花粉——雌蕊相互作用的分子基础

显花植物授粉过程包含了花粉与雌蕊一系列复杂的细胞间相互作用。花粉在柱头上必须发生粘附与水合作用后才能萌发,花粉胞被蛋白可能在粘附机制中起主要作用,而水孔蛋白调节了花粉的水合过程;花粉管在花柱引导组织中定向生长,受引导组织胞间质、向化性物质及细胞粘附机制等因素的影响,也与花粉受体及子房有关。在植物的自交不亲和性反应中,配子体型自交不亲和性反应主要是由自交不亲和基因蛋白产物降解花粉RNA或以Ca^2 介导的信号级联反应实现的;孢子体型自交不亲和性反应则依赖于干性柱头以及雌蕊的S受体激酶及S位点糖蛋白与花粉S基因配体之间的相互作用。     

花粉蛋白质组学研究进展

花粉是高度退化的生物体(雄配子体), 在植物有性生殖过程中具有重要作用。解析花粉发育、花粉-柱头识别、萌发和花粉管生长等细胞学过程的分子机制是当前研究的热点问题之一。近年来, 应用高通量的蛋白质组学技术平台, 对水稻、拟南芥和裸子植物花粉的蛋白质组学研究揭示了花粉中表达蛋白质的功能类群特征。花粉中参与细胞壁代谢、蛋白质代谢、细胞骨架动态和信号转导的蛋白质被高度代表, 并且近1/4蛋白质有多个同工型。本文综述了花粉蛋白质组学的研究进展。     

花粉蛋白质组学研究进展

花粉是高度退化的生物体（雄配子体）,在植物有性生殖过程中具有重要作用。解析花粉发育、花粉-柱头识别、萌发和花粉管生长等细胞学过程的分子机制是当前研究的热点问题之一。近年来,应用高通量的蛋白质组学技术平台,对水稻、拟南芥和裸子植物花粉的蛋白质组学研究揭示了花粉中表达蛋白质的功能类群特征。花粉中参与细胞壁代谢、蛋白质代谢、细胞骨架动态和信号转导的蛋白质被高度代表,并且近1／4蛋白质有多个同工型。本文综述了花粉蛋白质组学的研究进展。     

梨远缘花粉原位萌发及生长特性

应用荧光标记方法对梨远缘花粉在‘丰水’和‘噢嗄二十世纪’柱头上萌发及花粉管生长特性进行观察,结果表明:(1)梨远缘花粉均能在柱头上萌发,但其萌发率不同,授粉后24 h,在‘丰水’柱头上‘红叶桃’花粉萌发率最高,达62.8%,而‘盖县大李’花粉萌发率仅为12.0%,各种远缘花粉在‘丰水’柱头萌发率均高于‘噢嗄二十世纪’柱头。(2)各种远缘花粉管在梨柱头或花柱内生长情况也有差异,‘红叶桃’等核果类花粉管在梨柱头上均表现为扭曲、盘绕等现象,不能穿过柱头;‘红星’和‘红富士’花粉管虽然有少量穿过柱头,但不能进一步在花柱内生长,表现为扭曲变形、先端膨大等不亲和性现象。因此,梨与远缘果树杂交不亲和在柱头上就已发生,这与梨自交不亲和反应发生在花柱内的现象不同。     

蓝花丹开花生物学观测及花粉储存研究

对四川引种栽培的蓝花丹（Plumbago auriculata Lam.）花粉与柱头形态、花部特征及开花物候进行了系统观测,并对其花粉的采集时间与储存温度进行了初步研究。结果显示：（1）两种类型花粉和柱头形态均具有较大差异,短花柱型（S型）花粉的极轴长P值和赤道轴长E值均显著大于长花柱型（L型）花粉,L型柱头则明显长于S型,且两种花粉的纹饰和柱头的瘤状突起物形态也明显不同;（2）蓝花丹具有较高的开花同步性指数（为0.89）,但相对开花强度不高,属于中等强度;（3）蓝花丹两种花型在花蕾半开放时采收花粉,其活力最高,L型花粉活力可达85.24%±4.22%,S型可达87.74%±2.95%;（4）L型与S型花粉分别于25℃干燥0.5 h和1 h后再低温储存,其活力保持更好;（5）干燥后的花粉在-86℃条件下保存效果最好,储存30 d后L型花粉活力高达66.51%±0.85%、S型达69.07%±1.57%。本研究表明蓝花丹二型植株在生殖资源分配上存在明显差异,这种差异一方面导致花粉大小和形态及其所需干燥时间的不同,另一方面导致二型花柱头表现出明显不同的特征,这些差异性的结构是否参与了蓝花丹自交不亲和反应的识别过程,还有待进一步研究。此外,较低的开花强度会造成虫媒传粉困难,这可能是蓝花丹自然结实率极低的重要因素之一。     

花粉-雌蕊相互作用的分子生物学基础简介

高等植物受精时雄配子首先对雌性生殖组织进行识别反应,然后才能进入子房完成受精过程。这种识别反应主要是在花粉或花粉管与柱头表面或柱头通道组织中,一些识别因子进行相互作用,从而产生亲和或不亲和反应,以保障正确的育种系统。     

拟南芥授粉前后花粉与乳突细胞的超微结构

利用透射电子显微镜技术,对自交亲和植物拟南芥授粉前后花粉和乳突细胞的超微结构进行了观察。发现花粉和柱头乳突细胞一些未经报道的超微结构特征,可能与拟南芥花粉和乳突细胞的识别及花粉管生长相关:(1)成熟花粉中,电子透明的、体积较大的小液泡(直径200～1000nm)呈均匀分布。部分小液泡内含有多层膜状结构物质,推测可能是膜的一种储存形式,与花粉萌发时大量出现的小囊泡有关。(2)花粉萌发时,小液泡由均匀分布变为不均匀分布。(3)授粉前后的乳突细胞顶端和侧端的内壁上有明显的壁内突结构,粘附的花粉开始萌发时的乳突细胞壁内突处可观察到直径50～100nm的小泡存在,表明拟南芥乳突细胞具有一定的分泌功能。     

显花植物自体和异体花粉识别的分子机理研究

显花植物的受精涉及许多识别过程,其中和线个是雌性生殖组织心皮对花粉的识别。自交不亲和性（Self-incompatibility,SI)是一种广泛分布于显花植物的种内生殖障碍。在多数自交不亲和的植物中,SI的遗传控制比较简单,受控于一个由复等位基因构成的单一位点,称为S位点。在以茄科、玄参科和蔷薇科为代表的配子体自交不亲和植物中,S位编码一类核酸酶,即S核酸酶（Fig.1),控制SI在花柱中的表达,但是与花粉自交不亲和性的表达无关。后者可能由与S核酸酶不同的基因控制,这种基因常被称为花粉S基因。它是目前了解显花植物花粉识别生化和分子机理的关键。近来,通过对影响花粉SI表达突变体的前了解 花植物花粉识别生化和分子机理的关键。近来,通过对影响花粉SI表达突变体的分子遗传分析提出了一个花粉S基因产物如何与S核酸酶相互作用完成自体和异体花粉识别过程的模型（Fig.2)。另外,描述了两个在金鱼草中克隆花粉S基因的方法,即S位点选择性的转座子标记和图位克隆。     

