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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
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Investigating Interactions Between Histone Modifying Enzymes and Transcription Factors in vivo by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Published on: October 14, 2022
Small Anther, a C2H2-Type Zinc Finger Transcription Repressor, Controls Rice Anther Length Through Regulation of
Jiazhuo Wu1,2, Yantong Liu3, Yukang Xia3
1College of Agriculture, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 13, 2026
Summary
A new gene, SAN, controls rice anther length by regulating epidermal cell division. This discovery enhances understanding of anther development and improves rice breeding for higher yields.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Genetics
- Agronomy
Background:
- Anther length is vital for rice yield and hybrid seed production.
- Molecular mechanisms controlling rice anther length are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify genes regulating rice anther length.
- Elucidate the molecular mechanisms of anther size control.
Main Methods:
- CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to create mutants.
- Cytological observations and gene expression analysis (RNA-seq).
- Protein interaction assays.
Main Results:
- A short anther (san) mutant showed reduced anther length due to fewer epidermal cells.
- SAN encodes a nuclear zinc finger protein acting as a transcriptional repressor.
- SAN regulates cell cycle and cytokinin pathways crucial for epidermal cell division.
Conclusions:
- SAN specifically controls rice anther length by promoting epidermal cell division.
- This study provides novel insights into the genetic regulation of anther size in plants.
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