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Molecular mechanisms of maize endosperm transfer cell development

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Abstract

Endosperm transfer cells function as the nutrient transporter, antimicrobic barrier, and signal mediator between filial and maternal tissues. Sugar supply of maternal tissues, sugar demand of filial tissues, and requirement for defence against pathogens are three elemental factors inducing differentiation of endosperm transfer cells. Epigenetic factors, especially MEG1, moderate the key genetic factor ZmMRP-1 to activate endosperm transfer cell-specific genes that control the flange wall ingrowth formation and defensin-like protein secretion in maize. Auxin and cytokinin are primary hormones involved in development of maize endosperm transfer cells. Crosstalk between glucose and hormone signaling regulates endosperm transfer cell development via modifying ZmMRP-1 expression. This review summarizes the current knowledge on maize endosperm transfer cell development, and discusses its potential molecular mechanisms. It is expected to strengthen the theoretical basis for structural and functional optimization of endosperm transfer cells, and yield improvement of kernels in maize.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks a lot for the fund support from Anqing Normal University.

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This work was supported by the Doctoral Startup Fund of Scientific Research from Anqing Normal University (Grant No.150002033).

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  1. School of Life Sciences, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, 246133, Anhui, China

    Yankun Zheng

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YZ provided and analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript.

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Zheng, Y. Molecular mechanisms of maize endosperm transfer cell development. Plant Cell Rep 41, 1171–1180 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-021-02807-0

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