GNOM-LIKE 2, Encoding an Adenosine Diphosphate-Ribosylation Factor-Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Protein Homologous to GNOM and GNL1, is Essential for Pollen Germination in Arabidopsis

• Published in: Journal of integrative plant biology 2009-08, Vol.51 (8), p.762-773
• Main Authors: Jia, Dong-Jie, Cao, Xi, Wang, Wei, Tan, Xiao-Yun, Zhang, Xue-Qin, Chen, Li-Qun, Ye, De
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factor-guanine nucleotide exchange factor; Amino Acid Sequence; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arabidopsis - physiology; Arabidopsis Proteins - chemistry; Arabidopsis Proteins - classification; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - physiology; Arabidopsis thaliana; Blotting, Southern; gametophyte; gametophytes; Genetic Complementation Test; GNL2; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors - chemistry; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors - classification; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors - genetics; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors - physiology; male gametophyte-defective; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Phenotype; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - physiology; pollen; Pollen - genetics; Pollen - physiology; Pollen Tube - genetics; Pollen Tube - physiology; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
• ISSN: 1672-9072; 1744-7909
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2009.00858.x

In flowering plants, male gametes are delivered to female gametophytes by pollen tubes. Although it is important for sexual plant reproduction, little is known about the genetic mechanism that controls pollen germination and pollen tube growth. Here we report the identification and characterization of two novel mutants, gnom-like 2-1 (gnl2-1) and gnl2-2 in Arabidopsis thaliana, in which the pollen grains failed to germinate in vitro and in vivo. GNL2 encodes a protein homologous to the adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factor-guanine nucleotide exchange factors, GNOM and GNL1 that are involved in endosomal recycling and endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi vesicular trafficking. It was prolifically expressed in pollen grains and pollen tubes. The results of the present study suggest that GNL2 plays an important role in pollen germination.