Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 1994 · 192 citations · 10 references
Life SciencesPlant BiologyPlant SciencesPlant BiochemistryPlant Developmental BiologyPlant Molecular BiologyPlant EnzymesPollen BiologyPollen DevelopmentPollen GerminationPollen ProductionPollen Tube GrowthAntisense RnasCalcium Signaling In PollinationCalcium-calmodulin SignalingFunctional Analysis Of Protein DomainsGermination TransitionIn Vitro Pollen Germination AssaysPollen Tube GerminationPollen Tube Tip Growth
A calcium-dependent calmodulin-independent protein kinase (CDPK) has been cloned from maize (Zea mays). The sequence predicts a 550-amino acid (predicted molecular mass is 60 kDa) protein with two major functional domains: an N-terminal catalytic domain highly homologous to protein kinases and a C-terminal domain resembling calmodulins. Northern analysis shows that the expression of the maize CDPK gene is pollen specific and that its transcription is restricted to late stages of pollen development. Western blots reveal a major abundance of CDPK protein at the stage of pollen germination. In vitro germination and pollen tube growth are impaired upon addition of a calmodulin antagonist (calmidazolium), CDPK inhibitors (W-7), and antisense oligonucleotides directed against CDPK mRNA. These observations indicate that the function of the pollen-specific maize CDPK protein is required for germination and pollen tube growth.
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Molecular identification and isolation of the Waxy locus in maize
Mavis Shure, Susan R. Wessler, Nina V. Fedoroff · Cell · 1983 · 815 citations