title: Male-female communication triggers calcium signatures during fertilization in Arabidopsis.
abstract: Cell-cell communication and interaction is critical during fertilization and triggers free cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]cyto) as a key signal for egg activation and a polyspermy block in animal oocytes. Fertilization in flowering plants is more complex, involving interaction of a pollen tube with egg adjoining synergid cells, culminating in release of two sperm cells and their fusion with the egg and central cell, respectively. Here, we report the occurrence and role of [Ca2+]cyto signals during the entire double fertilization process in Arabidopsis. [Ca2+]cyto oscillations are initiated in synergid cells after physical contact with the pollen tube apex. In egg and central cells, a short [Ca2+]cyto transient is associated with pollen tube burst and sperm cell arrival. A second extended [Ca2+]cyto transient solely in the egg cell is correlated with successful fertilization. Thus, each female cell type involved in double fertilization displays a characteristic [Ca2+]cyto signature differing by timing and behaviour from [Ca2+]cyto waves reported in mammals.
authors.affiliation: 1] Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, Universität Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany [2] Cell Networks-Cluster of Excellence and Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Denninger
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, Universität Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bleckmann
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, Universität Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lausser
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, Universität Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vogler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ehrhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Wolf B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Frommer
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, Universität Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sprunck
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, Universität Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dresselhaus
authors.affiliation: 1] Cell Networks-Cluster of Excellence and Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany [2] Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grossmann
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002450:Cell Communication; D005819:Genetic Markers; D056771:Ovule / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D053205:Pollen Tube / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D002118:Calcium