Pollen aquaporins: What are they there for?
In order to provide more insight into the function of aquaporins during pollination, we characterized NIP4;1 and NIP4;2, 2 pollen-specific aquaporins of Arabidopsis thaliana. NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 displayed high amino acid identity. RT-PCR and GUS promoter analysis showed that they have different expression patterns. NIP4;1 is expressed at low levels in mature pollen, while NIP4;2 is highly expressed only during pollen tube growth. Single T-DNA nip4;1 and nip4;2 mutants and double amiRNA nip4;1 nip4;2 knockdowns showed reduced male fertility due to deficient pollen germination and pollen tube length. Functional assays in oocytes showed that NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 transport water and nonionic solutes. Here, the participation of the different pollen aquaporins in pollen hydration and pollen tube growth is discussed.
a Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor Torres (INGEBI-CONICET) , Vuelta de Obligado, Buenos Aires , Argentina.
Juliana Andrea
JA
Pérez Di Giorgio
a Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor Torres (INGEBI-CONICET) , Vuelta de Obligado, Buenos Aires , Argentina.
María Laura
ML
Barberini
b Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA-UBA-CONICET), Intendente Güiraldes, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II , Buenos Aires , Argentina.|c Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental , Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II , Buenos Aires , Argentina.
Gabriela
G
Amodeo
a Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor Torres (INGEBI-CONICET) , Vuelta de Obligado, Buenos Aires , Argentina.|c Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental , Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II , Buenos Aires , Argentina.
Jorge Prometeo
JP
Muschietti
D020346:Aquaporins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053205:Pollen Tube / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D054817:Pollination / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D020346:Aquaporins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins
Aquaporin; pollen; pollen hydration; pollination