ZmMS1/ZmLBD30-orchestrated transcriptional regulatory networks precisely control pollen exine development

• DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.07.010
• Publication Date: 2023-07-27T09:56:34Z
• Authors: Quancan Hou; Xueli An; Biao Ma; Suowei Wu; Xun Wei; Tingwei Yan; Yan Zhou; Taotao Zhu; Ke Xie; Danfeng Zhang; Ziwen Li; Lina Zhao; Canfang Niu; Yan Long; Chang Liu; Wei Zhao; Fei Ni; Jinping Li; Daolin Fu; Zhong-Nan Yang; Xiangyuan Wan
• Keywords: Tapetum

Because of its significance for plant male fertility and, hence, direct impact on crop yield, pollen exine development has inspired decades scientific inquiry. However, the molecular mechanism underlying formation and thickness remains elusive. In this study, we identified that a previously unrecognized repressor, ZmMS1/ZmLBD30, controls proper in maize. Using an ms1 mutant with aberrantly thickened exine, cloned male-sterility gene, ZmMs1, which encodes tapetum-specific lateral organ boundary domain transcription factor, ZmLBD30. We showed ZmMs1/ZmLBD30 is initially turned by transcriptional activation cascade ZmbHLH51-ZmMYB84-ZmMS7, then it serves as repressor to shut down via feedback repression ensure timely tapetal degeneration level exine. This activation-feedback loop regulating conserved maize sorghum, similar regulatory may also exist other flowering plants such rice Arabidopsis. Collectively, these findings reveal novel long-sought master upstream activators prevents excessive formation.