Morphogenesis of maize embryos requires ZmPRPL35-1 encoding a plastid ribosomal protein.
In emb (embryo specific) mutants of maize (Zea mays), the two fertilization products have opposite fates: Although the endosperm develops normally, the embryo shows more or less severe aberrations in its development, resulting in nonviable seed. We show here that in mutant emb8516, the development of mutant embryos deviates as soon as the transition stage from that of wild-type siblings. The basic events of pattern formation take place because mutant embryos display an apical-basal polarity and differentiate a protoderm. However, morphogenesis is strongly aberrant. Young mutant embryos are characterized by protuberances at their suspensor-like extremity, leading eventually to structures of irregular shape and variable size. The lack of a scutellum or coleoptile attest to the virtual absence of morphogenesis at the embryo proper-like extremity. Molecular cloning of the mutation was achieved based on cosegregation between the mutant phenotype and the insertion of a MuDR element. The Mu insertion is located in gene ZmPRPL35-1, likely coding for protein L35 of the large subunit of plastid ribosomes. The isolation of a second allele g2422 and the complementation of mutant emb8516 with a genomic clone of ZmPRPL35-1 confirm that a lesion in ZmPRPL35-1 causes the emb phenotype. ZmPRPL35-1 is a low-copy gene present at two loci on chromosome arms 6L and 9L. The gene is constitutively expressed in all major tissues of wild-type maize plants. Lack of expression in emb/emb endosperm shows that endosperm development does not require a functional copy of ZmPRPL35-1 and suggests a link between plastids and embryo-specific signaling events.
Magnard
Jean-Louis
JL
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Ecole Normal Supérieure de Lyon-Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Ecole Normale Supérieure-Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, F-69364 Lyon cedex 07, France.
Heckel
Thierry
T
Massonneau
Agnès
A
Wisniewski
Jean-Pierre
JP
Cordelier
Sylvain
S
Lassagne
Hervé
H
Perez
Pascual
P
Dumas
Christian
C
Rogowsky
Peter M
PM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D018087:Plastids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018744:DNA, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins