title: Roles of autophagy in male reproductive development in plants.
abstract: Autophagy, a major catabolic pathway in eukaryotic cells, is essential in development, maintenance of cellular homeostasis, immunity and programmed cell death (PCD) in multicellular organisms. In plant cells, autophagy plays roles in recycling of proteins and metabolites including lipids, and is involved in many physiological processes such as abiotic and biotic stress responses. However, its roles during reproductive development had remained poorly understood. Quantitative live cell imaging techniques for the autophagic flux and genetic studies in several plant species have recently revealed significant roles of autophagy in developmental processes, regulation of PCD and lipid metabolism. We here review the novel roles of autophagic fluxes in plant cells, and discuss their possible significance in PCD and metabolic regulation, with particular focus on male reproductive development during the pollen maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science Noda, Japan ; Department of Integrated Biosciences, University of Tokyo Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanamata
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science Noda, Japan ; School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Technology Hachioji, Japan ; Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Noda, Japan.
authors.forename: Takamitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurusu
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science Noda, Japan ; Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Noda, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuchitsu
keywords: autophagic flux; male reproductive development; programmed cell death; rice; tapetum