Novel localization of callose in the spores of Physcomitrella patens and phylogenomics of the callose synthase gene family.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Callose involvement in spore development is a plesiomorphic feature of land plants. Correlated light, fluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy was conducted on the developing spores of Physcomitrella patens to probe for callose. Using a bioinformatic approach, the callose synthase (PpCalS) genes were annotated and PpCalS and AtCalS gene families compared, testing the hypothesis that an exine development orthologue is present in P. patens based on deduced polypeptide similarity with AtCalS5, a known exine development gene.

Methods

Spores were stained with aniline blue fluorescent dye. Capsules were prepared for immuno-light and immuno-electron microscopy by gold labelling callose epitopes with monoclonal antibody. BLAST searches were conducted using the

SUBMITTER: Schuette S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2707875 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature