Central-cell-produced attractants control fertilization recovery.
Cell
; 186(17): 3593-3605.e12, 2023 08 17.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37516107
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.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Arabidopsis
/
Arabidopsis Proteins
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Year:
2023
Type:
Article