Alfalfa Mob 1-like genes are expressed in reproductive organs during meiosis and gametogenesis.
Mps-one-binder (Mob) proteins play an important role in chromosome separation and cell plate formation in yeast. We cloned two Mob 1-like genes from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and show that one gene is constitutively expressed while the other is expressed only in flower buds during sporogenesis and gametogenesis. For the analysis of gene expression during reproduction in alfalfa wild-types and apomeiotic mutants, a specific antisense riboprobe was designed for MsMob 1 transcripts and a polyclonal antibody was raised against MsMob 1 proteins. In situ mRNA localization as well as protein immunolocalization proved that MsMob1-like genes are specifically expressed in degenerating megaspores of normal ovules and in enlarged megaspore mother cells and embryo sacs of apomeiotic ovules. Gene products were also found in microspore tetrads at the beginning of pollen development as well as in tapetum cells of anthers undergoing programmed cell death to allow pollen dispersal at maturity. Overall results suggest that MsMob 1-like genes can play a key role during the reproductive pathway in plants.
Citterio
Sandra
S
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, University of Milano - Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milano, Italy.
Albertini
Emidio
E
Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale e Biotecnologie Agroambientali, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
Varotto
Serena
S
Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia Ambientale e Produzioni Vegetali, University of Padova-Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro Padova, Italy.
Feltrin
Erika
E
Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia Ambientale e Produzioni Vegetali, University of Padova-Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro Padova, Italy.
Soattin
Marica
M
Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia Ambientale e Produzioni Vegetali, University of Padova-Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro Padova, Italy.
Marconi
Gianpiero
G
Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale e Biotecnologie Agroambientali, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
Sgorbati
Sergio
S
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, University of Milano - Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milano, Italy.
Lucchin
Margherita
M
Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia Ambientale e Produzioni Vegetali, University of Padova-Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro Padova, Italy.
Barcaccia
Gianni
G
Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia Ambientale e Produzioni Vegetali, University of Padova-Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro Padova, Italy. gianni.barcaccia@unipd.it.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger