New Genetic Sequence Revealed in Thale Cress Solving the Mystery of MYB98 Gene Activation in Plant Reproduction

Plant reproduction is a complex and fascinating process that involves many genes and molecules.

One of the key steps in plant reproduction is the attraction and guidance of the male pollen tube to the female ovule, where fertilization occurs.

This process is mediated by signaling molecules that are released from the female reproductive tissues and sensed by the pollen tube.

However, the genetic mechanisms that regulate the expression of these signaling molecules are not fully understood.

A recent study from Nagoya University in Japan has identified a novel genetic sequence that is essential for plant reproduction and may have implications for crossbreeding and seed production.

What is SaeM and how does it work?

(Photo : DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

The study, published in Frontiers in Plant Biology1, focused on a model plant species called thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana).

The researchers discovered a genetic sequence in thale cress that is responsible for activating the expression of a gene called MYB98, as per Phys.org.

MYB98 is known to enhance the synthesis of signaling molecules called LURE proteins, which are secreted from the female reproductive tissues and attract the male pollen tube to the ovule.

The researchers named this genetic sequence Synergid-specific Activation Element of MYB98 (SaeM).

SaeM is located in the promoter region of MYB98, which is the part of the DNA that controls when and where a gene is turned on.

SaeM acts as a switch that turns on MYB98 specifically in the synergid cells, which are two specialized cells within the female ovule that produce LURE proteins.

The researchers used various molecular techniques to confirm that SaeM is essential for MYB98 expression and LURE production.

They also showed that SaeM is conserved in almost all plant species, suggesting that it plays a universal role in plant reproduction.

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Why is SaeM important for plant breeding and seed production?

The discovery of SaeM has several implications for plant breeding and seed production.

One of the challenges in plant breeding is to overcome reproductive isolation, which is a series of mechanisms that prevent successful reproduction between different plant populations or species, as per Miragenews.

Reproductive isolation can be caused by various factors, such as physical barriers, incompatible pollination times, or genetic incompatibility.

One of the causes of genetic incompatibility is the failure of the pollen tube to recognize or respond to the signals from the ovule.

This can result in reduced fertilization rates or seed formation defects, which are the underdevelopment or defective growth of seeds.

By modifying SaeM, it may be possible to enhance or alter the expression of MYB98 and LURE proteins, and thus improve the communication between the pollen tube and the ovule.

This may help overcome reproductive isolation and create useful hybrids through crossbreeding.

Another potential application of SaeM is to improve seed production in some crop species that suffer from low fertilization rates or cross-incompatibility.

For example, rapeseed (Brassica napus) is an important oil crop that often exhibits low seed set due to poor pollen tube guidance.

By introducing SaeM into rapeseed, it may be possible to increase MYB98 and LURE expression and improve pollen tube attraction and fertilization.

The discovery of SaeM opens up new avenues for understanding and manipulating plant reproduction at the molecular level.

It also provides a valuable tool for enhancing plant breeding and seed production, which are essential for food security and biodiversity conservation.

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