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Alfalfa Mob1-like Genes are Expressed in Reproductive Organs during Meiosis and Gametogenesis

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Abstract

Mps-one-binder (Mob) proteins play an important role in chromosome separation and cell plate formation in yeast. We cloned two Mob1-like genes from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and show that one gene is constitutively expressed while the other is expressed only in flower buds during sporogenesis and gametogenesis. For the analysis of gene expression during reproduction in alfalfa wild-types and apomeiotic mutants, a specific antisense riboprobe was designed for MsMob1 transcripts and a polyclonal antibody was raised against MsMob1 proteins. In situ mRNA localization as well as protein immunolocalization proved that MsMob1-like genes are specifically expressed in degenerating megaspores of normal ovules and in enlarged megaspore mother cells and embryo sacs of apomeiotic ovules. Gene products were also found in microspore tetrads at the beginning of pollen development as well as in tapetum cells of anthers undergoing programmed cell death to allow pollen dispersal at maturity. Overall results suggest that MsMob1-like genes can play a key role during the reproductive pathway in plants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e del Territorio, University of Milano – Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milano, Italy

    Sandra Citterio & Sergio Sgorbati

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale e Biotecnologie Agroambientali, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy

    Emidio Albertini & Gianpiero Marconi

  3. Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia Ambientale e Produzioni Vegetali, University of Padova-Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020, Legnaro Padova, Italy

    Serena Varotto, Erika Feltrin, Marica Soattin, Margherita Lucchin & Gianni Barcaccia

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  1. Sandra Citterio
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  2. Emidio Albertini
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  3. Serena Varotto
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  4. Erika Feltrin
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Correspondence to Gianni Barcaccia.

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Sandra Citterio, Emidio Albertini and Serena Varotto - These Authors contributed equally to this work.

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Citterio, S., Albertini, E., Varotto, S. et al. Alfalfa Mob1-like Genes are Expressed in Reproductive Organs during Meiosis and Gametogenesis. Plant Mol Biol 58, 789–807 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-005-8104-9

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