title: Ectopic expression of EbFIE from apomictic Eulaliopsis binata in rice results in pleiotropic phenotypes likely due to interaction with OsCLF.
abstract: FERTILIZATION INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (FIE) is a core component of PcG complexes and functions in plant phase transition and seed generation. However, understanding in its function of apomictic monocot plants remains blank. Here an FIE homology EbFIE, has been isolated from apomictic Graminae species Eulaliopsis binata. EbFIE shares higher homology to OsFIE2 than OsFIE1, and has been classified into the monocot FIE2 clade. In addition, the broad expression pattern of EbFIE is also similar to OsFIE2. While, ectopic expression of EbFIE in rice resulted in pleiotropic phenotypes similar to that of OsFIE1 over-expressing plants. Meanwhile, EbFIE could bind OsCLF in vitro as OsFIE1 but different with OsFIE2. Molecular models comparison indicated that both EbFIE and OsFIE1 had a smaller E(z) protein binding groove than OsFIE2. Further site-directed mutagenesis analysis revealed that single amino acid substitution of I194F in OsFIE2 could improve its OsCLF binding capacity. Taken together, our results suggested that EbFIE was a conserved FIE homolog belonging to monocot FIE2 clade, but due to the similarity in protein conformation with FIE1, EbFIE might play a broad role in vegetative and reproductive development regulation by interaction with CLF homolog.
authors: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Ma
authors: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Dongliang
authors: D
authors: Zhang
authors: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Yaqin
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Yidan
authors: Y
authors: Ouyang
authors: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Jiajia
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Chungen
authors: C
authors: Hu
authors: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: yaojlmy@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors: Jialing
authors: J
authors: Yao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000066630:Ectopic Gene Expression; D056625:Endosperm / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D012275:Oryza / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D006109:Poaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012098:Reproduction; D012639:Seeds / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: Apomixis; Ectopic expression; FIE homologue; Protein binding capacity; Single amino acid substitution