Molecular genetic characterization of dpd2, a mutant defective in pollen organelle DNA degradation

抄録

Arabidopsis pollen, the male gametophyte consists of three haploid cells that are a single vegetative cell and two enclosed sperm cells. Drastic degradation of organelle DNA during pollen maturation is observable by DNA-specific fluorescent dye such as 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). The regulatory mechanism and biological significance of organelle DNA degradation in pollen is not known so far. Our research group has screened for mutants defective in pollen organelle DNA degradation. We identified two mutant loci, dpd1 and dpd2, showing retention of DAPI-detectable organelle DNAs in the vegetative cell. DPD2 gene encodes an enzyme involved in nucleotide biosynthesis. We will present the characterization of dpd2, which points to an interplay between organelle DNA degradation and nucleotide biosynthesis in pollen.