青篱柴通过促进亲和花粉生长而提高传粉精确性

异型花柱植物的适应意义在于提高亲和花粉的传递, 从而促进异交, 但是有不少研究发现柱头上落置了大量不亲和花粉。目前, 很少有人研究柱头是否有利于亲和花粉的萌发和花粉管伸长, 以及通过去雄处理排除花内和植株内不亲和花粉干扰从而验证二型花柱植物是否可以促进异交。本研究以亚麻科青篱柴属(Tirpitzia)的二型花柱植物青篱柴(T. sinensis)为研究对象, 分居群调查了青篱柴长、短柱型的植株数量, 测量不同柱型的花粉与柱头大小以及观察其表面纹饰, 测定不同开花时间长、短柱型的柱头活性与花粉活力, 统计自然状态下柱头上落置的不同表型花粉比例, 进一步统计花内、株内去雄和自然对照下柱头上落置的不同表型花粉比例, 计算型间、型内和混合授粉花粉管长度和花粉萌发率, 人工授粉检测其是否型内异交不亲和与自交不亲和。结果表明, 自然居群中长、短柱型青篱柴植株数量没有显著性差异; 短柱型青篱柴花粉体积显著大于长柱型, 且二者花粉表面纹饰不同, 但不同柱型的柱头表面积与表面纹饰无差异; 青篱柴开花第一天的花粉活力显著高于开花第二天, 而柱头活性在开花前两天无显著性差异; 自然状态下柱头上落置的不亲和花粉比例显著高于亲和花粉; 在长柱型青篱柴中, 花内和株内去雄显著提高了柱头上亲和花粉的落置比例; 柱头上授型内花粉, 其花粉萌发率和花粉管的长度都显著低于授型间花粉; 授粉结果表明青篱柴为型内异交不亲和与自交不亲和。二型花柱植物通过促进亲和花粉的萌发和花粉管的伸长而有利于型间授粉, 从而显著提高其传粉精确性。     

花粉萌发和花粉管生长发育的信号转导

显花植物授粉是一个复杂的发育过程。从花粉落在柱头上开始,经过粘附、识别、水合、萌发,花粉管在花柱内生长,直至到达子房发生双受精作用,整个过程发生在雌、雄两性细胞和组织之间,受到严格的遗传控制和细胞控制。一方面雌雄配子的基因型决定两者是否亲和,另一方面雌雄两性细胞间发生复杂的相互作用,细胞外信号分子是这些过程的主要调控因子。当花粉或花粉管细胞感知外部信号后,必然通过信号转导级联反应,达到控制萌发、调整花粉管生长方向等目的。这一系列动力学的细胞事件,关系到受精的成败。因此研究此过程中的信号及其转换机…     

荞麦亲和与不亲和授粉后柱头和花粉管中ATP酶的超微细胞化学定位

利用磷酸铅淀淀技术对荞麦（Fagopyrum esculentum Monch.)pin型植株分别进行亲和授粉和不亲和授粉后的柱头、花粉粒、花粉管进行了ATPase的超微细胞化学定位。结果表明（1）亲和授粉和不亲和授粉后0.5h,柱头细胞的ATPase活性反应水平较低或基于无酶活性;柱头表面、柱头上附着的花粉粒内ATPase活性在不亲和授粉时较低,亲和授粉时较高,花粉粒内ATPase主要定位于线粒体和精子细胞;（2）授粉后1.5h,不亲和授粉的柱头细胞及花粉管的ATPase活性均较低,花粉管停止生长,细胞质开始解体;而亲和授粉的柱头细胞及花粉管的ATPase活性均较高,ATPase主要定位于柱头细胞的质膜、胞基质以及花粉管的壁、质体的膜、高尔基体、线粒体上。根据不同时期不同部位ATPase活性的差异,我们认为荞麦发生自交不亲和时,花粉管在花柱中停止生长不仅是因此花粉管得不到花柱中的营养物质而引起的,可能也与花粉管自身物质代谢发生障碍有关。     

荞麦亲和与不亲和授粉后柱头和花粉管中ATP酶的超微细胞化学定位

利用磷酸铅沉淀技术对荞麦(Fagopyrum esculentum Month.)pin型植株分别进行亲和授粉和不亲和授粉后的柱头、花粉粒、花粉管进行了ATPase的超微细胞化学定位。结果表明(1)亲和授粉和不亲和授粉后0.5h,柱头细胞的ATPase活性反应水平较低或基本无酶活性;柱头表面、柱头上附着的花粉粒内ATPase活性在不亲和授粉时较低,亲和授粉时较高,花粉粒内ATPase主要定位于线粒体和精子细胞;(2)授粉后1.5h,不亲和授粉的柱头细胞及花粉管的ATPase活性均较低,花粉管停止生长,细胞质开始解体;而亲和授粉的柱头细胞及花粉管的ATPase活性均较高,ATPase主要定位于柱头细胞的质膜、胞基质以及花粉管的壁、质体的膜、高尔基体、线粒体上。根据不同时期不同部位ATPase活性的差异,我们认为荞麦发生自交不亲和时,花粉管在花柱中停止生长不仅是因为花粉管得不到花柱中的营养物质而引起的,可能也与花粉管自身物质代谢发生障碍有关。     

COSTS OF SELF-POLLINATION IN A SELF-INCOMPATIBLE PLANT,POLEMONIUM VISCOSUM

Plants of Polemonium viscosum are strongly self-incompatible, yet have floral features that enforce spatial and temporal separation of pollen and stigma presentation. In this study, we address the widely held view that such barriers to selfing are maintained because they reduce interference by self pollen in performance of outcross grains. In the first year of the study we found that 24 hr precedence of self pollen on the stigma (24S), reduced outcross pollen germination by 32%, and seed set by 40% in flowers of P. viscosum. In the second year significant negative effects of self pollen on compatible pollen germination were seen when self pollen was applied four hours before (4S) or immediately prior (S×) to outcross pollen. Surprisingly, however, in the second year of study, seed set was not reduced with as much as 50% inhibition of compatible pollen germination. Results suggest that by interfering with normal functioning of outcross grains, incompatible self pollen can increase pollen limitation in P. viscosum. Reduction in seed production as a result of this phenomenon should select for displacement of pollen presentation from stigma receptivity.     

High humidity partially rescues the Arabidopsis thaliana exo70A1 stigmatic defect for accepting compatible pollen

We have previously proposed that Exo70A1 is required in the Brassicaceae stigma to control the early stages of pollen hydration and pollen tube penetration through the stigmatic surface, following compatible pollination. However, recent work has raised questions regarding Arabidopsis thaliana Exo70A1’s expression in the stigma and its role in stigma receptivity to compatible pollen. Here, we verified the expression of Exo70A1 in stigmas from three Brassicaceae species and carefully re-examined Exo70A1’s function in the stigmatic papillae. With previous studies showing that high relative humidity can rescue some pollination defects, essentially bypassing the control of pollen hydration by the Brassicaceae dry stigma, the effect of high humidity was investigated on pollinations with the Arabidopsis exo70A1-1 mutant. Pollinations under low relative humidity resulted in a complete failure of wild-type compatible pollen acceptance by the exo70A1-1 mutant stigma as we had previously seen. However, high relative humidity resulted in a partial rescue of the exo70A1-1 stigmatic papillar defect resulting is some wild-type compatible pollen acceptance and seed set. Thus, these results reaffirmed Exo70A1’s proposed role in the stigma regulating compatible pollen hydration and pollen tube entry and demonstrate that high relative humidity can partially bypass these functions.     

The male determinant of self-incompatibility in Brassica oleracea is located in the pollen coating

An in vitro bioassay has been developed to explore the role of the pollen coating in the pollen/stigma interaction in Brassica oleracea . In the assay, coating is removed from pollen grains, supplemented with protein fractions isolated from coatings of different S (self incompatibility) haplotypes, and then—using micromanipulation—interposed between individual pollen grains and the stigmatic surface. Normally, the coating used is of the same haplotype as the pollen in the experiment—thus constituting an 'extension' of its own coat—but carrying the supplemented protein fractions. Initial experiments confirmed preliminary data that the pollen coating contained the male determinant of self incompatibility (SI); not only did the addition of 'self' coating (i.e. that with the same S -haplotype as the stigma) prevent the success of a compatible cross pollination, but a 'cross' coating (i.e. that with a different S -haplotype from the stigma) could induce the germination and growth of self pollen. Protein supplementation experiments demonstrated that the pollen-held determinant is contained within the water soluble component of the pollen coat, while further analysis revealed that the active molecular species possesses an M_r10 kDa. More extensive fractionation by gel filtration and reverse phase HPLC was used to isolate a family of basic, cysteine-rich proteins (PCP-A: P ollen C oat P roteins-class A)—one of which is known to bind to stigmatically-expressed components of the S -locus in Brassica . Introduction of the PCP-A protein fraction into the bioassay confirmed the male determinant of SI as a protein, and probably a member of the PCP-A protein family.     

