Turning Sexually Reproducing Plant to Asexual Reproduction

Apomixis, the old elusive dream of molecular biologists to produce offsprings in sexually reproducing plants through asexual means, could be a reality in the discovery of Argonaute 9 protein. The research which will be available in the online version of Nature discussed the generation of viable seeds in the absence of a fusion of sperm and egg in Arabidopsis thaliana by the group in Mexico led by Jean-Philippe Vielle-Calzada and Cold Spring Harbor team led by Rob Martienssen. Shutting down the activity of Argonaute 9 protein led to the production of multiple gametes in Arabidopsis which carry the full genetic material of the plant instead of half.In the process, the plant was able to produce a clone of itself asexually.

A deeper study of the protein showed that Argonaute 9 binds small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). These small molecules are related to the activation of transposons or jumping genes which is closely associated with sexual reproduction. Thus, Argonaute 9 could inhibit asexual reproduction by silencing the transposons.

The paper can be viewed online at: doi: 10.1038/nature08828. See this story at http://www.cshl.edu/public/releases/10_mexico.html