ScORK17, a transmembrane receptor-like kinase predominantly expressed in ovules is involved in seed development

Abstract

The mRNA expression of the Solanum chacoense Ovule Receptor Kinase 17 (ScORK17), a receptor kinase of the LRR-VI subfamily, is highly specific to the female reproductive tissues. No LRR-VI subfamily members in any plant species have yet been attributed a function. A phylogenetic tree inferred using the kinase domain of LRR-VI subfamily members separated the family into two clades: one containing an average of 8.2 LRR per protein and a second clade containing an average of 2.7. In situ hybridization analyses showed that the ScORK17 signal was mainly detected in the single ovule integument and in the endothelium. Transient expression analysis also revealed that ScORK17 was N-glycosylated in planta. Overexpression of ScORK17 in S. chacoense did not produce plants with an altered phenotype. However, when heterologous transformation was performed with a full-length ScORK17 clone in A. thaliana, the resulting transgenic plants showed reduced seed set, mainly due to aberrant embryo sac development, thus supporting a developmental role for ScORK17 in ovule and seed development.

The Arabidopsis Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 20 (MKKK20) Acts Upstream of MKK3 and MPK18 in Two Separate Signaling Pathways Involved in Root Microtubule Functions

“…MKKK20 , MKK3 , and MPK18 full-length cDNAs were PCR-amplified, cloned into the Gateway entry vector pDONR TM /Zeo (Invitrogen) and sub-cloned into pMCD83 to generate an N-terminal fusion with the GFP marker, or into the plant bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) vectors pUC-SPYCE or pUC-SPYNE ( Walter et al, 2004 ). All GFP and BiFC constructs were sequence-verified and prepared for transient transformation of onion epidermal cells by microparticle bombardment using a Bio-Rad PDS-1000/He bombardment system as described previously ( Germain et al, 2008 ). The Arabidopsis bZIP63 transcription factor was used as positive control in BiFC assays ( Walter et al, 2004 ).…”

Pattern Recognition Receptors Require N-Glycosylation to Mediate Plant Immunity

“…Evidence for receptor kinase glycosylation is limited in plants but was previously described for the tomato LRR receptor protein Cf-9, the Solanum ovule receptor kinase ScORK17, and the Medicago LysM domain-containing receptor kinase nodulation factor perception (21)(22)(23). This leads to the conclusion that plant receptor kinases are subject to N-glycosylation, which in turn could be essential for the function of PRRs in triggering plant immunity.…”

The FRK1 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) from Solanum chacoense is involved in embryo sac and pollen development

“…A 35S::GFP construct was used as a control. Microparticle bombardment was performed as described previously ( Germain et al , 2008 ).…”