A Genetic Pathway for Tapetum Development and Function in Arabidopsis

• Published in: Journal of integrative plant biology 2011-11, Vol.53 (11), p.892-900
• Main Authors: Zhu, Jun, Lou, Yue, Xu, Xiaofeng, Yang, Zhong-Nan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AMS; anther development; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism; Arabidopsis thaliana; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors - genetics; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors - metabolism; DYT1; Flowers - genetics; Flowers - growth & development; Flowers - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; genetic pathway; MS1; MS188; Pollen - genetics; Pollen - growth & development; Pollen - metabolism; pollen development; tapetum; TDF1; transcription factor; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; 分子机制; 拟南芥; 程序性细胞死亡; 细胞学分析; 绒毡层细胞; 花药发育; 转录因子; 遗传性
• ISSN: 1672-9072; 1744-7909
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2011.01078.x

In anther development, tapetal cells take part in complex processes, including endomitosis and apoptosis （programmed cell death）. The tapetum provides many of the proteins, lipids, polysaccharides and other molecules necessary for pollen development. Several transcription factors, including DYT1, TDF1, AMS, MS188 and MS1, have been reported to be essential for tapetum development and function in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we present a detailed cytological analysis of knockout mutants for these genes, along with an in situ RNA hybridization experiment and double mutant analysis showing that these transcription factors form a genetic pathway in tapetum development. DYT1, TDF1 and AMS function in early tapetum development, while MS188 and MS1 are important for late tapetum development. The genetic pathway revealed in this work facilitates further investigation of the function and molecular mechanisms of tapetum development in Arabidopsis.