Studies on heteromorphic self-incompatibility systems: Physiological aspects of the incompatibility system of Primula obconica

Summary In Primula obconica, a species with a heteromorphic self-incompatibility system, the distinction between compatible and incompatible pollen tubes takes place on the stigma surface in thrum flowers, self tubes growing randomly over the papillar cells. No differences were seen between self and cross tube behaviour on the pin stigma surface, but self tubes were inhibited within the stigmatic tissue with differences in tube length evident after 24 h. The stigma surface bears a proteinaceous pellicle and binds the lectin Concanavalin A. Removal of the stigma removes the incompatibility barrier in mature gynoecia. Bud pollination shows that pollen tubes cannot grow in a normal manner on immature stigmas; the random growth of tubes over the stigma surface resembles that of mature thrum selfs. Fewer compatible tubes reach the style base of young gynoecia and smaller numbers of seeds are set than in mature flowers. Pin and thrum pollen grains germinate and grow in aqueous media, thrum tubes growing longer than pin. The presence of H₃BO₄ and CaCl₂ in the growth medium promotes tube elongation and lengths equivalent to compatible styles can be obtained. The pollen grains have proteinaceous materials in their walls which diffuse out on moistening. Prolonged washing in aqueous media removes these materials but the incompatibility reaction remains unchanged. Thus the incompatibility reaction is between pollen tubes and stigmatic tissue and differs from the homomorphic, sporophytic system where pollen wall proteins elicit the incompatibility response.     

THE EVOLUTION OF DOMINANCE IN SPOROPHYTIC SELF-INCOMPATIBILITY SYSTEMS. II. MATE AVAILABILITY AND RECOMBINATION

Sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI) is a self-pollen recognition system that enforces outcrossing in plants. Recognition in SSI systems is typically controlled by a complex locus ( S -locus) with separate genes that determine pollen and stigma specificity. Experimental studies show that S -alleles can be dominant, recessive, or codominant, and that the dominance level of a given S -allele can depend upon whether pollen or stigma specificity is examined. Here and in the companion paper by Llaurens and colleagues, the evolution of dominance in single-locus SSI is explored using numerical models and simulation. Particular attention is directed at factors that can cause S -allele dominance to differ in pollen versus stigma. The effect of recombination between the S -locus and modifier locus is also examined. The models predict that limitation in the number of compatible mates is required for the evolution of S -allele dominance in the stigma but not in the pollen. Tight linkage between the S -locus and modifier promotes the evolution of S -allele dominance hierarchies. Model results are interpreted with respect to published information on the molecular basis of dominance in SSI systems, and reported S -allele dominance relationships in a variety of species. These studies show that dominant S -alleles are more common in the pollen than in the stigma, a pattern that when interpreted in light of model predictions, suggests that mate limitation may be relatively infrequent in natural populations with SSI.     

Cellular Pathways Regulating Responses to Compatible and Self-Incompatible Pollen in Brassica and Arabidopsis Stigmas Intersect at Exo70A1, a Putative Component of the Exocyst Complex

In the Brassicaceae, compatible pollen–pistil interactions result in pollen adhesion to the stigma, while pollen grains from unrelated plant species are largely ignored. There can also be an additional layer of recognition to prevent self-fertilization, the self-incompatibility response, whereby self pollen grains are distinguished from nonself pollen grains and rejected. This pathway is activated in the stigma and involves the ARM repeat–containing 1 (ARC1) protein, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. In a screen for ARC1-interacting proteins, we have identified Brassica napus Exo70A1, a putative component of the exocyst complex that is known to regulate polarized secretion. We show through transgenic studies that loss of Exo70A1 in Brassica and Arabidopsis thaliana stigmas leads to the rejection of compatible pollen at the same stage as the self-incompatibility response. A red fluorescent protein:Exo70A1 fusion rescues this stigmatic defect in Arabidopsis and is found to be mobilized to the plasma membrane concomitant with flowers opening. By contrast, increased expression of Exo70A1 in self-incompatible Brassica partially overcomes the self pollen rejection response. Thus, our data show that the Exo70A1 protein functions at the intersection of two cellular pathways, where it is required in the stigma for the acceptance of compatible pollen in both Brassica and Arabidopsis and is negatively regulated by Brassica self-incompatibility.