glycosides displayed no significant changes compared to the wild-type Hyp-O-glycosides. The present work demonstrates the functional importance of the carbohydrate moieties of AGPs in ovule development and pollen-pistil interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Moreira
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Dasmeet Kaur
- Department of Environmental & Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701-2979, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA
| | - Ana Marta Pereira
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Michael A Held
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA
| | - Allan M Showalter
- Department of Environmental & Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701-2979, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA
| | - Sílvia Coimbra
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
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37
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Wang L, Liang X, Dou S, Yi B, Fu T, Ma C, Dai C. Two aspartic proteases, BnaAP36s and BnaAP39s, regulate pollen tube guidance in Brassica napus. MOLECULAR BREEDING : NEW STRATEGIES IN PLANT IMPROVEMENT 2023; 43:27. [PMID: 37313529 PMCID: PMC10248713 DOI: 10.1007/s11032-023-01377-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pollen tube (PT) growth towards the micropyle is critical for successful double fertilization. However, the mechanism of micropyle-directed PT growth is still unclear in Brassica napus. In this study, two aspartate proteases, BnaAP36s and BnaAP39s, were identified in B. napus. BnaAP36s and BnaAP39s were localized to the plasma membrane. The homologues of BnaAP36 and BnaAP39 were highly expressed in flower organs, especially in the anther. Sextuple and double mutants of BnaAP36s and BnaAP39s were then generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Compared to WT, the seed-set of cr-bnaap36 and cr-bnaap39 mutants was reduced by 50% and 60%, respectively. The reduction in seed-set was also found when cr-bnaap36 and cr-bnaap39 were used as the female parent in a reciprocal cross assay. Like WT, cr-bnaap36 and cr-bnaap39 pollen were able to germinate and the relative PTs were able to elongate in style. Approximately 36% and 33% of cr-bnaap36 and cr-bnaap39 PTs, respectively, failed to grow towards the micropyle, indicating that BnaAP36s and BnaAP39s are essential for micropyle-directed PT growth. Furthermore, Alexander's staining showed that 10% of cr-bnaap39 pollen grains were aborted, but not cr-bnaap36, suggesting that BnaAP39s may also affect microspore development. These results suggest that BnaAP36s and BnaAP39s play a critical role in the growth of micropyle-directed PTs in B. napus. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01377-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulin Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Xiaomei Liang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Shengwei Dou
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Bin Yi
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Tingdong Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Chaozhi Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Cheng Dai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070 China
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Susaki D, Izumi R, Oi T, Takeuchi H, Shin JM, Sugi N, Kinoshita T, Higashiyama T, Kawashima T, Maruyama D. F-actin regulates the polarized secretion of pollen tube attractants in Arabidopsis synergid cells. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:1222-1240. [PMID: 36562145 PMCID: PMC10052382 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Pollen tube attraction is a key event of sexual reproduction in flowering plants. In the ovule, two synergid cells neighboring the egg cell control pollen tube arrival via the active secretion of attractant peptides such as AtLURE1 and XIUQIU from the filiform apparatus (FA) facing toward the micropyle. Distinctive cell polarity together with longitudinal F-actin and microtubules are hallmarks of the synergid cell in various species, though the functions of these cellular structures are unclear. In this study, we used genetic and pharmacological approaches to indicate the roles of cytoskeletal components in FA formation and pollen tube guidance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Genetic inhibition of microtubule formation reduced invaginations of the plasma membrane but did not abolish micropylar AtLURE1.2 accumulation. By contrast, the expression of a dominant-negative form of ACTIN8 induced disorganization of the FA and loss of polar AtLURE1.2 distribution toward the FA. Interestingly, after pollen tube reception, F-actin became unclear for a few hours in the persistent synergid cell, which may be involved in pausing and resuming pollen tube attraction during early polytubey block. Our data suggest that F-actin plays a central role in maintaining cell polarity and in mediating male-female communication in the synergid cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daichi Susaki
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Maioka-cho 641-12, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 244-0813, Japan
| | - Rie Izumi
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Maioka-cho 641-12, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 244-0813, Japan
| | - Takao Oi
- Graduate school of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Hidenori Takeuchi
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Ji Min Shin
