title: VERDANDI is a direct target of the MADS domain ovule identity complex and affects embryo sac differentiation in Arabidopsis.
abstract: In Arabidopsis thaliana, the three MADS box genes SEEDSTICK (STK), SHATTERPROOF1 (SHP1), and SHP2 redundantly regulate ovule development. Protein interaction studies have shown that a multimeric complex composed of the ovule identity proteins together with the SEPALLATA MADS domain proteins is necessary to determine ovule identity. Despite the extensive knowledge that has become available about these MADS domain transcription factors, little is known regarding the genes that they regulate. Here, we show that STK, SHP1, and SHP2 redundantly regulate VERDANDI (VDD), a putative transcription factor that belongs to the plant-specific B3 superfamily. The vdd mutant shows defects during the fertilization process resulting in semisterility. Analysis of the vdd mutant female gametophytes indicates that antipodal and synergid cell identity and/or differentiation are affected. Our results provide insights into the pathways regulated by the ovule identity factors and the role of the downstream target gene VDD in female gametophyte development.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matias-Hernandez
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galbiati
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubes
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eichenberger
authors.forename: Ueli
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grossniklaus
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kater
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005306:Fertilization; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D056771:Ovule / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018744:DNA, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; C476012:SEEDSTICK protein, Arabidopsis; C419044:SHP1 protein, Arabidopsis; C419045:SHP2 protein, Arabidopsis