title: An Arabidopsis flavonoid transporter is required for anther dehiscence and pollen development.
abstract: FLOWER FLAVONOID TRANSPORTER (FFT) encodes a multidrug and toxin efflux family transporter in Arabidopsis thaliana. FFT (AtDTX35) is highly transcribed in floral tissues, the transcript being localized to epidermal guard cells, including those of the anthers, stigma, siliques and nectaries. Mutant analysis demonstrates that the absence of FFT transcript affects flavonoid levels in the plant and that the altered flavonoid metabolism has wide-ranging consequences. Root growth, seed development and germination, and pollen development, release and viability are all affected. Spectrometry of mutant versus wild-type flowers shows altered levels of a glycosylated flavonol whereas anthocyanin seems unlikely to be the substrate as previously speculated. Thus, as well as adding FFT to the incompletely described flavonoid transport network, it is found that correct reproductive development in Arabidopsis is perturbed when this particular transporter is missing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Elinor P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Demidchik
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Beverley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Glover
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C000607559:DTX35 protein, Arabidopsis; D005419:Flavonoids; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins