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The MAP kinase kinase NtMEK2 is involved in tobacco pollen germination
Author(s) -
Voronin Viktor,
Aionesei Tatiana,
Limmongkon Apinun,
Barinova Ioulia,
Touraev Alisher,
Laurière Christiane,
Coronado Marı́a-José,
Testillano Pilar S,
Risueño Maria-Carmen,
Heberle-Bors Erwin,
Wilson Cathal
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(04)00076-6
Subject(s) - kinase , pollen , protein kinase a , microbiology and biotechnology , mitogen activated protein kinase , map kinase kinase kinase , transformation (genetics) , mapk14 , biology , biochemistry , chemistry , gene , botany
The tobacco ntf4 mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase gene (and its encoded protein p45 Ntf4 ) is expressed at later stages of pollen maturation. We have found that the highly related MAP kinase SIPK is also expressed in pollen and, like p45 Ntf4 , is activated upon pollen hydration. The MAP kinase kinase NtMEK2 activates SIPK, and here we show that it can also activate p45 Ntf4 . In an attempt to inhibit the function of both MAP kinases simultaneously we constructed a loss‐of‐function mutant version of NtMEK2, which, in transient transformation assays, led to an inhibition of germination in the transformed pollen grains. These data indicate that NtMEK2, and by inference its substrates p45 Ntf4 and/or SIPK, are involved in pollen germination.