An aquaporin-like gene required for the Brassica self-incompatibility response

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1997-06, Vol.276 (5318), p.1564-1566
• Main Authors: Ikeda, Seishi, Nasrallah, June B., Dixit, Ram, Preiss, Susanne, Nasrallah, Mikhail E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; autoesterilidad; autosterilite; Biological and medical sciences; Brassica; Brassica - genetics; Brassica - physiology; Cell membranes; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Coding; Complementary DNA; DNA; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Plant; Genetic aspects; Genetic loci; Genetics; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Ion Channels - genetics; Ion Channels - physiology; Molecular Sequence Data; mutacion; Mutation; Papillae; Plant cells; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - physiology; Plant reproduction; plant water relations; Plants; Pollen; Pollination; Proteins; Pteridophyta, spermatophyta; relaciones planta agua; relation plante eau; Reproduction; RNA; self sterility; Self-incompatibility; Self-incompatibility (Botany); Transcripts (Written Records); Vegetals; Water; Water - physiology
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.276.5318.1564

Self-incompatibility in Brassica refers to the rejection of self-related pollen and is mediated by a receptor protein kinase localized to the plasma membrane of the stigma epidermis in the flower. The recessive mutation mod eliminates self-incompatibility in the stigma. In mod mutants, self-compatibility was shown to be associated with the absence of transcripts encoded by an aquaporin-related gene. This observation suggests that a water channel is required for the self-incompatibility response of Brassica, which is consistent with the concept that regulation of water transfer from the stigma to pollen is a checkpoint in the early events of pollination in the crucifer family.