A collection of Ds insertional mutants associated with defects in male gametophyte development and function in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

Functional analyses of the Arabidopsis genome require analysis of the gametophytic generation, since ∼10% of the genes are expressed in the male gametophyte and ∼9% in the female gametophyte. Here we describe the genetic and molecular characterization of 67 Ds insertion lines that show reduced transmission through the male gametophyte. About half of these mutations are male gametophytic-specific mutations, while the others also affect female transmission. Genomic sequences flanking both sides of the Ds element were recovered for 39 lines; for 16 the Ds elements were inserted in or close to coding regions, while 7 were located in intergenic/unannotated regions of the genome. For the remaining 16 lines, chromosomal rearrangements such as translocations or deletions, ranging between 30 and 500 kb, were associated with the transposition event. The mutants were classified into five groups according to the developmental processes affected; these ranged from defects in early stages of gametogenesis to later defects affecting pollen germination, pollen tube growth, polarity or guidance, or pollen tube - embryo sac interactions or fertilization. The isolated mutants carry Ds insertions in genes with diverse biological functions and potentially specify new functions for several unannotated or unknown proteins.