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AtGRP2, a cold-induced nucleo-cytoplasmic RNA-binding protein, has a role in flower and seed development

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Abstract

The glycine-rich protein AtGRP2 is one of the four members of the cold-shock domain (CSD) protein family in Arabidopsis. It is characterized by the presence of a nucleic acid-binding CSD domain, two glycine-rich domains and two CCHC zinc-fingers present in nucleic acid-binding proteins. In an attempt to further understand the role of CSD/GRP proteins in plants, we have proceeded to the functional characterization of the AtGRP2 gene. Here, we demonstrate that AtGRP2 is a nucleo-cytoplasmic protein involved in Arabidopsis development with a possible function in cold-response. Expression analysis revealed that the AtGRP2 gene is active in meristematic tissues, being modulated during flower development. Down-regulation of AtGRP2 gene, using gene-silencing techniques resulted in early flowering, altered stamen number and affected seed development. A possible role of AtGRP2 as an RNA chaperone is discussed.

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Abbreviations

CDS:

Cold-shock domain

CSP:

Cold-shock protein

CCHC:

Knuckle zinc finger

GRP:

Glycine-rich protein

GUS:

β-glucuronidase

MBP:

Maltose-binding protein

RRM:

RNA recognition motif

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank D. E. de Oliveira (Institute of Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries, Gent, Belgium) for critical reading of the manuscript. A.F.F. was supported by a Ph.D. fellowship from CAPES. S.N.B. and C.M. were supported by CNPq post-doctoral and CAPES-ProDoc fellowships, respectively. V.C.J., T.C.C. and C.M.R.L. were recipient of PIBIC fellowship from CNPq. This work was supported by grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and the Fundação Carlos Chagas de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) to G.S.M. and by Interuniversity Poles of Attraction Programme-Belgian Science Policy (P5/13) to D.I.

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  1. Gilbert Engler

    Present address: Department for Plant Health and the Environment,, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 06606, Antibes, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Genética Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68011, 21941-970, Brazil

    Adriana Flores Fusaro, Silvia Nora Bocca, Rose Lucia Braz Ramos, Claudia Magioli, Vanessa Cardeal Jorge, Tatiana Cardoso Coutinho, Camila Martins Rangel-Lima & Gilberto Sachetto-Martins

  2. Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent University, 9052, Gent, Belgium

    Rosa Maria Barrôco, Riet De Rycke & Dirk Inzé

  3. Laboratoire Associé de l’Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (France), Universiteit Gent, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    Gilbert Engler

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  1. Adriana Flores Fusaro
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Correspondence to Gilberto Sachetto-Martins.

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Fusaro, A.F., Bocca, S.N., Ramos, R.L.B. et al. AtGRP2, a cold-induced nucleo-cytoplasmic RNA-binding protein, has a role in flower and seed development. Planta 225, 1339–1351 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-006-0444-4

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