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 321 Plant Science Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA
| | - Naoya Sugi
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Maioka-cho 641-12, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 244-0813, Japan
| | - Tetsu Kinoshita
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Maioka-cho 641-12, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 244-0813, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Higashiyama
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Kawashima
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 321 Plant Science Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA
| | - Daisuke Maruyama
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Maioka-cho 641-12, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 244-0813, Japan
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Hu X, Yu P, Zhang Y, Gao Z, Sun B, Wu W, Deng C, Abbas A, Hong Y, Sun L, Liu Q, Xue P, Wang B, Zhan X, Cao L, Cheng S. Mutation of DEFECTIVE EMBRYO SAC1 results in a low seed-setting rate in rice by regulating embryo sac development. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:1501-1516. [PMID: 36651501 PMCID: PMC10010608 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The seed-setting rate has a significant effect on grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Embryo sac development is essential for seed setting; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this process remains unclear. Here, we isolated defective embryo sac1 (des1), a rice mutant with a low seed-setting rate. Cytological examination showed degenerated embryo sacs and reduced fertilization capacity in des1. Map-based cloning revealed a nonsense mutation in OsDES1, a gene that encodes a putative nuclear envelope membrane protein (NEMP)-domain-containing protein that is preferentially expressed in pistils. The OsDES1 mutation disrupts the normal formation of functional megaspores, which ultimately results in a degenerated embryo sac in des1. Reciprocal crosses showed that fertilization is abnormal and that the female reproductive organ is defective in des1. OsDES1 interacts with LONELY GUY (LOG), a cytokinin-activating enzyme that acts in the final step of cytokinin synthesis; mutation of LOG led to defective female reproductive organ development. These results demonstrate that OsDES1 functions in determining the rice seed-setting rate by regulating embryo sac development and fertilization. Our study sheds light on the function of NEMP-type proteins in rice reproductive development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zhiqiang Gao
- Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, China
| | - Bin Sun
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201403, China
| | - Weixun Wu
- China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311400, China
| | - Chenwei Deng
- Zhoukou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhoukou, Henan, 466001, China
| | - Adil Abbas
- China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311400, China
| | - Yongbo Hong
- China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311400, China
| | - Lianping Sun
- China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311400, China
| | - Qunen Liu
- China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311400, China
| | - Pao Xue
- China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311400, China
| | - Beifang Wang
- China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311400, China
| | - Xiaodeng Zhan
- China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311400, China
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40
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Peters SA, Underwood CJ. Technology-driven approaches for meiosis research in tomato and wild relatives. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2023; 36:97-106. [PMID: 36149478 PMCID: PMC9957858 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-022-00450-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized cell division during reproduction where one round of chromosomal replication is followed by genetic recombination and two rounds of segregation to generate recombined, ploidy-reduced spores. Meiosis is crucial to the generation of new allelic combinations in natural populations and artificial breeding programs. Several plant species are used in meiosis research including the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) which is a globally important crop species. Here we outline the unique combination of attributes that make tomato a powerful model system for meiosis research. These include the well-characterized behavior of chromosomes during tomato meiosis, readily available genomics resources, capacity for genome editing, clonal propagation techniques, lack of recent polyploidy and the possibility to generate hybrids with twelve related wild species. We propose that further exploitation of genome bioinformatics, genome editing and artificial intelligence in tomato will help advance the field of plant meiosis research. Ultimately this will help address emerging themes including the evolution of meiosis, how recombination landscapes are determined, and the effect of temperature on meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander A Peters
- Business Unit Bioscience, Cluster Applied Bioinformatics, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Charles J Underwood
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829, Cologne, Germany.
