These authors contributed equally to this work.
1365-313X/asset/TPJ_left.gif?v=1&s=98f11c85833302cb41315552dfbb4107cd241542)
1365-313X/asset/TPJ_right.gif?v=1&s=5e8e5ca914032d030f15cf9f8427ee5ead0e0f39)
You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article
AGL23, a type I MADS-box gene that controls female gametophyte and embryo development in Arabidopsis
Article first published online: 13 MAR 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03485.x
© 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
Colombo, M., Masiero, S., Vanzulli, S., Lardelli, P., Kater, M. M. and Colombo, L. (2008), AGL23, a type I MADS-box gene that controls female gametophyte and embryo development in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal, 54: 1037–1048. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03485.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 13 MAR 2008
- Article first published online: 13 MAR 2008
- Received 14 December 2007; revised 14 February 2008; accepted 20 February 2008; published online 24 April 2008.
Keywords:
- development;
- female gametophyte;
- MADS-box genes;
- embryo;
- chloroplast
Summary
MADS-box transcription factors are key regulators of plant developmental processes. While the function of MIKC (type II) MADS-box genes has been intensively studied, only limited data are available for the other more recently identified classes of MADS-box genes, despite these latter comprising more than 60% of the Arabidopsis MADS-box gene family. Here we describe the function of AGL23, an Arabidopsis type I MADS-box gene belonging to the Mα subfamily. We show that AGL23 plays an important role during development of the female gametophyte and embryo. The agl23-1 mutant forms a functional megaspore. However, at this stage female gametophyte development is arrested and the megaspore persists during subsequent phases of ovule development. Despite the incomplete penetrance of the female gametophyte defect, plants homozygous for the agl23-1 mutation were never identified. Analysis of developing seeds showed that embryos homozygous for the agl23-1 allele are albino and unable to give rise to viable plants. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that this phenotype is due to the absence of chloroplasts, strongly suggesting that AGL23 is involved in controlling the biogenesis of organelles during embryo development.