The Arabidopsis TFIID factor AtTAF6 controls pollen tube growth

AbstractInitiation of transcription mediated by RNA polymerase II requires a number of transcription factors among which TFIID is the major core promoter recognition factor. TFIID is composed of highly conserved factors which include the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and about 14 TBP-associated factors (TAFs). Recently, the complete Arabidopsis TAF family has been identified. To obtain functional information about Arabidopsis TAFs, we analyzed a T-DNA insertion mutant for AtTAF6. Segregation analysis showed that plants homozygous for the mutant allele were never found, indicating that inhibition of the AtTAF6 function is lethal. Genetic experiments also revealed that the male gametophyte was affected by the attaf6 mutation since significant reduced transmission of the mutant allele through the male gametophyte was observed. Detailed histological and morphological analysis showed that the T-DNA insertion in AtTAF6 specifically affects pollen tube growth, indicating that the transcriptional regulation of only a specific subset of genes is controlled by this basal transcription factor

Identification of ASYNAPTIC4, a Component of the Meiotic Chromosome Axis

International audienceDuring the leptotene stage of prophase I of meiosis, chromatids become organized into a linear looped array via a protein axis that forms along the loop bases. Establishment of the axis is essential for the subsequent synapsis of the homologous chromosome pairs and the progression of recombination to form genetic crossovers. Here, we describe ASYNAPTIC4 (ASY4), a meiotic axis protein in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). ASY4 is a small coiled-coil protein that exhibits limited sequence similarity with the carboxyl-terminal region of the axis protein ASY3. We used enhanced yellow fluorescent protein-tagged ASY4 to show that ASY4 localizes to the chromosome axis throughout prophase I. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation revealed that ASY4 interacts with ASY1 and ASY3, and yeast two-hybrid analysis confirmed a direct interaction between ASY4 and ASY3. Mutants lacking full-length ASY4 exhibited defective axis formation and were unable to complete synapsis. Although the initiation of recombination appeared to be unaffected in the asy4 mutant, the number of crossovers was reduced significantly, and crossovers tended to group in the distal parts of the chromosomes. We conclude that ASY4 is required for normal axis and crossover formation. Furthermore, our data suggest that ASY3/ASY4 are the functional homologs of the mammalian SYCP2/SYCP3 axial components

Water Deficit-Responsive QTLs for Cell Wall Degradability and Composition in Maize at Silage Stage

The use of lignocellulosic biomass for animal feed or biorefinery requires the optimization of its degradability. Moreover, biomass crops need to be better adapted to the changing climate and in particular to periods of drought. Although the negative impact of water deficit on biomass yield has often been mentioned, its impact on biomass quality has only been recently reported in a few species. In the present study, we combined the mapping power of a maize recombinant inbred line population with robust near infrared spectroscopy predictive equations to track the response to water deficit of traits associated with biomass quality. The population was cultivated under two contrasted water regimes over 3 consecutive years in the south of France and harvested at silage stage. We showed that cell wall degradability and β-O-4-linked H lignin subunits were increased in response to water deficit, while lignin and p-coumaric acid contents were reduced. A mixed linear model was fitted to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for agronomical and cell wall-related traits. These QTLs were categorized as “constitutive” (QTL with an effect whatever the irrigation condition) or “responsive” (QTL involved in the response to water deficit) QTLs. Fifteen clusters of QTLs encompassed more than two third of the 213 constitutive QTLs and 13 clusters encompassed more than 60% of the 149 responsive QTLs. Interestingly, we showed that only half of the responsive QTLs co-localized with constitutive and yield QTLs, suggesting that specific genetic factors support biomass quality response to water deficit. Overall, our results demonstrate that water deficit favors cell wall degradability and that breeding of varieties that reconcile improved drought-tolerance and biomass degradability is possible

The CYCLIN-A CYCA1;2/TAM Is Required for the Meiosis I to Meiosis II Transition and Cooperates with OSD1 for the Prophase to First Meiotic Division Transition

Meiosis halves the chromosome number because its two divisions follow a single round of DNA replication. This process involves two cell transitions, the transition from prophase to the first meiotic division (meiosis I) and the unique meiosis I to meiosis II transition. We show here that the A-type cyclin CYCA1;2/TAM plays a major role in both transitions in Arabidopsis. A series of tam mutants failed to enter meiosis II and thus produced diploid spores and functional diploid gametes. These diploid gametes had a recombined genotype produced through the single meiosis I division. In addition, by combining the tam-2 mutation with AtSpo11-1 and Atrec8, we obtained plants producing diploid gametes through a mitotic-like division that were genetically identical to their parents. Thus tam alleles displayed phenotypes very similar to that of the previously described osd1 mutant. Combining tam and osd1 mutations leads to a failure in the prophase to meiosis I transition during male meiosis and to the production of tetraploid spores and gametes. This suggests that TAM and OSD1 are involved in the control of both meiotic transitions

Creation de lignees de tabac male steriles cytoplasmiques par androgenese in situ

SIGLEAvailable from INIST (FR), Document Supply Service, under shelf-number : TD 79390 / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

Selection of spontaneous haploid cytoplasmic male sterile tobacco plants using rootless mutants

International audienc

Les mécanismes moléculaires de la méiose chez les plantes

La méiose est une étape-clé de la reproduction sexuée chez les organismes diploïdes. Au-delà de sa description cytologique, les mécanismes moléculaires qui entrent en jeu dans cette division spécialisée commencent à être décryptés chez les plantes grâce à la plante-modèle Arabidopsis thaliana. Si certains mutants méiotiques d’Arabidopsis confirment le rôle de fonctions centrales déjà décrites, par exemple, chez la levure ou chez la souris, d’autres ont permis d’identifier des gènes dont la fonction est inconnue à ce jour. De nombreuses plantes existent aussi à l’état de polyploïdes, ce qui pose un problème particulier du point de vue de la méiose.Meiosis is a key step in diploid sexual reproduction. Apart from its cytological description, the molecular mechanisms involved in this specialized cell division are being deciphered in plants thanks to the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. While some meiotic mutants of Arabidopsis confirm the central role of functions that have been described either in yeast or in mice, others led to the identification of previously unknown genes. Numerous plants also exist as polyploids, which represent a special case with regard to meiosis

Conditional lethal markers : spontaneous haploid selection in plants

chap. 17International audienc

Transmission of paternal chloroplasts in tobacco

International audienc

: OBTENTION DE PLANTES AYANT UNE DIGESTIBILITE DE LA BIOMASSE AMELIOREE

Obtaining plants having improved biomass digestibility The present invention relates to a plant obtained by mutagenesis, such that the expression and/or the activity of the ESK1 protein and the expression and/or the activity of the TPS7 protein are diminished compared to a non-mutagenated plant. Said plant with biomass that has better digestibility maintains satisfactory growth. A further aim of the present invention is a method for preparing said plant, as well as the use of said plant for the production of biofuel