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EMBRYONIC FACTOR 31 encodes a tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase that is essential for seed development

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Abstract

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) involve the process of catalyzing the ligation of specific amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. Here we identified an Arabidopsis mutant embryonic factor 31 (fac31), its embryos arrested at development from one cell to globular stage. The FAC31 gene was identified by positional cloning and confirmed by a genetic complementation test with two independent T-DNA insertion lines and transgenic rescue with full-length genomic DNA. FAC31 encodes a Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and localize to mitochondria and cytoplasm. Fac31 mutants contain a point mutation from CAA to a stop codon TAA which may lead to a truncated protein. The phenotype of fac31 mutants are very similar to the T-DNA insertion lines Salk_016722 and Salk_045570 displayed smaller embryo sac contains only less number of endosperm nucleolus. Genetic analysis showed that the FAC31 gene had no parental effects through the transmission of mutated FAC31 gene by gametes. FAC31 is a high-conserved protein among animals and plants. RT-PCR analysis and promoter-GUS expression showed that it is expressed in nearly all tissues tested, strongly expressed in meristem of seedlings, the primordium of lateral root, young inflorescences, mature pollen, germinated pollen tubes and embryo sacs before heart stage. Our findings suggest that FAC31 is essential for the seed development through regulation the expanding of embryo sac and proliferation of endosperm nucleolus.

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Abbreviations

AARSs:

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

fac31 :

Embryonic factor 31

dTPs:

Dual targeting peptides

TyrRS:

Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase

EMS:

Ethyl methanesulfonate

ORFs:

Open reading frames

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Kalei Ku for her valuable advice and critical read of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Environmental Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China

    Li Jiang

  2. Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Li Jiang

  3. Research Center of Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing, 100141, China

    Li Jiang, Shu Wang & Hengde Li

  4. The Information Center, Ministry of Science and Technology, Beijing, China

    Huijie Li

  5. The Bureau of Gardening, Cangzhou, Hebei, China

    Guoxin Zhang

Authors
  1. Li Jiang
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  2. Shu Wang
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  3. Huijie Li
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  4. Guoxin Zhang
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  5. Hengde Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li Jiang.

Additional information

Li Jiang and Shu Wang contribute equally.

Electronic supplementary material

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11033_2012_1678_MOESM1_ESM.ppt

Fig. S1 (A) and (B) Map-based cloning of FAC31. (C) The gene structure of FAC31. Two T-DNA insertions lines inside the exon of FAC31. (PPT 31 kb)

Table S1. Complementation test by genomic DNA transformation. (XLS 17 kb)

Table S2. Ovules defective analysis in transgened complementated Salk_045570C and Salk_016722 plants. (XLS 16 kb)

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Jiang, L., Wang, S., Li, H. et al. EMBRYONIC FACTOR 31 encodes a tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase that is essential for seed development. Mol Biol Rep 39, 8297–8305 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1678-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1678-9

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