Scientists Discover Protein Behind the Plant Mating Game

Life is not always easy for plants, especially when it comes to sex. They rely on external factors such as wind and animals to bring them potential mates in the form of pollen grains. When the pollen grains arrive, they announce their identity to the pistil (the female part of the flower) using molecular signals. Scientists at the University of Missouri have identified a set of protein that communicates the rejection or acceptance of pollen grains. The discovery might help in developing ways to prevent transgene escape from genetically modified crops and offer better ways to control fertilization between cross species.

Bruce McClure and colleagues used the pistil proteins, NaTTS and 120K as “bait” to see what pollen proteins would bind to them. Pretty much like attaching one side of Velcro to the pistil and then screening a collection of pollen proteins to see which of the proteins have the complementary Velcro strip for binding. NaTTS and 120K were used since previous studies have shown that they influence the growth of the pollen to the ovary, the part of the plant where fertilization takes place. Three proteins were identified as necessary for fertilization: the S-RNase-binding protein (SBP1), the protein NaPCCP and a cysteine protease enzyme.

Read the full article at http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2008/1023-mcclure-pollen-proteins.php The abstract of the paper published by the Journal of Biological Chemistry is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M804410200