Abstract
Intercellular attachment is an essential process in the morphogenesis of multicellular organisms. Little is known about the biosynthesis and assembly of pectins in cell walls. nolac-H18 mutant, which is defective in intercellular attachment defect in glucuronic acid of pectin drastic reduction of the formation of borate cross-linking of rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II). The gene tagged with T-DNA, named NpGUT1 (pectin-glucuronyltransferase1), encodes a glucuronyltransferase and was predominantly expressed in shoot and root apical meristems. GUS activity in pNpGUT1::GUS transgenic tobacco plants was detected in embryo, cotyledon, tapetum, pollen, pollen tube and transmitting tissue of pistil. The dexamethasone-induced expression of the NpGUT1 antisense gene resulted in a significant decrease in NpGUT1 gene expression accompanying with the aberration of pollen, pollen tube and transmitting tissue development in sterile plants. These results indicate that NpGUT1 is required for the formation and function of reproductive tissues.
