title: Genomic imprinting and seed development: endosperm formation with and without sex.
abstract: During seed development, coordinated developmental programs lead to the formation of the embryo, endosperm and seed coat. The maternal effects of the genes affected in the fertilisation-independent seed class of mutants play an important role in seed development. The plant Polycomb proteins MEDEA and FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM physically interact and form a complex, in a manner similar to that of their counterparts in animals. Maternal-effect phenotypes can result from regulation by genomic imprinting, a phenomenon of critical importance for both sexual and apomictic seed development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008, Zürich, Switzerland. grossnik@botinst.unizh.ch
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grossniklaus
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spillane
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Köhler
mesh_terms: D005306:Fertilization; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins