OsABCG15 encodes a membrane protein that plays an important role in anther cuticle and pollen exine formation in rice.

KEY MESSAGE: An ABC transporter gene ( OsABCG15 ) was proven to be involved in pollen development in rice. The corresponding protein was localized on the plasma membrane using subcellular localization. Wax, cutin, and sporopollenin are important for normal development of the anther cuticle and pollen exine, respectively. Their lipid soluble precursors, which are produced in the tapetum, are then secreted and transferred to the anther and microspore surface for polymerization. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the transport of these precursors. Here, we identified and characterized a member of the G subfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, OsABCG15, which is required for the secretion of these lipid-soluble precursors in rice. Using map-based cloning, we found a spontaneous A-to-C transition in the fourth exon of OsABCG15 that caused an amino acid substitution of Thr-to-Pro in the predicted ATP-binding domain of the protein sequence. This osabcg15 mutant failed to produce any viable pollen and was completely male sterile. Histological analysis indicated that osabcg15 exhibited an undeveloped anther cuticle, enlarged middle layer, abnormal Ubisch body development, tapetum degeneration with a falling apart style, and collapsed pollen grains without detectable exine. OsABCG15 was expressed preferentially in the tapetum, and the fused GFP-OsABCG15 protein was localized to the plasma membrane. Our results suggested that OsABCG15 played an essential role in the formation of the rice anther cuticle and pollen exine. This role may include the secretion of the lipid precursors from the tapetum to facilitate the transfer of precursors to the surface of the anther epidermis as well as to microspores.

QTL analysis for early-maturing traits in cotton using two upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crosses.

Making use of the markers linked closely to QTL for early-maturing traits for MAS (Marker-assisted selection) is an effective method for the simultaneous improvement of early maturity and other properties in cotton. In this study, two F2 populations and their F2:3 families were generated from the two upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crosses, Baimian2 × TM-1 and Baimian2 × CIR12. QTL for early-maturing traits were analyzed using F2:3 families. A total of 54 QTL (31 suggestive and 23 significant) were detected. Fourteen significant QTL had the LOD scores not only > 3 but also exceeding permutation threshold. At least four common QTL, qBP-17 for bud period (BP), qGP-17a/qGP-17b (qGP-17) for growth period (GP), qYPBF-17a/qYPBF-17b (qYPBF-17) for yield percentage before frost (YPBF) and qHFFBN-17 for height of first fruiting branch node (HFFBN), were found in both populations. These common QTL should be reliable and could be used for MAS to facilitate early maturity. The common QTL, qBP-17, had a LOD score not only > 3 but also exceeding permutation threshold, explaining 12.6% of the phenotypic variation. This QTL should be considered preferentially in MAS. Early-maturing traits of cotton are primarily controlled by dominant and over-dominant effects.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization on plant extended chromatin DNA fibers for single-copy and repetitive DNA sequences.

The compactness of plant chromosomes and the structure of the plant cell wall and cytoplasm provide a great obstacle to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for single-copy or low-copy DNA sequences. Consequently, many new methods for improving spatial resolution via chromosomal stretching have been employed to overcome this technical challenge. In this article, a technique for extracting cell-wall free nuclei at mitotic interphase, then using these nuclei to prepare extended DNA fibers (EDFs) by the method of a receding interface, whereby slide-mounted chromatin produces EDFs in concert with gravity-assisted buffer flow, was adopted as a result of the low frequency of EDF damage produced by this procedure. To examine the quality of these EDFs, we used single-copy gene encoding S-locus receptor kinase and multi-copy 5S rDNA (ribosomal DNA) as probes. The resulting EDFs proved suitable for high-resolution FISH mapping for repetitive DNA sequences, and the localization of a single-copy locus.

Dissecting Pistil Responses to Incompatible and Compatible Pollen in Self-Incompatibility Brassica oleracea Using Comparative Proteomics.