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41
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McCartney B, Dudin O. Cellularization across eukaryotes: Conserved mechanisms and novel strategies. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 80:102157. [PMID: 36857882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Many eukaryotes form multinucleated cells during their development. Some cells persist as such during their lifetime, others choose to cleave each nucleus individually using a specialized cytokinetic process known as cellularization. What is cellularization and how is it achieved across the eukaryotic tree of life? Are there common pathways among all species supporting a shared ancestry, or are there key differences, suggesting independent evolutionary paths? In this review, we discuss common strategies and key mechanistic differences in how cellularization is executed across vastly divergent eukaryotic species. We present a number of novel methods and non-model organisms that may provide important insight into the evolutionary origins of cellularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke McCartney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Omaya Dudin
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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42
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Zhang X, Yu X, Shi C, Dresselhaus T, Sun MX. Do egg cell-secreted aspartic proteases promote gamete attachment? JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:3-6. [PMID: 36625409 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xuecheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Xiaobo Yu
- Bamboo Diseases and Pest Control and Resources Development Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, 614000, China
| | - Ce Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Thomas Dresselhaus
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 31 93053, Germany
| | - Meng-Xiang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
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Yu TY, Xu CX, Li WJ, Wang B. Peptides/receptors signaling during plant fertilization. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1090836. [PMID: 36589119 PMCID: PMC9797866 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1090836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Double fertilization is a unique and particularly complicated process for the generation alternation of angiosperms. Sperm cells of angiosperms lose the motility compared with that of gymnosperms. The sperm cells are passively carried and transported by the pollen tube for a long journey before targeting the ovule. Two sperm cells are released at the cleft between the egg and the central cell and fused with two female gametes to produce a zygote and endosperm, respectively, to accomplish the so-called double fertilization process. In this process, extensive communication and interaction occur between the male (pollen or pollen tube) and the female (ovule). It is suggested that small peptides and receptor kinases play critical roles in orchestrating this cell-cell communication. Here, we illuminate the understanding of phases in the process, such as pollen-stigma recognition, the hydration and germination of pollen grains, the growth, guidance, and rupture of tubes, the release of sperm cells, and the fusion of gametes, by reviewing increasing data recently. The roles of peptides and receptor kinases in signaling mechanisms underlying cell-cell communication were focused on, and directions of future studies were perspected in this review.
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Moreira D, Lopes AL, Silva J, Ferreira MJ, Pinto SC, Mendes S, Pereira LG, Coimbra S, Pereira AM. New insights on the expression patterns of specific Arabinogalactan proteins in reproductive tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1083098. [PMID: 36531351 PMCID: PMC9755587 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1083098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins containing a high proportion of carbohydrates, widely distributed in the plant kingdom and ubiquitously present in land plants. AGPs have long been suggested to play important roles in plant reproduction and there is already evidence that specific glycoproteins are essential for male and female gametophyte development, pollen tube growth and guidance, and successful fertilization. However, the functions of many of these proteins have yet to be uncovered, mainly due to the difficulty to study individual AGPs. In this work, we generated molecular tools to analyze the expression patterns of a subgroup of individual AGPs in different Arabidopsis tissues, focusing on reproductive processes. This study focused on six AGPs: four classical AGPs (AGP7, AGP25, AGP26, AGP27), one AG peptide (AGP24) and one chimeric AGP (AGP31). These AGPs were first selected based on their predicted expression patterns along the reproductive tissues from available RNA-seq data. Promoter analysis using β-glucuronidase fusions and qPCR in different Arabidopsis tissues allowed to confirm these predictions. AGP7 was mainly expressed in female reproductive tissues, more precisely in the style, funiculus, and integuments near the micropyle region. AGP25 was found to be expressed in the style, septum and ovules with higher expression in the chalaza and funiculus tissues. AGP26 was present in the ovules and pistil valves. AGP27 was expressed in the transmitting tissue, septum and funiculus during seed development. AGP24 was expressed in pollen grains, in mature embryo sacs, with highest expression at the chalazal pole and in the micropyle. AGP31 was expressed in the mature embryo sac with highest expression at the chalaza and, occasionally, in the micropyle. For all these AGPs a co-expression analysis was performed providing new hints on its possible functions. This work confirmed the detection in Arabidopsis male and female tissues of six AGPs never studied before regarding the reproductive process. These results provide novel evidence on the possible involvement of specific AGPs in plant reproduction, as strong candidates to participate in pollen-pistil interactions in an active way, which is significant for this field of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Moreira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV) Requimte, Sustainable Chemistry, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Lúcia Lopes
