Abstract
We have identified an early nodulin-like protein (ENODL) as a new type of chimeric arabinogalactan protein from rice. ENODLs are extracellular proteins with unknown function related to the phytocyanin family of blue copper proteins. Although they have similarities with phytocyanins, they lack amino acid residues for copper-binding.
In this study, we collected T-DNA insertion mutants of ENODL genes in Arabidopsis to elucidate their biological roles. ENODL genes belong to a multigene family consisting of 22 members in Arabidopsis, of which 18 genes were predicted to encode GPI-anchored proteins. No obvious phenotypes were observed in single T-DNA insertion lines when grown under standard conditions. Crossing of two mutants of homologous genes indicated that one out of 5 crossings had difficulty in giving homozygous double knockout plants. In expression analysis, many ENODL genes showed spatially specific expression, mainly in floral organs, indicating ENODL genes might have functions in reproductive events.
