title: Stage-related expression of mRNAs during pollen development in lily and tobacco.
abstract: Homogeneous populations of developing microspores and pollen from anthers of lily (Lilium longiflorum Thumb.) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) show a continuous production of biomass, reaching a maximum in young pollen. The rate of RNA synthesis was 460 fg · h(-1) in young binucleate cells, 138 fg · h(-1) in late binucleate cells and 56 fg · h(-1) in microspores. The mRNA population in developing pollen can be separated into three groups. In the first group, certain types of mRNAs are present at a constant level during all stages of development. A second group is characteristic of young pollen and increases quantitatively until anthesis. A third group is seen transiently; to this belong mRNAs present only before mitosis or at a distinct cell stage after mitosis. Some of the translation products of this latter group of mRNAs showed similarities between lily and tobacco on two-dimensional gels in respect of molecular weight and isolectric point, indicating that those mRNAs and proteins play a role in the regulation of pollen development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, NL-6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schrauwen
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Herpen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Lee
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Reynen
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Weterings
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wullems