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The NADPH‐oxidase AtrbohB plays a role in Arabidopsis seed after‐ripening
Author(s) -
Müller Kerstin,
Carstens Anna Catharina,
Linkies Ada,
Torres Miguel Angel,
LeubnerMetzger Gerhard
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03005.x
Subject(s) - arabidopsis , germination , dormancy , brassicaceae , abscisic acid , endosperm , ripening , arabidopsis thaliana , seed dormancy , nadph oxidase , superoxide , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , botany , reactive oxygen species , biochemistry , mutant , gene , enzyme
Summary• Seeds can enter a state of dormancy, in which they do not germinate under optimal environmental conditions. Dormancy can be broken during seed after‐ripening in the low‐hydrated state. • By screening enhancer trap lines of Arabidopsis, we identified a role for the NADPH‐oxidase AtrbohB in after‐ripening. Semiquantitative PCR was used to investigate AtrbohB transcripts in seeds. These methods were complemented with a pharmacological approach using the inhibitor diphenylene iodonium chloride (DPI) and biomechanical measurements in the Brassicaceae seed model system cress ( Lepidium sativum ) as well as protein carbonylation assays. • atrbohB mutants fail to after‐ripen and show reduced protein oxidation. AtrbohB pre‐mRNA is alternatively spliced in seeds in a hormonally and developmentally regulated manner. AtrbohB is a major producer of superoxide in germinating Arabidopsis seeds, and inhibition of superoxide production by diphenylene iodonium (DPI) leads to a delay in Arabidopsis and cress seed germination and cress endosperm weakening. • Reactive oxygen species produced by AtrbohB during after‐ripening could act via abscisic acid (ABA) signalling or post‐translational protein modifications. Alternative splicing could be a general mechanism in after‐ripening: by altered processing of stored pre‐mRNAs seeds could react quickly to environmental changes.