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First published online September 28, 2007

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FIS Polycomb protein functions take seed

The Polycomb group (PcG) chromatin remodelling proteins have conserved roles in the stable maintenance of gene expression patterns. In Arabidopsis, mutations in the genes of the FERTILIZATION INDEPENDENT SEED (FIS) PcG complex cause seed abortion when maternally inherited. In the case of two FIS-class gene mutations, seed abortion occurs because these genes (MEA and FIS2) are paternally imprinted in the endosperm. On p. 3639, Leroy and colleagues now report that the FIS gene MSI1 is not similarly imprinted; MSI1 is bi-allelically expressed in the embryo and endosperm, and its early paternal expression does not rescue msi1 mutant seeds. By contrast, its expression in msi1 mutant female gametophytes (which enclose the female gamete) does restore seed development. From their findings, the authors conclude that an intact FIS complex is required in the female gametophyte to maintain normal gene expression patterns in the central cell (from which the endosperm develops). In its absence, endosperm defects occur that cause both embryo arrest and seed abortion.

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Related articles in Development:

Polycomb group proteins function in the female gametophyte to determine seed development in plants

Olivier Leroy, Lars Hennig, Holger Breuninger, Thomas Laux, and Claudia Köhler
Development 2007 134: 3639-3648. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Development Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?