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Open Access Research article

Identification of microspore-active promoters that allow targeted manipulation of gene expression at early stages of microgametogenesis in Arabidopsis

David Honys1,2*†, Sung-Aeong Oh3†, David Reňák1,2,4, Maarten Donders3, Blanka Šolcová5, James A Johnson3, Rita Boudová1 and David Twell3

Author Affiliations

1 Laboratory of Pollen Biology, Institute of Experimental Botany ASCR, Rozvojová 135, 165 02 Prague 6, Czech Republic

2 Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Viničná 5, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic

3 Department of Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K

4 University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Dept. of Plant Physiology and Anatomy, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

5 Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany ASCR, Rozvojová 135, 165 02 Prague 6, Czech Republic

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BMC Plant Biology 2006, 6:31 doi:10.1186/1471-2229-6-31

Published: 21 December 2006

Abstract

Background

The effective functional analysis of male gametophyte development requires new tools enabling the spatially and temporally controlled expression of both marker genes and modified genes of interest. In particular, promoters driving expression at earlier developmental stages including microspores are required.

Results

Transcriptomic datasets covering four progressive stages of male gametophyte development in Arabidopsis were used to select candidate genes showing early expression profiles that were male gametophyte-specific. Promoter-GUS reporter analysis of candidate genes identified three promoters (MSP1, MSP2, and MSP3) that are active in microspores and are otherwise specific to the male gametophyte and tapetum. The MSP1 and MSP2 promoters were used to successfully complement and restore the male transmission of the gametophytic two-in-one (tio) mutant that is cytokinesis-defective at first microspore division.

Conclusion

We demonstrate the effective application of MSP promoters as tools that can be used to elucidate gametophytic gene functions in microspores in a male-specific manner.