Angiosperms have developed self-incompatibility (SI) systems to reject self-pollen, thereby promoting outcrossing. The Brassicaceae belongs to typical sporophytic system, having a single S-locus controlled SI response, and was chosen as a model system to study SI-related intercellular signal transduction. In this regard, the downstream factor of EXO70A1 was unknown. Here, protein two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) method and coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF -MS) and peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) was used to further explore the mechanism of SI responses in Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L. at protein level. To further confirm the time point of protein profile change, total proteins were collected from B. oleracea pistils at 0 min, 1 h, and 2 h after self-pollination. In total 902, 1088 and 1023 protein spots were separated in 0 min, 1 h and 2 h 2-DE maps, respectively. Our analyses of self-pollination profiles indicated that proteins mainly changed at 1 h post-pollination in B. oleracea. Moreover, 1077 protein spots were separated in cross-pollinated 1 h (CP) pistil 2-DE map. MALDI-TOF-MS and PMF successfully identified 34 differentially-expressed proteins (DEPs) in SP and CP 1 h 2-DE maps. Gene ontology and KEGG analysis revealed an array of proteins grouped in the following categories: stress and defense response (35%), protein metabolism (18%), carbohydrate and energy metabolism (12%), regulation of translation (9%), pollen tube development (12%), transport (9%) and cytoskeletal (6%). Sets of DEPs identified specifically in SP or only up-regulated expressed in CP pistils were chosen for funther investigating in floral organs and during the process of self- and cross-pollination. The function of these DEPs in terms of their potential involvement in SI in B. oleracea is discussed.

Identification of Interacting Motifs Between Armadillo Repeat Containing 1 (ARC1) and Exocyst 70 A1 (Exo70A1) Proteins in Brassica oleracea.

In order to identify the functional domains which regulate the interaction between the self-incompatibility proteins armadillo repeat containing 1 (ARC1) and exocyst 70 A1 (Exo70A1) in Brassica oleracea, fragments containing selected motifs of ARC1 (ARC1210, ARC1246, ARC1279, ARC1354) and site-specific mutants with substitutions at possible interaction sites (ARC1354m, ARC1664m) were PCR amplified and inserted into pGADT7, while coding sequences from Exo70A1 (Exo70A185, Exo70A1) were subcloned into pGBKT7. The interactions between the protein products produced by these constructs were then analyzed utilizing a yeast two-hybrid system. Our data indicate that both ARC1210 and ARC1246 interact strongly with Exo70A185 and Exo70A1, while ARC1279, ARC1354, ARC1354m and ARC1664m exhibited a weak interaction, indicating that the recognition sites are located within the 210 N-terminal amino acids of ARC1 and the 85 N-terminal amino acids of Exo70A1. This was further verified by GST pull-down analysis. This supports a model in which the N-terminal leucine zipper of ARC1 and the first 85 N-terminal amino acids of Exo70A1 mediate the interaction between these two proteins. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that these motifs were highly conserved across different species, indicating that the interaction characterized in B. oleracea may operate in a wide array of cultivars.

Molecular analysis and characterization of zebrafish keratocan (zKera) gene.

Corneal small leucine-rich proteoglycans play a pivotal role in maintaining corneal transparency and function. In this study, we isolated and characterized the zebrafish (Danio rerio) keratocan (zKera) gene. The human keratocan sequence was used to search zebrafish homologues. The zKera full-length genomic DNA and cDNA were generated via PCR of zebrafish genomic DNA and reverse transcription-PCR of total zebrafish eye RNA, respectively. The zKera spanning 3.5 kilobase pairs consists of two exons and one intron and a TATA-less promoter. The zKera encodes 341 amino acids with 59% identity to its human counterpart and 57% identity to that of mouse keratocan. Like mouse and chick keratocan, zKera mRNA is selectively expressed in the adult cornea; however, during embryonic development, zKera mRNA is expressed in both the brain and the cornea. Interestingly, it is expressed mainly in corneal epithelium but also in the stroma. A pseudogene was proved by introducing a zKera promoter-driven enhanced green fluorescence protein reporter gene into fertilized zebrafish eggs. Using morpholino-antisense against zKera to knock down zKera resulted in a lethal phenotype due to massive caspase-dependent apoptosis, which was noted by a significant increase of active caspase-3 and caspase-8 in the developing forebrain area, including the eyes. This is different from mouse, for which keratocan-deficient mice are viable. Taken together, our data indicate that mammalian keratocan is conserved in zebrafish in terms of gene structure, expression pattern, and promoter function.