Xiangyuan Wan,Suowei Wu,Ziwen Li,Xueli An,Youhui Tian

Published:May 16, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2020.05.009

Abstract

Fatty acids and their derivatives are essential building blocks for anther cuticle and pollen wall formation. Disruption of lipid metabolism in anther and pollen development often leads to genic male sterility (GMS). Up to now, lots of lipid metabolism-related GMS genes have been identified and characterized, which are involved in formation of anther cuticle, pollen wall, and subcellular organelle membranes in anther wall layers. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on lipid metabolism-related genes and their roles in male fertility and other aspects of reproductive development in plants. On basis of the cloned GMS genes controlling biosynthesis and transport of anther cutin, wax, sporopollenin and tryphine in Arabidopsis, rice and maize as well as other plant species, we reconstruct the updated lipid metabolic network underlying anther cuticle development and pollen wall formation. Nevertheless, some steps in the network remain unclear. Through bioinformatics analysis of anther RNA-seq data in three maize inbred lines (Oh43, W23 and B73), we discover 125 novel lipid metabolism-related genes putatively involved in male fertility in maize, which will further enrich the GMS genes in the lipid metabolic network. In addition, we discuss six regulatory pathways of lipid metabolism-related GMS genes at the levels of transcription and post-transcription. Finally, we extend the information on lipid metabolism-related genes and their roles in other aspects of plant reproductive development. Therefore, this review provides us a deep and broad understanding on lipid metabolism, its related genes and their roles in plant reproductive development, which will facilitate the application of lipid metabolism-related genes in gene editing, haploid and callus induction, molecular breeding and hybrid seed production in crops.

Keywords

lipid metabolism • genic male sterility (GMS) • anther cuticle • pollen wall • plant reproductive development

Link：

1. Xiangyuan Wan#*, Suowei Wu#, Ziwen Li, Xueli An, Youhui Tian. (2020) Lipid Metabolism: Critical Roles in Male Fertility and Other Aspects of Reproductive Development in Plants. Molecular Plant, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2020.05.009, https://www.cell.com/molecular-plant/fulltext/S1674-2052(20)30144-1