TRANSPARENT LEAF AREA1 Encodes a Secreted Proteolipid Required for Anther Maturation, Morphogenesis, and Differentiation during Leaf Development in Maize

We report the identification and functional analysis of TRANSPARENT LEAF AREA1 (TLA1), a maize (Zea mays) gene representing a novel class of secreted, extremely hydrophobic peptides (proteolipids) with a C-terminal Caax box-like motif. ZmTLA1 encodes 27 amino acid residues and is most strongly expre...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Plant cell 2005-03, Vol.17 (3), p.730-745
Main Authors: Dresselhaus, Thomas, Suseno Amien, Mihaela Márton, Anemone Strecke, Reinhold Brettschneider, Cordts, Simone
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Anthers
Arabidopsis thaliana
Base Sequence
Cell walls
Corn
DNA, Plant - genetics
Epidermal cells
Genes, Plant
Mesophyll cells
Molecular Sequence Data
Ova
Phenotype
Phenotypes
Plant cells
Plant Leaves - growth & development
Plant Leaves - metabolism
Plant Proteins - chemistry
Plant Proteins - genetics
Plant Proteins - metabolism
Plants
Plants, Genetically Modified
Proteolipids - chemistry
Proteolipids - genetics
Proteolipids - metabolism
Reproduction
RNA, Antisense - genetics
Transgenic plants
Zea mays
Zea mays - genetics
Zea mays - growth & development
Zea mays - metabolism
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We report the identification and functional analysis of TRANSPARENT LEAF AREA1 (TLA1), a maize (Zea mays) gene representing a novel class of secreted, extremely hydrophobic peptides (proteolipids) with a C-terminal Caax box-like motif. ZmTLA1 encodes 27 amino acid residues and is most strongly expressed in the egg cell and microspores. Lower transcript amounts were detected during vegetative development. Transgenic maize expressing an antisense transcript displayed a variety of phenotypes. The most visible phenotypes were dwarfism and transparent leaf areas resulting from defective morphogenesis of mesophyll, bundle sheath, stomatal, and epidermal cells during leaf development. Incomplete cell walls were observed, indicating a defect of cytokinesis. The accumulation of gerontoplasts was probably a secondary effect caused by defects of leaf cell morphogenesis. A defect of anther maturation was observed in ∼30% of the plants displaying the tla phenotype. Male sterility was mainly caused by incomplete disintegration of the tapetal cell layers and tetrad callose as 90% of the microspores developed into functional pollen. Overexpression of ZmTLA1 seemed to have a lethal effect both in maize and Arabidopsis thaliana. Development of primary roots, root hairs, primary leaves, and chloroplasts was suppressed in Arabidopsis seedlings expressing an inducible ZmTLA1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein. GFP signals were exclusively detected in cell walls. Based on our observations, we suggest that the ZmTLA1 peptide represents a class of novel plant morphogens required for the development and maturation of leaf and reproductive tissues.
ISSN:1040-4651
1532-298X
DOI:10.1105/tpc.104.028340