Elimination of ribosomes during meiotic prophase

Concerted evolution of ribosomal DNA: Somatic peace amid germinal strife: Intranuclear and cellular selection maintain the quality of rRNA

Most eukaryotes possess many copies of rDNA. Organismal selection alone cannot maintain rRNA function because the effects of mutations in one rDNA are diluted by the presence of many other rDNAs. rRNA quality is maintained by processes that increase homogeneity of rRNA within, and heterogeneity among, germ cells thereby increasing the effectiveness of cellular selection on ribosomal function. A successful rDNA repeat will possess adaptations for spreading within tandem arrays by intranuclear selection. These adaptations reside in the non-coding regions of rDNA. Single-copy genes are predicted to manage processes of intranuclear and cellular selection in the germline to maintain the quality of rRNA expressed in somatic cells of future generations.

Controlling Apomixis: Shared Features and Distinct Characteristics of Gene Regulation

In higher plants, sexual and asexual reproduction through seeds (apomixis) have evolved as alternative strategies. As apomixis leads to the formation of clonal offspring, its great potential for agricultural applications has long been recognized. However, the genetic basis and the molecular control underlying apomixis and its evolutionary origin are to date not fully understood. Both in sexual and apomictic plants, reproduction is tightly controlled by versatile mechanisms regulating gene expression, translation, and protein abundance and activity. Increasing evidence suggests that interrelated pathways including epigenetic regulation, cell-cycle control, hormonal pathways, and signal transduction processes are relevant for apomixis. Additional molecular mechanisms are being identified that involve the activity of DNA- and RNA-binding proteins, such as RNA helicases which are increasingly recognized as important regulators of reproduction. Together with other factors including non-coding RNAs, their association with ribosomes is likely to be relevant for the formation and specification of the apomictic reproductive lineage. Subsequent seed formation appears to involve an interplay of transcriptional activation and repression of developmental programs by epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. In this review, insights into the genetic basis and molecular control of apomixis are presented, also taking into account potential relations to environmental stress, and considering aspects of evolution.

Isolating Male Meiocytes from Maize and Wheat for "-Omics" Analyses

Genome-wide gene expression studies have become a routine approach due to the advances in sequencing technologies, their ease of use, and increasing affordability. Simultaneous investigation of small RNA expression adds further valuable information but is not adopted as widely yet. Both RNA-seq and small RNA-seq benefit from the use of specific cell types. Here, we describe a protocol for the isolation of male meiotic cells from maize or wheat plants, along with the application of downstream RNA sequencing, extendable to other -omics approaches.

Novel Meiotic miRNAs and Indications for a Role of PhasiRNAs in Meiosis

Small RNAs (sRNA) add additional layers to the regulation of gene expression, with siRNAs directing gene silencing at the DNA level by RdDM (RNA-directed DNA methylation), and micro RNAs (miRNAs) directing post-transcriptional regulation of specific target genes, mostly by mRNA cleavage. We used manually isolated male meiocytes from maize (Zea mays) to investigate sRNA and DNA methylation landscapes during zygotene, an early stage of meiosis during which steps of meiotic recombination and synapsis of paired homologous chromosomes take place. We discovered two novel miRNAs from meiocytes, zma-MIR11969 and zma-MIR11970, and identified putative target genes. Furthermore, we detected abundant phasiRNAs of 21 and 24 nt length. PhasiRNAs are phased small RNAs which occur in 21 or 24 nt intervals, at a few hundred loci, specifically in male reproductive tissues in grasses. So far, the function of phasiRNAs remained elusive. Data from isolated meiocytes now revealed elevated DNA methylation at phasiRNA loci, especially in the CHH context, suggesting a role for phasiRNAs in cis DNA methylation. In addition, we consider a role of these phasiRNAs in chromatin remodeling/dynamics during meiosis. However, this is not well supported yet and will need more additional data. Here, we only lay out the idea due to other relevant literature and our additional observation of a peculiar GC content pattern at phasiRNA loci. Chromatin remodeling is also indicated by the discovery that histone genes were enriched for sRNA of 22 nt length. Taken together, we gained clues that lead us to hypothesize sRNA-driven DNA methylation and possibly chromatin remodeling during male meiosis in the monocot maize which is in line with and extends previous knowledge.

