Abstract
Expression profiling of aquaporin genes was studied on anthers of rice plants, Japonica cultivar. Pollen development is accompanied with drastic change of water content in the anther.
We studied expression of aquaporin genes OsPIP1 and 2 families on whole tissues of the anthers during pollen development. During the microgametogenesis of pollen cells, expression of OsPIP1;3 increased when air bubbles appeared in the anther locule. In our study, OsPIP1;3 has been identified as one of the OsPIP1family that showed low water permeability by Xenopus oocyte swelling system. By using immuno-electron microscopy, localization of immuno-gold against the PIP1;3 protein was studied and found to be in the cytoplasm of the pollen cells and the middle layer cells of the anther locule. The PIP1;3 protein, however, were observed just below and near the plasmamembrane, and was not on the plasmamembrane of the pollen cells. Furthermore, the increased immuno-golds were identified under the stress such as cold temperature.
