Abstract
The assembly of newly replicated and repaired DNA into chromatin is essential for development, differentiation and growth in eukaryote. Although the mechanisms of deposition of histones by the histone chaperones have recentry defined based on genetical and biochemical studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila and mammals, their physiological function in plants is not well understood. To investigate the roles of anti-silencing function 1 (ASF1a, ASF1b), the histone H3/H4 chaperones and FASCIATA 2 (FAS2), the second subunit of chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) in Arabidopsis, we characterized asf1a and asf1b mutants, double or triple mutants with fas2. We observed that double mutant of either one of asf1 with fas2 is defective in pollen development and triple mutant of both asf1 with fas2 displays embryonic lethal phenotype. Our results suggest that ASF1 and CAF-1 play critical roles in the gametogenesis and embryogenesis.
