Developmental and heat stress-regulated expression of HsfA2 and small heat shock proteins in tomato anthers.
The high sensitivity of male reproductive cells to high temperatures may be due to an inadequate heat stress response. The results of a comprehensive expression analysis of HsfA2 and Hsp17-CII, two important members of the heat stress system, in the developing anthers of a heat-tolerant tomato genotype are reported here. A transcriptional analysis at different developmental anther/pollen stages was performed using semi-quantitative and real-time PCR. The messengers were localized using in situ RNA hybridization, and protein accumulation was monitored using immunoblot analysis. Based on the analysis of the gene and protein expression profiles, HsfA2 and Hsp17-CII are finely regulated during anther development and are further induced under both short and prolonged heat stress conditions. These data suggest that HsfA2 may be directly involved in the activation of protection mechanisms in the tomato anther during heat stress and, thereby, may contribute to tomato fruit set under adverse temperatures.
Department of Plant Cell Biology, IWWR Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Filomena
F
Giorno
Mieke
M
Wolters-Arts
Stefania
S
Grillo
Klaus-Dieter
KD
Scharf
Wim H
WH
Vriezen
Celestina
C
Mariani
D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D050888:Heat-Shock Proteins, Small / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D050888:Heat-Shock Proteins, Small; D010940:Plant Proteins