Multiple S gene family members including natural antisense transcripts are differentially expressed during development of maize flowers.
Within the large Brassica S gene family, SLG (S locus glycoprotein) and SRK (S locus receptor kinase) participate to the control of pollen-stigma self-incompatibility. In the self-compatible species maize, S gene family members are predominantly expressed in vegetative organs but are also expressed to a lesser extent in the stigma (silk). To determine if the expression of any S gene family members correlates with female receptivity, we analyzed their expression in developing maize silks. We show that a large family of maize S transcripts is expressed in developing silks. Surprisingly, we isolated a cDNA complementary to a large portion of the antisense strand of the maize receptor kinase S domain. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-polymerase chain reaction, RNase protection, and Northern hybridization with single-stranded riboprobes confirmed that natural antisense S transcripts exist in leaves and seedling shoots and in all sexual tissues tested except mature pollen. These natural antisense S transcripts co-exist with several less abundant sense S transcripts. The accumulation of sense and antisense S transcripts is differentially regulated during pollen and silk development. Thus, these results support a role for S gene family members in sexual tissue development and/or compatible pollination and reveal a new level of complexity in the regulation and function of the S gene family in maize.
Ansaldi
R
R
Reproduction et Developpement des Plantes, UMR 5667 CNRS-INRA-ENSL-UCBLyon1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69634 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
Chaboud
A
A
Dumas
C
C
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D007178:Inbreeding; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development*; D011058:Pollen / Q000254:growth & development; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
D006023:Glycoproteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D018749:RNA, Plant; C064156:self-incompatibility locus specific glycoprotein, Brassica; D011494:Protein Kinases; C079832:S-receptor kinase