Isolation and characterization of genes specifically expressed during pollen development in rice
1994
Theerakulpisut, P. | Xu, H.L. | Indrapichate, K. (Khon Kaen Univ. (Thailand). Faculty of Science. Dept. of Biology)
Anthers play an essential role in sexual reproduction of flowering plants. The availability of gene isolation and manipulation in recent years has enabled researchers to look into the molecular details of anther development. The objective of this project is to isolate and characterize genes specifically expressed in rice anthers. A cDNA library to mature anthers of rice has been prepared in lambda gt11 vector. Using immunoscreening techniques, anther-specific cDNA clones have been identified using monoclonal antibodies to pollen-specific proteins. One of the clones corresponds to mRNA of 1000 nucleotides which is exclusively expressed in rice anthers not in other vegetative tissues tested. Northern blot of developmental stages of anthers demonstrated that this gene is a late expressed gene being switched on only in mature anthers. Another cDNA clone, also anther-specific, represents gene encoding group I allergen in rice pollen. Insituhybridization has shown that both genes are expressed in pollen grains not in anther wall tissue. Gene expressed exclusively in anthers or pollen are essential for development of functional pollen and can be used to engineer male sterile plants as earlier shown in tobacco and oilseed rape. Similar strategies are being investigated by other groups to achieve male sterility in rice. Isolation of anther-or pollen-specific genes is a primary step in identifying potentially useful genes for creating male sterile rice.
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