PIP1 and PIP2 aquaporins are differentially expressed during tobacco anther and stigma development.
Several processes during sexual reproduction in higher plants involve the movement of water between cells or tissues, such as occurs during dehiscence of the anther and hydration of the pollen grain after it is deposited on a stigma. To get more insight in these processes, a set of putative aquaporins was cloned and it was found that at least 15 are expressed in reproductive organs, which indicates that the control of water flow is important for reproduction. Functional studies in Xenopus laevis oocytes using two of the cDNAs showed that NtPIP2;1 is an efficient aquaporin, whereas NtPIP1;1 is not. Expression studies on RNA and protein levels showed that PIP1 and PIP2 genes are differently expressed in reproductive organs: PIP1 RNA accumulates in the stigma, and PIP1 and PIP2 RNA can be detected in most tissues of the anther.
Bots
Marc
M
Department of Experimental Botany, Graduate School of Experimental Plant Sciences, Catholic University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Feron
Richard
R
Uehlein
Norbert
N
Weterings
Koen
K
Kaldenhoff
Ralf
R
Mariani
Titti
T
D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000502:physiology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D020346:Aquaporins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C110065:major intrinsic protein, plant; D014867:Water