Eukaryotic cells rely on the accuracy and efficiency of vesicular traffic. In plants, disturbances in vesicular trafficking are well studied in quickly dividing root meristem cells or polar growing root hairs and pollen tubes. The development of the female gametophyte, a unique haploid reproductive structure located in the ovule, has received far less attention in studies of vesicular transport. Key molecules providing the specificity of vesicle formation and its subsequent recognition and fusion with the acceptor membrane are Rab proteins. Rabs are anchored to membranes by covalently linked geranylgeranyl group(s) that are added by the Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RGT) enzyme. Here we show that Arabidopsis plants carrying mutations in the gene encoding the β-subunit of RGT (rgtb1) exhibit severely disrupted female gametogenesis and this effect is of sporophytic origin. Mutations in rgtb1 lead to internalization of the PIN1 and PIN3 proteins from the basal membranes to vesicles in provascular cells of the funiculus. Decreased transport of auxin out of the ovule is accompanied by auxin accumulation in tissue surrounding the growing gametophyte. In addition, female gametophyte development arrests at the uni- or binuclear stage in a significant portion of the rgtb1 ovules. These observations suggest that communication between the sporophyte and the developing female gametophyte relies on Rab-dependent vesicular traffic of the PIN1 and PIN3 transporters and auxin efflux out of the ovule.

• Klíčová slova
• Arabidopsis, PIN1, PIN3, Rab, auxin transport, female gametophyte, funiculus, ovule, rab geranylgeranyl transferase,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis * genetika   MeSH
• kyseliny indoloctové MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku * genetika   MeSH
• pylová láčka MeSH
• vajíčko rostlin genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kyseliny indoloctové MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku * MeSH

Annexins are a family of calcium- and membrane-binding proteins that are important for plant tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. Annexins function to counteract oxidative stress, maintain cell redox homeostasis, and enhance drought tolerance. In the present study, an endogenous annexin, STANN1, was overexpressed to determine whether crop yields could be improved in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) during drought. Nine potential potato annexins were identified and their expression characterized in response to drought treatment. STANN1 mRNA was constitutively expressed at a high level and drought treatment strongly increased transcription levels. Therefore, STANN1 was selected for overexpression analysis. Under drought conditions, transgenic potato plants ectopically expressing STANN1 were more tolerant to water deficit in the root zone, preserved more water in green tissues, maintained chloroplast functions, and had higher accumulation of chlorophyll b and xanthophylls (especially zeaxanthin) than wild type (WT). Drought-induced reductions in the maximum efficiency and the electron transport rate of photosystem II (PSII), as well as the quantum yield of photosynthesis, were less pronounced in transgenic plants overexpressing STANN1 than in the WT. This conferred more efficient non-photochemical energy dissipation in the outer antennae of PSII and probably more efficient protection of reaction centers against photooxidative damage in transgenic plants under drought conditions. Consequently, these plants were able to maintain effective photosynthesis during drought, which resulted in greater productivity than WT plants despite water scarcity. Although the mechanisms underlying this stress protection are not yet clear, annexin-mediated photoprotection is probably linked to protection against light-induced oxidative stress.

• MeSH
• annexiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• chlorofyl metabolismus   MeSH
• fotosyntéza MeSH
• fotosystém II - proteinový komplex metabolismus   MeSH
• fyziologický stres MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny MeSH
• období sucha MeSH
• oxidační stres MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u rostlin MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• rostlinné geny MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Solanum tuberosum genetika   růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• světlo MeSH
• xanthofyly metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• annexiny MeSH
• chlorofyl MeSH
• fotosystém II - proteinový komplex MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny MeSH
• xanthofyly MeSH