title: Arabidopsis COBRA-LIKE 10, a GPI-anchored protein, mediates directional growth of pollen tubes.
abstract: Successful reproduction of flowering plants requires constant communication between female tissues and growing pollen tubes. Female cells secrete molecules and peptides as nutrients or guidance cues for fast and directional tube growth, which is executed by dynamic changes of intracellular activities within pollen tubes. Compared with the extensive interest in female cues and intracellular activities of pollen tubes, how female cues are sensed and interpreted intracellularly in pollen is poorly understood. We show here that COBL10, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein, is one component of this pollen tube internal machinery. Mutations in COBL10 caused gametophytic male sterility due to reduced pollen tube growth and compromised directional sensing in the female transmitting tract. Deposition of the apical pectin cap and cellulose microfibrils was disrupted in cobl10 pollen tubes. Pollen tube localization of COBL10 at the apical plasma membrane is critical for its function and relies on proper GPI processing and its C-terminal hydrophobic residues. GPI-anchored proteins are widespread cell sensors in mammals, especially during egg-sperm communication. Our results that COBL10 is critical for directional growth of pollen tubes suggest that they play critical roles in cell-cell communications in plants.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018 Shandong, China.
authors: Sha
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Fu-Rong
authors: FR
authors: Ge
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Xu
authors: Xin-Ying
authors: XY
authors: Zhao
authors: Guo-Qiang
authors: GQ
authors: Huang
authors: Liang-Zi
authors: LZ
authors: Zhou
authors: Jia-Gang
authors: JG
authors: Wang
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Kombrink
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: McCormick
authors: Xian Sheng
authors: XS
authors: Zhang
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006720:Homozygote; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D051479:Plant Infertility; D053205:Pollen Tube / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054817:Pollination
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols