Characterization of the gene TOBC023B06 through transgenic plants in Nicotiana tabacum L.

• Grant number: 09/03747-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2009
• End date: April 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Maria Helena de Souza Goldman
• Grantee: Marcella de Francisco Amorim
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The study of plant reproduction is an area with increasing interest and the pistil is an organ of central importance in the reproductive process. Many genes are specifically or preferentially expressed in this organ and their functions may be associated with a reproductive role. The identification of a stigma/style specific gene that is regulated during flower development (TOBC023B06) raises interest in understanding its role in reproduction. This gene encodes a protein similar to a nodulin from the MtN3/saliva family. Proteins from this family are most probably integral membrane proteins with unknown biochemical functions (Yang et al., 2006). Recently some MtN3/saliva family genes were reported to be expressed in male reproductive structures, which mutations result in reduced male fertility (Guan et al., 2008). These results highlight the importance of MtN3/saliva proteins in the reproductive process. So, the goal of this project is to characterize the gene TOBC023B06 through transgenic plants with altered gene expression that causes the silencing (iRNA) or overexpression of this gene. The altered expression may provide relevant information for the understanding of its function, guiding news experiments. Transgenics cells expressing the TOBC023B06:GFP fusion will also be analyzed to determine the subcelular localization, thereby supplying even more data about this gene which has never been studied.