The transcription factors and pathways underpinning male reproductive development in Arabidopsis

Abstract

As Arabidopsis flowers mature, specialized cells within the anthers undergo meiosis, leading to the production of haploid microspores that differentiate into mature pollen grains, each containing two sperm cells for double fertilization. During pollination, the pollen grains are dispersed from the anthers to the stigma for subsequent fertilization. Transcriptomic studies have identified a large number of genes expressed over the course of male reproductive development and subsequent functional characterization of some have revealed their involvement in floral meristem establishment, floral organ growth, sporogenesis, meiosis, microsporogenesis, and pollen maturation. These genes encode a plethora of proteins, ranging from transcriptional regulators to enzymes. This review will focus on the regulatory networks that control male reproductive development, starting from flower development and ending with anther dehiscence, with a focus on transcription factors and some of their notable target genes.

Callose Deficiency Modulates Plasmodesmata frequency and the intercellular space In Rice Anthers

“…Although the nature of the symplastically mobile molecules has not been yet identified, PDs are pathway for transcription factors, hormones and RNAs (including silencing signals) that regulate important developmental transitions, including stomata cell fate transition (Cui et al, 2023), lateral root initiation (Benitez-Alfonso et al, 2013), among others (Bayer and Benitez-Alfonso, 2024). A recent review, mentioned transcription factors involved in microsporogenesis in Arabidopsis, several of which are strong candidates for mobile proteins (Wiese et al, 2024) and should be targeted in future studies.…”