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Arabidopsis COBRA ‐ LIKE 10, a GPI ‐anchored protein, mediates directional growth of pollen tubes
Author(s) -
Li Sha,
Ge FuRong,
Xu Ming,
Zhao XinYing,
Huang GuoQiang,
Zhou LiangZi,
Wang JiaGang,
Kombrink Anja,
McCormick Sheila,
Zhang Xian Sheng,
Zhang Yan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/tpj.12139
Subject(s) - pollen tube , pollen , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , arabidopsis , sperm , secretion , egg cell , botany , pollination , gene , biochemistry , mutant
Summary Successful reproduction of flowering plants requires constant communication between female tissues and growing pollen tubes. Female cells secrete molecules and peptides as nutrients or guidance cues for fast and directional tube growth, which is executed by dynamic changes of intracellular activities within pollen tubes. Compared with the extensive interest in female cues and intracellular activities of pollen tubes, how female cues are sensed and interpreted intracellularly in pollen is poorly understood. We show here that COBL 10, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol ( GPI )‐anchored protein, is one component of this pollen tube internal machinery. Mutations in COBL 10 caused gametophytic male sterility due to reduced pollen tube growth and compromised directional sensing in the female transmitting tract. Deposition of the apical pectin cap and cellulose microfibrils was disrupted in cobl10 pollen tubes. Pollen tube localization of COBL 10 at the apical plasma membrane is critical for its function and relies on proper GPI processing and its C ‐terminal hydrophobic residues. GPI ‐anchored proteins are widespread cell sensors in mammals, especially during egg‐sperm communication. Our results that COBL 10 is critical for directional growth of pollen tubes suggest that they play critical roles in cell‐cell communications in plants.