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ZmZHOUPI, an endosperm-specific basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor involved in maize seed development
Aurélie Grimault1,2,3, Ghislaine Gendrot1,2,3, Sophy Chamot1,2,3
1Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Unité Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, F-69364, Lyon, France.
The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|September 13, 2015
Summary
In maize seeds, ZmZOU transcription factor is crucial for endosperm development and embryo growth. Its interaction with ZmICEa protein suggests a unique monocot seed complex, distinct from Arabidopsis ZHOUPI (AtZOU).
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Seed Development
Background:
- Inter-compartmental communication is vital for coordinated growth in angiosperm seeds.
- The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor AtZHOUPI (AtZOU) plays a key role in Arabidopsis thaliana seed development.
- Maize (Zea mays) possesses a persistent endosperm and a homologous gene, ZmZOU.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of ZmZOU in maize seed development.
- To explore the interaction of ZmZOU with other proteins, particularly ICE/SCREAM homologs.
- To understand the evolutionary divergence and functional specificity of ZmZOU in monocots.
Main Methods:
- RNA interference (RNAi) knock-down lines in maize.
- Ectopic expression studies.
- Heterodimerization assays with Arabidopsis and maize proteins.
- Complementation studies using the Arabidopsis atzou-4 mutant.
Main Results:
- ZmZOU expression peaks during maize endosperm filling.
- ZmZOU knock-down resulted in reduced embryo size and delayed breakdown of the embryonic suspensor and embryo surrounding region.
- ZmZOU efficiently forms heterodimers with ZmICEa, suggesting a unique monocot seed complex.
- ZmZOU partially complements the Arabidopsis atzou-4 mutant, but shows reduced functionality in Arabidopsis.
Conclusions:
- ZmZOU is essential for normal embryo development and endosperm-related processes in maize.
- ZmZOU and ZmICEa likely coevolved to form a specialized functional complex in monocot seeds.
- The functional divergence of ZmZOU reflects lineage-specific adaptations in monocotyledonous plants.
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