Anther-specific coumarate CoA ligase-like gene from Nicotiana sylvestris expressed during uninucleate microspore development

摘要

An anther-specific cDNA clone from Nicotiana sylvestris /NsCL-lk/, showing similarity to coumarate CoA ligases, was isolated and characterized. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses demonstrated transcript accumulation in tapetal cells during short period of anther development correlated with tetrad dissolution and uninucleate microspore development. An Arabidopsis cDNA clone /AtCL-lk/ homologous to NsCL-lk was isolated after screening of Arabidopsis flower cDNA library with NsCL-lk as a heterologous probe. RT-PCR analysis detected AtCL-lk transcripts only in young flower buds but not in other plant organs and seedlings. Sequence analysis of NsCL-lk and AtCL-lk shows significant similarity to coumarate CoA ligase protein sequences. The phylogenetic study suggests that the anther-specific CL-like genes represent a separate group in the family of adenylate-forming enzymes, close to the group of coumarate CoA ligases. The putative function of described CL-like enzymes in anther development is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. [References: 22]