Abstract
Land plants have haploid gametophyte and diploid sporophyte generations. Molecular mechanism causing the difference between two generations is not clearly known. In this meeting, we show Physcomitrella patens gene orthologous to Arabidopsis thaliana Polycomb gene CURLY LEAF (PpCLF) regulates an alteration of the program of two generations.
In ppclf deletion mutant, sporophyte-like tissues with morphology and gene expression were formed from protonemata in haploid gametophyte generation. Together with the PpCLF expression pattern analyzed by using a modified YFP gene Citrine knocked-in lines, PpCLF represses a program managing diploid generation in haploid generation.
The ppclf deletion mutant sporophyte-like tissue has never developed into a sporangium. To examine PpCLF function in the development into sporangium, exogenous PpCLF cDNA was transiently expressed in ppclf deletion background. Sporangium-like tissues with outer and partially inner morphology were formed from sporophyte-like tissues by PpCLF induction. We also discuss this finding and PpCLF function in diploid generation.
