A Receptor-Like Kinase, Related to Cell Wall Sensor of Higher Plants, is Required for Sexual Reproduction in the Unicellular Charophycean Alga, Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale Complex.
Here, we cloned the CpRLK1 gene, which encodes a receptor-like protein kinase expressed during sexual reproduction, from the heterothallic Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale complex, one of the closest unicellular alga to land plants. Mating-type plus (mt(+)) cells with knockdown of CpRLK1 showed reduced competence for sexual reproduction and formed an abnormally enlarged conjugation papilla after pairing with mt(-) cells. The knockdown cells were unable to release a naked gamete, which is indispensable for zygote formation. We suggest that the CpRLK1 protein is an ancient cell wall sensor that now functions to regulate osmotic pressure in the cell to allow proper gamete release.
Division of Material and Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Japan Women's University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681 Japan.
Naoko
N
Hirano
Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women's University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681 Japan.
Yuka
Y
Marukawa
Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women's University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681 Japan.
Jun
J
Abe
Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women's University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681 Japan.
Sayuri
S
Hashiba
Division of Material and Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Japan Women's University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681 Japan.
Machiko
M
Ichikawa
Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
Yoichi
Y
Tanabe
Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
Motomi
M
Ito
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Nara Women's University, Nara, 630-8506 Japan.
Ichiro
I
Nishii
Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women's University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681 Japan.
Yuki
Y
Tsuchikane
Division of Material and Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Japan Women's University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681 Japan Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women's University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8681 Japan sekimoto@fc.jwu.ac.jp.
Hiroyuki
H
Sekimoto
D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D058119:Closterium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D015151:Immunoblotting; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009997:Osmotic Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000379:methods
D020418:Algal Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011494:Protein Kinases
Cell wall; Charophycean alga; Closterium peracerosum–strigosum–littorale complex; CrRLK1L-1; Receptor-like kinase; Sexual reproduction