title: RWP-RK domain-containing transcription factors control cell differentiation during female gametophyte development in Arabidopsis.
abstract: The formation of gametes is a prerequisite for any sexually reproducing organism in order to complete its life cycle. In plants, female gametes are formed in a multicellular tissue, the female gametophyte or embryo sac. Although the events leading to the formation of the female gametophyte have been morphologically characterized, the molecular control of embryo sac development remains elusive. We used single and double mutants as well as cell-specific marker lines to characterize a novel class of gene regulators in Arabidopsis thaliana, the RWP-RK domain-containing (RKD) transcription factors. Morphological and histological analyses were conducted using confocal laser scanning and differential interference contrast microscopy. Gene expression and transcriptome analyses were performed using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and RNA sequencing, respectively. Our results showed that RKD genes are expressed during distinct stages of embryo sac development. Morphological analysis of the mutants revealed severe distortions in gametophyte polarity and cell differentiation. Transcriptome analysis revealed changes in the expression of several gametophyte-specific gene families (RKD2 and RKD3) and ovule development-specific genes (RKD3), and identified pleiotropic effects on phytohormone pathways (RKD5). Our data provide novel insight into the regulatory control of female gametophyte development. RKDs are involved in the control of cell differentiation and are required for normal gametophytic development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), D-06466, Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), D-06466, Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Paride
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), D-06466, Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Twan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), D-06466, Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altschmied
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), D-06466, Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bäumlein
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D055993:Germ Cells, Plant / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D056771:Ovule / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D000072417:Protein Domains; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: 
  Arabidopsis thaliana
  ; RKD; cell differentiation; female gametophyte; transcription factors