Dedifferentiation of Arabidopsis thaliana cells is accompanied by a strong decrease in RNA polymerase II transcription activity and poly(A+) RNA and 25S rRNA eradication from the cytoplasm

The mechanisms of plant cell dedifferentiation and the acquisition of totipotency are poorly understood. One of the methods to induce the dedifferentiation process in plant cells is simple and requires the removal of the cell wall. After cell wall removal in protoplasts, large-scale chromatin decondensation is observed (Tessadori et al. in J Cell Sci 120:1200-1208, 2007). Here, we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts, despite chromatin decondensation, RNA polymerase II transcriptional activity is reduced. The subsequent investigated stages displayed a clear decrease in the quantity of 25S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) first and then poly(A+) RNA, particularly in the cytoplasm. Therefore, the reduced transcription activity and the removal of these RNA transcripts from the cytoplasm is a crucial process in obtaining totipotency in plant cells. After the cytoplasm cleaning of transcripts derived from mesophyll cells, we observed the resynthesis of these RNAs. An increase in the amount of examined molecules to a level similar to that in differentiated mesophyll cells precedes the divisions of already undifferentiated cells. In this work, we show changes in RNA polymerase II transcription dynamics and the quantity of poly(A+) RNA and 25S rRNA during dedifferentiation and re-entry into the cell cycle.

The meiotic transcriptome architecture of plants

Although a number of genes that play key roles during the meiotic process have been characterized in great detail, the whole process of meiosis is still not completely unraveled. To gain insight into the bigger picture, large-scale approaches like RNA-seq and microarray can help to elucidate the transcriptome landscape during plant meiosis, discover co-regulated genes, enriched processes, and highly expressed known and unknown genes which might be important for meiosis. These high-throughput studies are gaining more and more popularity, but their beginnings in plant systems reach back as far as the 1960's. Frequently, whole anthers or post-meiotic pollen were investigated, while less data is available on isolated cells during meiosis, and only few studies addressed the transcriptome of female meiosis. For this review, we compiled meiotic transcriptome studies covering different plant species, and summarized and compared their key findings. Besides pointing to consistent as well as unique discoveries, we finally draw conclusions what can be learned from these studies so far and what should be addressed next.

Pollen vacuoles and their significance

Vacuoles of several types can be observed in pollen throughout its development. Their physiological significance reflects the complexity of the biological process leading to functional pollen grains. Vacuolisation always occurs during pollen development but when ripe pollen is shed the extensive translucent vacuoles present in the vegetative parts in previous stages are absent. Vacuole functions vary according to developmental stage but in ripe pollen they are mainly storage sites for reserves. Vacuoles cause pollen to increase in size by water accumulation and therefore confer some degree of resistance to water stress. Modalities of vacuolisation occur in pollen in the same manner as in other tissues. In most cases, autophagic vacuoles degrade organelles, as in the microspore after meiosis, and can be regarded as cytoplasm clean-up following the transition from the diploid sporophytic to the haploid gametophytic state. This also occurs in the generative cell but not in sperm cells. Finally, vacuoles have a function when microspores are used for pollen embryogenesis in biotechnology being targets for stress induction and afterwards contributing to cytoplasmic rearrangement in competent microspores.

Pollen wall development in flowering plants

The outer pollen wall, or exine, is more structurally complex than any other plant cell wall, comprising several distinct layers, each with its own organizational pattern. Since elucidation of the basic events of pollen wall ontogeny using electron microscopy in the 1970s, knowledge of their developmental genetics has increased enormously. However, self-assembly processes that are not under direct genetic control also play an important role in pollen wall patterning. This review integrates ultrastructural and developmental findings with recent models for self-assembly in an attempt to understand the origins of the morphological complexity and diversity that underpin the science of palynology.

