A Breakdown of Brassica Self-Incompatibility in ARC1 Antisense Transgenic Plants

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1999-11, Vol.286 (5445), p.1729-1731
• Main Authors: Stone, Sophia L., Arnoldo, MaryAnne, Goring, Daphne R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biology; Brassica; Brassica - genetics; Brassica - physiology; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - physiology; DNA, Antisense; Evidence; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetically modified plants; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Germination; Glycoproteins - genetics; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Heterosis. Floral biology applications: apomixy, male sterility, incompatibility, varia; Messenger RNA; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Papillae; Phenotype; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Plant physiology and development; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Proteins - physiology; Plant reproduction; Plant Structures - genetics; Plant Structures - physiology; Plants; Plants, Genetically Modified; Pollen; Pollen - genetics; Pollen - physiology; Pollen tubes; Pollination; Protein Kinases - genetics; Protein Kinases - metabolism; Receptors; Reproduction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA, Plant - genetics; RNA, Plant - metabolism; Seed production; Seed set; Seeds - physiology; Sexual reproduction; Transgenes; Transgenic plants; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Vegetative and sexual reproduction, floral biology, fructification
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.286.5445.1729

Self-incompatibility, the rejection of serf pollen, is the most widespread mechanism by which flowering plants prevent inbreeding. In Brassica, the S receptor kinase (SRK) has been implicated in the self-incompatibility response, but the molecular mechanisms involving SRK are unknown. One putative downstream effector for SRK is ARC1, a protein that binds to the SRK kinase domain. Here it is shown that suppression of ARC1 messenger RNA levels in the self-incompatible Brassica napus W1 line is correlated with a partial breakdown of selfincompatibility, resulting in seed production. This provides strong evidence that ARC1 is a positive effector of the Brassica self-incompatibility response.