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute – BioISI, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jessy Silva
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV) Requimte, Sustainable Chemistry, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Maria João Ferreira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV) Requimte, Sustainable Chemistry, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Cristina Pinto
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV) Requimte, Sustainable Chemistry, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Mendes
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV) Requimte, Sustainable Chemistry, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Gustavo Pereira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- GreenUPorto - Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Centre, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Coimbra
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV) Requimte, Sustainable Chemistry, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Marta Pereira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde (LAQV) Requimte, Sustainable Chemistry, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Gao S, Li C. CrRLK1L receptor kinases-regulated pollen-pistil interactions. REPRODUCTION AND BREEDING 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.repbre.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Lu Y, Ikawa M. Eukaryotic fertilization and gamete fusion at a glance. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs260296. [PMID: 36416181 PMCID: PMC10658792 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In sexually reproducing organisms, the genetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next via the merger of male and female gametes. Gamete fusion is a two-step process involving membrane recognition and apposition through ligand-receptor interactions and lipid mixing mediated by fusion proteins. HAP2 (also known as GCS1) is a bona fide gamete fusogen in flowering plants and protists. In vertebrates, a multitude of surface proteins have been demonstrated to be pivotal for sperm-egg fusion, yet none of them exhibit typical fusogenic features. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we summarize recent advances in the mechanistic understanding of gamete fusion in eukaryotes, with a particular focus on mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Lu
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Laboratory of Reproductive Systems Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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DMP8 and 9 regulate HAP2/GCS1 trafficking for the timely acquisition of sperm fusion competence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207608119. [PMID: 36322734 PMCID: PMC9659367 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207608119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two gametes of opposite sex. Although the sperm-expressed fusogen HAPLESS 2 (HAP2) or GENERATIVE CELL SPECIFIC 1 (GCS1) plays a vital role in this process in many eukaryotic organisms and an understanding of its regulation is emerging in unicellular systems [J. Zhang et al., Nat. Commun. 12, 4380 (2021); J. F. Pinello et al. Dev. Cell 56, 3380-3392.e9 (2021)], neither HAP2/GCS1 interactors nor mechanisms for delivery and activation at the fusion site are known in multicellular plants. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana HAP2/GCS1 interacts with two sperm DUF679 membrane proteins (DMP8 and DMP9), which are required for the EGG CELL 1 (EC1)-induced translocation of HAP2/GCS1 from internal storage vesicle to the sperm plasma membrane to ensure successful fertilization. Our studies in Arabidopsis and tobacco provide evidence for a conserved function of DMP8/9-like proteins as HAP2/GCS1 partner in seed plants. Our data suggest that seed plants evolved a DMP8/9-dependent fusogen translocation process to achieve timely acquisition of sperm fusion competence in response to egg cell-derived signals, revealing a previously unknown critical step for successful fertilization.
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Filipiak M, Shields MW, Cairns SM, Grainger MNC, Wratten SD. The conserved and high K-to-Na ratio in sunflower pollen: Possible implications for bee health and plant-bee interactions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1042348. [PMID: 36388528 PMCID: PMC9664163 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1042348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sodium (Na) concentrations are low in plant tissues, and its metabolic function in plants is minor; however, Na is a key nutrient for plant consumers. Previous studies have thus far focused on Na concentration. Nevertheless, a balanced potassium (K) to Na ratio (K:Na) is more important than Na concentration alone since food with high K:Na has detrimental effects on consumers irrespective of Na concentration. Therefore, plants may actively regulate K:Na in their tissues and products, shaping plant-insect interactions. Studies considering nutritional aspects of plant-insect interactions have focused on nonreproductive tissues and nectar. In this study, we consider pollen as serving a primary reproductive function for plants as well as a food of pollinivores. Plants might regulate K:Na in pollen to affect their interactions with pollinivorous pollinators. To investigate whether such a mechanism exists, we manipulated Na concentrations in soil and measured the proportion of K, Na, and 13 other nutrient elements in the pollen of two sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivars. This approach allowed us to account for the overall nutritional quality of pollen by investigating the proportions of many elements that could correlate with the concentrations of K and Na. Of the elements studied, only the concentrations of Na and K were highly correlated. Pollen K:Na was high in both cultivars irrespective of Na fertilization, and it remained high regardless of pollen Na concentration. Interestingly, pollen K:Na did not decrease as pollen increased the Na concentration. We hypothesize that high K:Na in pollen might benefit plant fertilization and embryonic development; therefore, a tradeoff might occur between producing low K:Na pollen as a reward for pollinators and high K:Na pollen to optimize the plant fertilization process. This is the first study to provide data on pollen K:Na regulation by plants. Our findings broaden the understanding of plant-bee interactions and provide a foundation for a better understanding of the role of the soil-plant-pollen-pollinator pathway in nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Specifically, unexplored costs and tradeoffs related to balancing the K:Na by plants and pollinivores might play a role in past and current shaping of pollination ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Filipiak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Morgan W. Shields
