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MIL 2 ( MICROSPORELESS 2) regulates early cell differentiation in the rice anther
Author(s) -
Hong Lilan,
Tang Ding,
Shen Yi,
Hu Qing,
Wang Kejian,
Li Ming,
Lu Tiegang,
Cheng Zhukuan
Publication year - 2012
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.1469-8137.2012.04270.x
Subject(s) - stamen , tapetum , biology , arabidopsis , microbiology and biotechnology , oryza sativa , mutant , arabidopsis thaliana , cellular differentiation , gene , multicellular organism , microspore , botany , genetics , pollen
Summary The formation of diverse, appropriately patterned cell types is critical in the development of all complex multicellular organisms. In flowering plants, anther patterning is a complex process essential for successful sexual reproduction. However, few genes regulating this process have been characterized to date. We report here that the gene MICROSPORELESS 2 ( MIL 2 ) regulates early anther cell differentiation in rice ( Oryza sativa ). The anthers of mil2 mutants were characterized using molecular markers and cytological examination. The MIL 2 gene was cloned and its expression pattern was analyzed through RNA in situ hybridization. The localization of the MIL 2 protein was observed by immunostaining. MIL 2 encodes the rice homolog of the Arabidopsis TAPETUM DETERMINANT 1 ( TPD 1) protein. However, mil2 anthers display phenotypes different from those of tpd1 mutants, with only two layers of anther wall cells formed. MIL 2 has an expression pattern distinct from that of TPD 1 . Its transcripts and proteins predominate in inner parietal cells, but show little accumulation in reproductive cells. Our results demonstrate that MIL 2 is responsible for the differentiation of primary parietal cells into secondary parietal cells in rice anthers, and suggest that rice and Arabidopsis anthers might share similar regulators in anther patterning, but divergent mechanisms are employed in these processes.