Functional analysis of an acyltransferase family gene which is regulated by MS1 transcription factor

Abstract

MALE STERILITY1 (MS1) gene of Arabidopsis encodes a PHD-type transcription factor and regulates microspore maturation after meiosis. The ms1 mutant did not develop a characteristic exine structure, suggesting that MS1 controls genes necessary for exine formation. On the other hand, downstream genes regulated by MS1 contain several genes for lipid and phenylpropanoid biosynthetic and modification enzymes. Since exine mainly consists of sporopollenin polymer which is thought to be made from lipids and phenylpropanoids, these genes may be involved in sporopollenin biosynthetic genes. Among these, we report here a functional analysis of an acyltransferase family gene which is homologous to acyltransferases involved in lignin monomer biosynthesis. We will discuss function of the gene by metabolomic, genetic and molecular biological approaches.