title: Silencing of an anther-specific zinc-finger gene, MEZ1, causes aberrant meiosis and pollen abortion in petunia.
abstract: MEZ1 (MEiosis-associated Zinc-finger protein 1) was first isolated as an anther-specific cDNA from Petunia hybrida. In the present study, we report its functional characterization, including its spatial and temporal expression profiles and phenotypes in MEZ1-silenced plants. MEZ1 transcripts were specifically localized in pollen mother cells during early stages of anther development, and were later distributed in vegetative tissues in anthers. Silencing of MEZ1 by cosuppression resulted in several anomalies during male meiosis that included inability of chromosomes to condense, loss of meiotic synchrony, and premature and apparently uncontrolled cytokinetic events. Consequently, by the end of meiosis 8-10 cells, instead of the normal 4, with varying DNA contents were formed in the MEZ1-silenced meiocytes. Most of these aborted prematurely, and those that matured had a distinctive morphology. MEZ1-silenced plants were female sterile when pollinated with wild-type pollen but they infrequently produced a few seeds upon self-pollination. Resulting T1 plants had increased ploidy levels and exhibited severe anomalies during male meiosis, rendering them completely sterile. We discuss possible role of MEZ1 in the proper progression of plant meiosis.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology Laboratory, Plant Physiology Department, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba 305-8602, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takatsuji
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005298:Fertility; D035264:Flowers / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020868:Gene Silencing; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D032306:Petunia / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011003:Ploidies; D011058:Pollen / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins