The ARC1 E3 Ligase Gene Is Frequently Deleted in Self-Compatible Brassicaceae Species and Has a Conserved Role in Arabidopsis lyrata Self-Pollen Rejection

Self-pollen rejection is an important reproductive regulator in flowering plants, and several different intercellular signaling systems have evolved to elicit this response. In the Brassicaceae, the self-incompatibility system is mediated by the pollen S-locus Cys-Rich/S-locus Protein11 (SCR/SP11) ligand and the pistil S Receptor Kinase (SRK). While the SCR/SP11-SRK recognition system has been identified in several species across the Brassicaceae, less is known about the conservation of the SRK-activated cellular responses in the stigma, following self-pollen contact. The ARM Repeat Containing1 (ARC1) E3 ubiquitin ligase functions downstream of SRK for the self-incompatibility response in Brassica, but it has been suggested that ARC1 is not required in Arabidopsis species. Here, we surveyed the presence of ARC1 orthologs in several recently sequenced genomes from Brassicaceae species that had diversified ∼20 to 40 million years ago. Surprisingly, the ARC1 gene was deleted in several species that had lost the self-incompatibility trait, suggesting that ARC1 may lose functionality in the transition to self-mating. To test the requirement of ARC1 in a self-incompatible Arabidopsis species, transgenic ARC1 RNA interference Arabidopsis lyrata plants were generated, and they exhibited reduced self-incompatibility responses resulting in successful fertilization. Thus, this study demonstrates a conserved role for ARC1 in the self-pollen rejection response within the Brassicaceae.     

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.     

Molecular cloning and yeast two-hybrid provide new evidence for unique sporophytic self-incompatibility system of Corylus

• The Corylus genus contains several important nut producing species and exhibits sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of SSI in Corylus remain largely unknown.
• To clarify whether Corylus and Brassica share the same SSI molecular mechanism. We cloned ChaTHL1/2, ChaMLPK, ChaARC1, ChaEX70A1 genes from Ping’ou hybrid hazelnut using RACE techniques and tested the interaction between the ChaARC1 and ChaSRK1/2. We also examined the pistil–pollen interactions using scanning electron microscopy.
• We found no differences in the stigma surface within 1 h after compatible or incompatible pollination. Compatible pollen tubes penetrated the stigma surface, while incompatible pollen did not penetrate the stigma 4 h after pollination. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that ChaTHL1/2, ChaMLPK, ChaARC1 and ChaEX70A1 have corresponding functional domains. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that ChaTHL1/2, ChaMLPK, ChaARC1 and ChaEX70A1 were not regularly expressed in compatible or incompatible pollination. Furthermore, the expression patterns of ARC1, THL1/2, MLPK and Exo70A1 were quite distinct between Corylus and Brassica. According to yeast two-hybrid assays, ChaSRK1/2 did not interact with ChaARC1, confirming that the SRK-ARC1 signalling pathway implicated in the SSI response of Brassica was not conserved in Corylus.
• These results further reinforce the conclusion that, notwithstanding the similarity of the genetic basis, the SSI mechanism of Corylus does not conform in many respects with that of Brassica. Our findings could be helpful to better explore the potential mechanism of SSI system in Corylus.

     

Pollen recognition during the self-incompatibility response in plants

Recent work has identified the elusive male (pollen) determinant that underlies self-incompatibility in Brassica (cabbage). The key pollen factor, recognized by the stigma of an incompatible plant, is a small cysteine-rich protein that interacts directly with the receptor domain of a stigma receptor serine-threonine kinase to initiate haplotype-specific pollen recognition and rejection.     

Pollen-pistil interactions inBrassica oleracea: Cell calcium in self and cross pollen grains

Summary The levels of calcium in pollen grains on the stigma, after self vs. cross pollinations, were compared inBrassica oleracea, a species showing sporophytic self-incompatibility. Self pollen was characterized by higher levels of chlorotetracycline fluorescence and by higher calcium signals in energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays than cross pollen. Cellular integrity of pollen grains was maintained after rejection, and self pollen could be rescued from the stigma to germinate 4 h after pollination, suggesting that the rejection response was not irreversible.abbreviations CTC chlorotetracycline - EDAX energy dispersive analysis of x-rays - FDA fluorescein diacetate - RH relative humidity - SSI sporophytic self-incompatibility - SLSG S locus-specific glycoproteins     

The ARC1 E3 Ligase Promotes a Strong and Stable Self-Incompatibility Response in Arabidopsis Species: Response to the Nasrallah and Nasrallah Commentary

Following the identification of the male (S-locus Cysteine Rich/S-locus Protein 11) and female (S Receptor kinase [SRK]) factors controlling self-incompatibility in the Brassicaceae, research in this field has focused on understanding the nature of the cellular responses activated by these regulators. We previously identified the ARM Repeat Containing1 (ARC1) E3 ligase as a component of the SRK signaling pathway and demonstrated ARC1’s requirement in the stigma for self-incompatible pollen rejection in Brassica napus, Arabidopsis lyrata, and Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we discuss our findings on the role of ARC1 in reconstructing a strong and stable A. thaliana self-incompatibility phenotype, in the context of the putative issues outlined in a commentary by Nasrallah and Nasrallah. Additionally, with their proposed standardized strategy for studying self-incompatibility in A. thaliana, we offer our perspective on what constitutes a strong and stable self-incompatibility phenotype in A. thaliana and how this should be investigated and reported to the greater community.With many angiosperms possessing hermaphroditic flowers, self-incompatibility (SI) systems have evolved to avoid the deleterious effects of inbreeding (Figures 1A and 1B). As defined by Charlesworth et al. (2005), “plant SI systems all prevent self-fertilization through recognition and rejection of pollen by pistils expressing ‘cognate’ allelic specificity.” In Brassicaceae species, the allele specificity is conferred by two well-characterized polymorphic genes encoding the female S Receptor kinase (SRK) and the male S-locus Protein 11/S-locus Cysteine Rich (SP11/SCR; hereby referred to as SCR) (reviewed in Iwano and Takayama, 2012). The major outstanding area in this field is identifying the signaling proteins activated by SRK, determining their function at the cellular level, and investigating whether these signaling proteins have conserved functions across the self-incompatible species in the Brassicaceae. Despite strong interest in finding these potential factors by us and other groups, only the Brassica rapa M Locus Protein Kinase (Murase et al., 2004; Kakita et al., 2007a, 2007b) and the ARM Repeat Containing1 (ARC1) E3 ligase have emerged as direct downstream signaling proteins. We demonstrated a conserved role for ARC1 in self-incompatible Brassica napus (Gu et al., 1998; Stone et al., 1999, 2003), self-incompatible Arabidopsis lyrata (Indriolo et al., 2012), and self-incompatible Arabidopsis thaliana expressing A. lyrata SCRb, SRKb, and ARC1 transgenes (Indriolo et al., 2014). The commentary by Nasrallah and Nasrallah (2014) focuses on our proposed role for ARC1 in reconstituting self-incompatibility in transgenic A. thaliana.Open in a separate windowFigure 1.Pathways for Compatible and Self-Incompatible Pollen Responses in A. thaliana.(A) Compatible (arrow) and self-incompatible (bar) pollen-pistil interactions.(B) Criteria for assessing compatible versus self-incompatible pollinations.(C) Model for the basal compatible pollen response. An unknown basal pollen response pathway is activated in the stigmatic papilla under the compatible pollen grain leading to the activation of vesicle secretion. Our research on Brassica and Arabidopsis Exo70A1 revealed a putative role for the exocyst complex in docking secretory vesicles at the stigmatic papillae plasma membrane (Samuel et al., 2009; Safavian and Goring, 2013; Safavian et al., 2014). Exo70A1 is proposed to assemble with the remaining subunits of the exocyst complex to dock secretory vesicles (reviewed in Zárský et al., 2013). SNARE proteins mediate vesicle fusion to the plasma membrane, and unknown cargo (ACA13 as one candidate; Iwano et al., 2014) are released to enable pollen hydration pollen tube entry through the stigmatic papillar cell wall (compatible pollen is accepted).(D) Model for the reconstituted self-incompatibility signaling pathway in the Sha ecotype. Following self-pollination in transgenic SCR-SRK+ARC1 Sha ecotype flowers, the pollen SCR ligand binds to SRK at the stigmatic papillar plasma membrane, resulting in the activation of the downstream signaling pathway. The ARC1 E3 ligase is recruited by SRK and targets Exo70A1 for ubiquitination. Even though the basal compatible pollen response pathway has been also activated, ubiquitinated Exo70A1 is somehow inhibited so that exocyst-mediated vesicle secretion to the self-incompatible pollen grain is blocked. In addition, secretory vesicles are degraded in the vacuole through autophagy. An unknown signaling protein (yellow) also has activity in the Sha ecotype in blocking exocytosis (see Samuel et al. [2009], Safavian and Goring [2013], and Indriolo et al. [2014] for further details and references therein).(E) Transmission electron microscopy image of a self-incompatible pollen-stigmatic papillar interaction at 10 min postpollination from the transgenic SCRb-SRKb+ARC1 Sha ecotype. Pseudocoloring has been added to distinguish the pollen (brown) from the stigmatic papilla (green). Autophagy is detected with the autophagic vacuole in the vacuole (see Rose et al. [2006] and Indriolo et al. [2014] for details). (Figures 1C to 1E adapted from Indriolo et al. [2014], Figures 9 and 10.)     

Identification of Interacting Motifs Between Armadillo Repeat Containing 1 (ARC1) and Exocyst 70 A1 (Exo70A1) Proteins in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica oleracea</Emphasis>

In order to identify the functional domains which regulate the interaction between the self-incompatibility proteins armadillo repeat containing 1 (ARC1) and exocyst 70 A1 (Exo70A1) in Brassica oleracea, fragments containing selected motifs of ARC1 (ARC1₂₁₀, ARC1₂₄₆, ARC1₂₇₉, ARC1₃₅₄) and site-specific mutants with substitutions at possible interaction sites (ARC1_354m, ARC1_664m) were PCR amplified and inserted into pGADT7, while coding sequences from Exo70A1 (Exo70A1₈₅, Exo70A1) were subcloned into pGBKT7. The interactions between the protein products produced by these constructs were then analyzed utilizing a yeast two-hybrid system. Our data indicate that both ARC1₂₁₀ and ARC1₂₄₆ interact strongly with Exo70A1₈₅ and Exo70A1, while ARC1₂₇₉, ARC1₃₅₄, ARC1_354m and ARC1_664m exhibited a weak interaction, indicating that the recognition sites are located within the 210 N-terminal amino acids of ARC1 and the 85 N-terminal amino acids of Exo70A1. This was further verified by GST pull-down analysis. This supports a model in which the N-terminal leucine zipper of ARC1 and the first 85 N-terminal amino acids of Exo70A1 mediate the interaction between these two proteins. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that these motifs were highly conserved across different species, indicating that the interaction characterized in B. oleracea may operate in a wide array of cultivars.     

Secretory Activity Is Rapidly Induced in Stigmatic Papillae by Compatible Pollen,but Inhibited for Self-Incompatible Pollen in the Brassicaceae

[In the Brassicaceae, targeted exocytosis to the stigmatic papillar plasma membrane under the compatible pollen grain is hypothesized to be essential for pollen hydration and pollen tube penetration. In contrast, polarized secretion is proposed to be inhibited in the stigmatic papillae during the rejection of self-incompatible pollen. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we performed a detailed time-course of post-pollination events to view the cytological responses of the stigmatic papillae to compatible and self-incompatible pollinations. For compatible pollinations in Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis lyrata, vesicle secretion was observed at the stigmatic papillar plasma membrane under the pollen grain while Brassica napus stigmatic papillae appeared to use multivesicular bodies (MVBs) for secretion. Exo70A1, a component of the exocyst complex, has been previously implicated in the compatible pollen responses, and disruption of Exo70A1 in both A. thaliana and B. napus resulted in a loss of secretory vesicles/MVBs at the stigmatic papillar plasma membrane. Similarly, for self-incompatible pollinations, secretory vesicles/MVBs were absent from the stigmatic papillar plasma membrane in A. lyrata and B. napus; and furthermore, autophagy appeared to be induced to direct vesicles/MVBs to the vacuole for degradation. Thus, these findings support a model where the basal pollen recognition pathway in the stigmatic papilla promotes exocytosis to accept compatible pollen, and the basal pollen recognition pathway is overridden by the self-incompatibility pathway to prevent exocytosis and reject self-pollen.     

