AtCSLA7, a cellulose synthase-like putative glycosyltransferase, is important for pollen tube growth and embryogenesis in Arabidopsis.
The cellulose synthase-like proteins are a large family of proteins in plants thought to be processive polysaccharide beta-glycosyltransferases. We have characterized an Arabidopsis mutant with a transposon insertion in the gene encoding AtCSLA7 of the CSLA subfamily. Analysis of the transmission efficiency of the insertion indicated that AtCSLA7 is important for pollen tube growth. Moreover, the homozygous insertion was embryo lethal. A detailed analysis of seed developmental progression revealed that mutant embryos developed more slowly than wild-type siblings. The mutant embryos also showed abnormal cell patterning and they arrested at a globular stage. The defective embryonic development was associated with reduced proliferation and failed cellularization of the endosperm. AtCSLA7 is widely expressed, and is likely to be required for synthesis of a cell wall polysaccharide found throughout the plant. Our results suggest that this polysaccharide is essential for cell wall structure or for signaling during plant embryo development.
Goubet
Florence
F
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Building O, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 1QW, United Kingdom.
Misrahi
Audrey
A
Park
Soon Ki
SK
Zhang
Zhinong
Z
Twell
David
D
Dupree
Paul
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006720:Homozygote; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D012639:Seeds / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C063760:cellulose synthase (GDP-forming)