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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Lignin Down-regulation of Zea mays via dsRNAi and Klason Lignin Analysis
Published on: July 23, 2014
The maize transfer cell-specific type-A response regulator ZmTCRR-1 appears to be involved in intercellular
Luis M Muñiz1, Joaquín Royo, Elisa Gómez
1Departamento de Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Response regulators are signal-transduction molecules present in bacteria, yeast and plants, acting as relays for environmental challenges. This paper reports the characterization of a Zea mays gene, ZmTCRR-1, that codes for a member of the type-A response regulator class of proteins. The gene was found to be expressed exclusively in the endosperm transfer-cell layer 8-14 days after pollination, when transfer-cell differentiation is most active. The promoter of ZmTCRR-1 was strongly transactivated in heterologous systems by the transfer cell-specific transcription factor ZmMRP-1. The ZmTCRR-1 protein was detected not only in the transfer-cell layer, but also in the conductive tissue deep inside the endosperm, where there is no transcription of the gene. This suggests that two-component systems might be involved in intercellular signal transmission, in contrast to the generally held belief that these systems are involved only in cell-autonomous pathways.
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