The Brassica MIP-MOD gene encodes a functional water channel that is expressed in the stigma epidermis

In crucifers, the ability of the stigma to differentially modulate hydration of pollen grains, depending on whether the pollen is recognized to be compatible or incompatible, represents a crucial stage in pollination. Our recent analysis of the mod mutation of Brassica, which results in a breakdown of the self-incompatibility response, led to the isolation of a gene linked to the MOD locus which is expressed at low levels in mod mutants. The gene is predicted to encode a plasma membrane-localized aquaporin-like protein and has been designated MIP-MOD. We utilized reporter gene analysis to demonstrate that the MIP-MOD promoter is active in Brassica papillar cells as well as in some vegetative tissues. The encoded protein is also likely to be plasma membrane-localized based on the observation that all plasma membrane-intrinsic aquaporin-like proteins in Brassica leaves are enriched in plasma membrane fractions. The MIP-MOD protein results in a low but measurable enhancement in osmotic water permeability of Xenopus oocytes and hence represents a functional aquaporin. The results are consistent with the notion that MIP-MOD is involved in the regulation of water transport across the stigma epidermal cell membrane.     

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.     

Exploring the role of a stigma-expressed plant U-box gene in the pollination responses of transgenic self-incompatible Arabidopsis thaliana

Recognition of “self” pollen in the self-incompatibility (SI) response of the Brassicaceae is determined by allele-specific interaction between the S-locus receptor kinase (SRK), a transmembrane protein of the stigma epidermis, and its ligand, the pollen coat-localized S-locus cysteine-rich (SCR) protein. The current model for SRK-mediated signaling proposes a central role for the plant U-box (PUB) Armadillo repeat-containing protein ARC1, an E3 ligase that interacts with, and is phosphorylated by, the kinase domain of SRK. According to the model, activated ARC1 causes the degradation of factors required for successful pollen tube growth. However, Arabidopsis thaliana plants transformed with functional SRK and SCR genes isolated from self-incompatible A. lyrata can express an intense SI response despite lacking a functional ARC1 gene. Here, we tested the possibility that a different member of the A. thaliana PUB protein family might have assumed the role of ARC1 in SI. Toward this end, we analyzed the AtPUB2 gene, which is annotated as being highly expressed in stigmas. Our functional analysis of a T-DNA insertion pub2 allele, together with yeast two-hybrid interaction assays and reporter analysis of AtPUB2 promoter activity, demonstrates that AtPUB2 does not function in SI. The results leave open the question of whether the proposed model of ARC1-mediated signaling applies to transgenic SRK–SCR self-incompatible A. thaliana plants.     

The ARC1 E3 Ligase Promotes Two Different Self-Pollen Avoidance Traits in Arabidopsis

Flowering plants have evolved various strategies for avoiding self-pollen to drive genetic diversity. These strategies include spatially separated sexual organs (herkogamy), timing differences between male pollen release and female pistil receptivity (dichogamy), and self-pollen rejection. Within the Brassicaceae, these outcrossing systems are the evolutionary default state, and many species display these traits, including Arabidopsis lyrata. In contrast to A. lyrata, closely related Arabidopsis thaliana has lost these self-pollen traits and thus represents an excellent system to test genes for reconstructing these evolutionary traits. We previously demonstrated that the ARC1 E3 ligase is required for self-incompatibility in two diverse Brassicaceae species, Brassica napus and A. lyrata, and is frequently deleted in self-compatible species, including A. thaliana. In this study, we examined ARC1’s requirement for reconstituting self-incompatibility in A. thaliana and uncovered an important role for ARC1 in promoting a strong and stable pollen rejection response when expressed with two other A. lyrata self-incompatibility factors. Furthermore, we discovered that ARC1 promoted an approach herkogamous phenotype in A. thaliana flowers. Thus, ARC1’s expression resulted in two different A. lyrata traits for self-pollen avoidance and highlights the key role that ARC1 plays in the evolution and retention of outcrossing systems.     

Loss of callose in the stigma papillae does not affect the Brassica self-incompatibility phenotype

As part of the Brassicaceae self-incompatibility response, callose is deposited in the stigma papillar cells. To determine if callose plays an important role in the rejection of incompatible pollen by the stigma, transgenic Brassica napus. L. plants were produced which express the tobacco β-1,3-glucanase cDNA (the enzyme which degrades callose) in the stigma papillae. Using aniline blue fluorescence, little or no callose was detected in the papillar cells of transgenic stigmas. However, the self-incompatibility system appeared to be unaffected based on the lack of pollen tube growth and the subsequent lack of seed set. The transgene had no effect on compatible pollinations. Thus, while callose deposition is associated with the B. napus self-incompatibility response, it is not required for the rejection of incompatible pollen. Received: 14 March 1997 / Accepted: 15 April 1997     

Antisense suppression of thioredoxin<Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>mRNA in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus cv.</Emphasis>

In Brassica, the thioredoxinhproteins, THL1 and THL2, were previously found to be potential inhibitors of the S receptor kinase (SRK) in the Brassica self-incompatibilty response. To investigate the biological roles of THL1 and THL2 in pollen–pistil interactions, the stigma-specific SLR1 promoter was used to drive antisense THL1/2 expression in Brassica napus cv. Westar. This cultivar is normally compatible, but antisense suppression of THL1/2 led to a low level constitutive rejection of all Brassica napus pollen tested. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the pollen rejection was a typical Brassica self-incompatibility rejection response with reduced pollen adhesion, germination and pollen tube growth. In addition, Westar was found to express the SLG₁₅ and SRK₁₅ proteins which may be the target of regulation by THL1 and THL2. Thus, these results indicate that the THL1 and THL2 are required for full pollen acceptance in B. napus cv. Westar.     

Two large Arabidopsis thaliana gene families are homologous to the Brassica gene superfamily that encodes pollen coat proteins and the male component of the self-incompatibility response

The male component of the self-incompatibility response in Brassica has recently been shown to be encoded by the S locus cysteine-rich gene (SCR). SCR is related, at the sequence level, to the pollen coat protein (PCP) gene family whose members encode small, cysteine-rich proteins located in the proteo-lipidic surface layer (tryphine) of Brassica pollen grains. Here we show that the Arabidopsis genome includes two large gene families with homology to SCR and to the PCP gene family, respectively. These genes are poorly predicted by gene-identification algorithms and, with few exceptions, have been missed in previous annotations. Based on sequence comparison and an analysis of the expression patterns of several members of each family, we discuss the possible functions of these genes. In particular, we consider the possibility that SCR-related genes in Arabidopsis may encode ligands for the S gene family of receptor-like kinases in this species.     

芸苔属自交不亲和细胞信号转导的研究进展

在芸苔属植物的自交不亲和细胞信号转导过程中,信号分子-SCR配体是由花粉粒产生的,被柱头乳突细胞SRK受体识别后,进行细胞内信号转导。这对受体-配体是两个由S位点编码的且高度多态的蛋白质,它们决定着自交不亲和反应。配体是位于花粉粒表面的一个小的胞被蛋白,由SCR基因编码;受体是位于柱头乳突细胞原生质膜上的跨膜的蛋白质激酶,由SRK基因编码。在自交授粉过程中,配体SCR和受体SRK的相互作用激活了受体SRK,被激活的SRK通过其下游组分ARC1介导底物的泛肽化,然后泛肽化的底物在蛋白酶体/CSN中被降解,从而导致了自交不亲和性反应。这些降解的底物可能是促进花粉水合、萌发和花粉管生长的雌蕊亲和因子。主要针对芸苔属自交不亲和细胞信号转导作一综述。     

Pollen stigma interactions in Brassica oleracea

Summary Recent studies on the mechanism of self-incompatibility in Brassica indicate the location, nature and mode of action of the molecules involved. Characteristics of the pollen surface and the stigma surface are described in detail, together with new information pertaining to the recognition molecules located therein. A sequence of events is outlined leading from pollination, through adhesion, hydration, germination, and tube growth to acceptance and ultimate compatibility. The characteristics of rejection of incompatible grains are described for each stage of the pollen-stigma interaction. It is proposed that recognition of proteins from the coating of self-pollen by the molecules in the pellicle results in the formation of a biologically-active complex which inhibits water supply to the incompatible grain, and that all other manifestations of incompatibility are a consequence of this initial response.     

Transformation of Arabidopsis with a Brassica SLG/SRK region and ARC1 gene is not sufficient to transfer the self-incompatibility phenotype

Self-incompatibility (SI) promotes outbreeding in flowering plants, and in Brassica SI is genetically controlled by the S locus. Self-incompatible Brassica and self-fertile Arabidopsis belong to the same crucifer family. In addition, a comparative analysis reveals a high degree of microsynteny between the B. campestris S locus and its homologous region in Arabidopsis– with the notable exception that the Brassica SI genes, SLG and SRK, are missing. Brassica ARC1 encodes a component of the SRK signal transduction pathway leading to self-pollen rejection, and no closely related ARC1 homolog has been identified in Arabidopsis. The purpose of the research reported here was to introduce Brassica SI components into Arabidopsis in an attempt to compensate for the missing genes and to investigate whether the SI phenotype can be transferred. Inserts of approximately 40 kb from the fosmid clones F20 and F22, which span the B. napus W1 SLG-SRK region, were cloned into the plant transformation vector pBIBAC2. Transgenic plants were generated that expressed the Brassica SI genes in the flower buds. In addition, the endogenous, SLG-like, gene AtS1 was not co-suppressed by the Brassica SLG transgene. No SI phenotype was observed among the T1 BIBAC2-F20 and BIBAC2-F22 transgenic plants. When the ARC1 gene was transformed into BIBAC2-F20 or BIBAC2-F22 plants, the resulting BIBAC2-F20-ARC1 and BIBAC2-F22-ARC1 plants still set seeds normally, and no rejection response was observed when self-incompatible B. napus W1 pollen was placed on BIBAC2-F20-ARC1 or BIBAC2-F22-ARC1 Arabidopsis stigmas. Taken together, our results suggest that complementing Arabidopsis genome with Brassica SLG, SRK and ARC1 genes is unlikely to be sufficient to transfer the SI phenotype. Received: 11 November 1999 / Accepted: 14 February 2000     

芸苔属自交不亲和细胞信号转导的研究进展

在芸苔属植物的自交不亲和细胞信号转导过程中,信号分子-SCR配体是由花粉粒产生的,被柱头乳突细胞SRK受体识别后,进行细胞内信号转导.这对受体-配体是两个由S位点编码的且高度多态的蛋白质,它们决定着自交不亲和反应.配体是位于花粉粒表面的一个小的胞被蛋白,由SCR基因编码;受体是位于柱头乳突细胞原生质膜上的跨膜的蛋白质激酶,由SRK基因编码.在自交授粉过程中,配体SCR和受体SRK的相互作用激活了受体SRK,被激活的SRK通过其下游组分ARC1介导底物的泛肽化,然后泛肽化的底物在蛋白酶体/CSN中被降解,从而导致了自交不亲和性反应.这些降解的底物可能是促进花粉水合、萌发和花粉管生长的雌蕊亲和因子.主要针对芸苔属自交不亲和细胞信号转导作一综述.