The major olive pollen allergen (Ole e I) shows both gametophytic and sporophytic expression during anther development, and its synthesis and storage takes place in the RER

The distribution of Ole e I (the major olive pollen allergen) and its transcripts was investigated in the anther from premeiotic stages until the dehiscent pollen stage. Crude protein extracts were analyzed by immunoblotting and probed with a monoclonal antibody to Ole e I. The protein, with three variants, was found to accumulate from the early microspore stage onwards. In addition to the previously reported localization of the protein, Ole e I has been immunolocalized for the first time within the pollen wall and in the tapetum. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis using specific oligonucleotides and RNA extracted from whole anthers revealed that the Ole e I gene is expressed from the late tetrad stage onwards. No expression was found in control tissues such as petals, roots or leaves. Light microscopy in situ hybridization on developing flower buds and dehiscent pollen confirmed the transcripts to be present in both the microspores and the sporophytic tissue (tapetum). Labeling was found primarily in the tapetum, reaching the highest concentration in the cytoplasm of the developing and mature pollen, once tapetum started to degenerate. In situ hybridization at the transmission electron microscope level showed the transcripts to accumulate on ribosomes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. These studies, together with others carried out previously by us, indicated that both synthesis and storage of Ole e I take place in the endoplasmic reticulum, coincidentally with the conspicuous changes suffered by this membrane system during pollen development. This process is most likely controlled at the transcriptional level. The localization of the protein in the pollen ectexine bring new insights into the function of the allergen, which are discussed.

rRNA distribution during microspore development in anthers of Beta vulgaris L. quantitative in situ hybridization analysis

We related changes in the ultrastructural organization of the nucleoli with the results of quantitative in situ hybridizations to characterize rRNA metabolism during the development of microspore mother cells in the sugar beet anther (Beta vulgaris L.). In the course of meiotic prophase and early postmeiotic interphase the morphological characteristics of the nucleoli are typical of low or no transcriptional activity and a low rate of rRNA processing. However, we found evidence of an apparent increase in the relative numbers of 18 S rRNA transcripts in some stages of microsporogenesis. This was found in both the nucleoli and cytoplasm of pachytene meiocytes, and in later stages there was a spectacular accumulation of rRNA transcripts in nucleoli of the tetrad cells. Quantitative data are analyzed in the light of morphometric findings in the cell and their compartments to elucidate the degree to which changes in cell size are related to changes in labeling density and distribution. The results are discussed in terms of rRNA synthesis, transport and degradation as processes involved in the regulation of rRNA within microsporocytes and microspores.

Correlations between gametophytic (pollen) and sporophytic (seed) generations for polyunsaturated fatty acids in oilseed rape Brassica napus L

Lipids were extracted from the diploid seed and haploid pollen of Brassica napus L. Two fractions of pollen lipids, namely the diploid-specified pollen-coat and the haploid-specified internal cytoplasmic lipids were obtained. Significant correlations exist between pollen and seed generations for linoleic (18∶2) and linolenic (18∶3) acids. In pollen internal storage lipids, the level of 18∶3 is positively correlated and the level of 18∶2 is negatively correlated with the level of 18∶3 in seed lipids. Evidence is presented that strongly supports the hypothesis that lipid biosynthesis occurs within the pollen and that synthesis is specified by haploid genes. These data support the concept of pollen selection, so that selecting among living pollen grains for superior individuals has potential as a new plant breeding tool for improving seed oil quality.

Post-meiotic nucleo-cytoplasmic interaction in Cosmos bipinnatus : Early events at the nuclear envelope

An interaction involving the nuclear envelope and spherical double-membrane bound inclusions takes place in the cytoplasm of post-meiotic male microspores of Cosmos (tribe Heliantheae, sub-tribe Coreopsidinae). The identity of the spherical inclusions has yet to be fully established, but they closely resemble profiles elsewhere in the cytoplasm, themselves presumably derived from the mitochondrial population of the premeiotic pollen mother cells. Both the cytoplasmic and nucleaar-associated inclusions regularly contain a central 'vesicle', formed by an ingagination of their bounding membranes. The interaction, which occurs immediately prior to the deposition of the primexine of the pollen wall, involves the adhesion of the inclusions to the nuclear surface. Experiments with osmotically disrupted cells reveal that the inclusions are firmly bound to the envelope and, at the points of contact, electron opaque granules are regularly present. Frequently elements of the chromatin may be observed in juxtapostion to these points of contact, but on the inner face of the envelope. The interaction in Cosmos is proposed to constitute part of the process by which the cytoplasm and its content are realigned to the new "gametophylic" style of growth.

