Artificial microRNAs reveal cell-specific differences in small RNA activity in pollen

Pollen formation, while critical for the success of plant reproduction, also represents an important paradigm for differential cellular development within small groups of cells. In Arabidopsis thaliana pollen, the male meiotic product first divides asymmetrically to form a vegetative and a generativ...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current biology 2013-07, Vol.23 (14), p.R599-R601
Main Authors: Grant-Downton, Robert, Kourmpetli, Sofia, Hafidh, Said, Khatab, Hoda, Le Trionnaire, Gael, Dickinson, Hugh, Twell, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arabidopsis - genetics
Arabidopsis - growth & development
Arabidopsis - metabolism
Arabidopsis thaliana
Lycopersicon esculentum - genetics
Lycopersicon esculentum - metabolism
microRNA
MicroRNAs - genetics
MicroRNAs - metabolism
plant reproduction
pollen
Pollen - genetics
Pollen - growth & development
Pollen - metabolism
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA Interference
RNA, Plant - genetics
RNA, Plant - metabolism
spermatozoa
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Pollen formation, while critical for the success of plant reproduction, also represents an important paradigm for differential cellular development within small groups of cells. In Arabidopsis thaliana pollen, the male meiotic product first divides asymmetrically to form a vegetative and a generative (germ) cell, the latter then dividing to generate two sperm cells. Here we have used artificial microRNAs to study small RNA processing in the different pollen cell types. Our data suggest that translational repression by small RNAs is enhanced in the sperm. This work also provides insights into germline RNA movement and the cell-autonomous action of microRNAs.
ISSN:0960-9822
1879-0445
DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2013.05.055