title: SUMO E3 ligase AtMMS21 is required for normal meiosis and gametophyte development in Arabidopsis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MMS21 is a SUMO E3 ligase that is conserved in eukaryotes, and has previously been shown to be required for DNA repair and maintenance of chromosome integrity. Loss of the Arabidopsis MMS21 causes defective meristems and dwarf phenotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we show a role for AtMMS21 during gametophyte development. AtMMS21 deficient plants are semisterile with shorter mature siliques and abortive seeds. The mms21-1 mutant shows reduced pollen number, and viability, and germination and abnormal pollen tube growth. Embryo sac development is also compromised in the mutant. During meiosis, chromosome mis-segregation and fragmentation is observed, and the products of meiosis are frequently dyads or irregular tetrads. Several transcripts for meiotic genes related to chromosome maintenance and behavior are altered. Moreover, accumulation of SUMO-protein conjugates in the mms21-1 pollen grains is distinct from that in wild-type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, these results suggest that AtMMS21 mediated SUMOylation may stabilize the expression and accumulation of meiotic proteins and affect gametophyte development.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Songfeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shengchun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Panglian
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jianbin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Yiyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dongke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yaqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jinju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Key Lab of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China. Yangchw@scnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chengwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005298:Fertility; D056130:Gametogenesis, Plant; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D055993:Germ Cells, Plant / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D018525:Germination; D008025:Ligases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008540:Meiosis; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D053205:Pollen Tube / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D054817:Pollination; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058207:Sumoylation; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D008025:Ligases; C555898:MMS21 protein, Arabidopsis