Origin of complementary incompatibility systems in flowering plants

The complementary incompatibility system, characterized by co-operative control of a single S specificity by alleles of two or more distinct S genes, has raised interesting questions regarding the origin and evolutionary significance of this system. What were the factors which led to the appearance of the complementary system of self-incompatibility. Is complementary incompatibility a primary or secondary development?Lundqvist and Østerbye have suggested that the fundamental characteristic of this system - lack of dominance and competitive interactions between alleles of the same and different series - developed once, early in the evolution of angiosperms, at a stage when self-incompatibility was controlled polygenically. In one line of development, where two or more such incompatibility genes were strengthened by specific modifiers at the expense of the rest, co-operation among loci was favoured to promote increased interplant compatibility in the population. In this evolutionary line, allelic or intergenic interactions were excluded. In the other line of development, where only one incompatibility locus was strengthened, there was no need for such selection and alleles of this locus retained the property of allelic interaction in the pollen.In this article an alternative hypothesis has been proposed for the origin of complementary incompatibility. It is suggested that this type of incompatibility system, conforming with generally held views on the evolution of self-incompatibility systems, developed secondarily, and polyphyletically, after the breakdown of the original one-locus, multiallelic, gametophytic system. In the re-revolution of self-incompatibility through introgression with a related self-incompatible taxon, the essential action of the presumed physiologically integrated self-compatible complex led to the exclusion of allelic or intergenic interaction as a prerequisite for evolution of complementary control. According to this hypothesis, breakdown of the original self-incompatibility and re-evolution of self-incompatibility, in the manner suggested above, could have occurred many times in the evolution of angiosperms and such systems might therefore be expected to occur scattered among different phylogenetic lines.

The rôle of membrane-bound cytoplasmic inclusions during gametogenesis in Lilium longiflorum thunb

In the prophase of both mega- and microsporogenesis, a sizeable proportion of the meiocyte cytoplasm becomes invested in double or multiple membrane-bround inclusions. This cytoplasm remains thus isolated from the rest of the cell until the completion of meiosis II in the female cells, or the 'young spore' stage in those of the male. Significantly this encapsulation proceeds immediately the elimination of the major part of the ribosome population from the cytoplasm and, further, the electron microscope reveals that those ribosomes contained in these membranous inclusions remain unaffected by the lytic enzymes active elsewhere in the cytoplasm at this time. This encapsulated cytoplasm is proposed to fulfill two rôles; one, that it carries reserves necessary for postmeiotic development through from the diplophase to the haplophase environment and, two, that it permits the continuity of protein synthesis throughout meiosis I and II, a period when the major part of the protein synthetic apparatus is absent.

Protein composition of different stages in the life cycle of Ulva mutabilis, Føyn

Soluble protein, about 15% of the total cellular protein, was extracted from different stages in the haplodiplontic life cycle of Ulva mutabilis. The electrophoretic band pattern of the protein extracts from the haploid gametophyte and the diploid sporophyte were found to be the same, except for one slow moving band present in the gametophyte, but lacking in the diploid sporophyte. This band was also missing in the extract from the haploid parthenosporophyte, but is seen in the extract from the zoospores. It was found that the synthesis of the protein in this band occurred during most of the preparation period preceding meiosis. The band is not seen in extracts from gametes, and it is inferred that this protein is broken down during the period preceding the mitotic gametangial division in the gametophyte. So far the protein making up this band behaves as should be required for a factor determining the shift in generation during the life cycle.