Male gametic cell-specific gene expression in flowering plants.
The role of the male gamete-the sperm cell-in the process of fertilization is to recognize, adhere to, and fuse with the female gamete. These highly specialized functions are expected to be controlled by activation of a unique set of genes. However, male gametic cells traditionally have been regarded as transcriptionally quiescent because of highly condensed chromatin and a very reduced amount of cytoplasm. Here, we provide evidence for male gamete-specific gene expression in flowering plants. We identified and characterized a gene, LGC1, which was shown to be expressed exclusively in the male gametic cells. The gene product of LGC1 was localized at the surface of male gametic cells, suggesting a possible role in sperm-egg interactions. These findings represent an important step toward defining the molecular mechanisms of male gamete development and the cellular processes involved in fertilization of flowering plants.
Xu
H
H
Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Swoboda
I
I
Bhalla
P L
PL
Singh
M B
MB
D002843:Chromatin / Q000502:physiology; D005306:Fertilization; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D015723:Gene Library; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D063245:Plant Development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D011058:Pollen / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002843:Chromatin; C118126:LGC1 protein, Lilium longiflorum; D010940:Plant Proteins