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Sarah M. Cairns
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | | | - Stephen D. Wratten
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
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Li L, Hou S, Xiang W, Song Z, Wang Y, Zhang L, Li J, Gu H, Dong J, Dresselhaus T, Zhong S, Qu LJ. The egg cell is preferentially fertilized in Arabidopsis double fertilization. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 64:2039-2046. [PMID: 36165373 PMCID: PMC9968529 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In flowering plants (angiosperms), fertilization of the egg cell by one sperm cell produces an embryo, whereas fusion of a second sperm cell with the central cell generates the endosperm. In most angiosperms like Arabidopsis, a pollen grain contains two isomorphic sperm cells required for this double fertilization process. A long-standing unsolved question is whether the two fertilization events have any preference. A tool to address this question is the usage of the cyclin-dependent kinase a1 (cdka;1) mutant pollen, which produces a single sperm-like cell (SLC). Here, we first adopt a complementation-based fluorescence-labeling method to successfully separate and collect cdka;1 mutant pollen containing a single SLC. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that cdka;1 SLCs show a gene expression profile highly similar to that of sperm cells and not to the generative cell, precursor of the two sperm cells. Pollination assays using a limited number of cdka;1 mutant pollen revealed that in 98.2% of the ovules, single fertilization of the egg cell occurred. Pollination of pistils with excessive cdka;1 mutant pollen allowed the delivery of a second SLC via fertilization recovery, which fertilized the central cell, resulting in 20.7% double-fertilized ovules. This indicates that cdka;1 SLCs are able to fertilize both the egg and the central cell. Taken together, our findings have answered a long-standing question and support that preferential fertilization of the egg cell is evident in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Saiying Hou
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zihan Song
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, College of Bioscience and Resources Environment, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Hongya Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- The National Plant Gene Research Center, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Juan Dong
- The Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ“2” 08854, USA
| | - Thomas Dresselhaus
- Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Sheng Zhong
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Li-Jia Qu
- State Key Laboratory for Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- The National Plant Gene Research Center, Beijing 100101, China
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50
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Li C, Hu F, Chen H, Zhao J. Transcriptome characteristics during cell wall formation of endosperm cellularization and embryo differentiation in Arabidopsis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:998664. [PMID: 36262665 PMCID: PMC9575994 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.998664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Embryonic and endosperm development are important biological events during Arabidopsis seed development, and are controlled by dynamic changes in a range of gene expression. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of endosperm cellularization and embryo differentiation remain unclear. Here, we characterized the early embryo and endosperm development of the naa15 mutant that had abnormal embryo differentiation and incomplete endosperm cellularization compared to WT of Arabidopsis, and comparatively investigated the changes of gene expressions in WT seeds at 3, 4, and 5 days after pollination (3W, 4W, and 5W) and the white homozygous aborted naa15 seeds at 5, 6, and 7 DAP (5M, 6M, and 7M) from naa15-1/+ siliques using RNA sequencing and qPCR assays. The transcriptome analyses showed that there were 2040 and 3630 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in 4W (at endosperm cellularization initiation stage and heart embryo stage) vs 3W (at syncytium stage and globular embryo stage), and 5W (at end of endosperm cellularization stage and torpedo embryo stage) vs 4W, respectively. The KEGG and GO analyses showed that lipid metabolic processes and transmembrane transport related to cell wall biogenesis, cell division and differentiation, the plant hormone signaling pathway, photosynthesis, and transcription regulator activity were evidently enriched in WT and naa15. The heatmap and qPCR analyses showed that auxin response genes (ARFs), auxin transport genes (PINs) cytokinin synthesis genes (LOGs), cytokinin dehydrogenase genes (CKXs), cytokinin receptor, transcription factors (MYB, bHLH, MADS-box, and ERF) were significantly downregulated in naa15 compared to WT. A series of cell wall genes annotated to xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase, pectin methyl esterase, and pectin methyl esterase inhibitor were also identified in these DEGs. Moreover, using an immunofluorescent assay, the features of cell walls displayed that cellulose fluorescence signals in the embryo and endosperm of naa15 were significantly decreased, and the signals of low- and high- methyl esterification of pectin were also obviously decreased in the endosperm of naa15. In summary, we identified a large number of DEGs and investigated the features of cell walls during endosperm cellularization and embryonic differentiation, which provided important information on transcription and gene expression to reveal their regulatory mechanisms.
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