Chemocyanin, a small basic protein from the lily stigma, induces pollen tube chemotropism

Sunran Kim, Jean Claude Mollet, Juan Dong, Kangling Zhang, Sang Youl Park, Elizabeth M. Lord

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

196 Scopus citations

Abstract

In plant reproduction, pollination is an essential process that delivers the sperm through specialized extracellular matrices (ECM) of the pistil to the ovule. Although specific mechanisms of guidance for pollen tubes through the pistil are not known, the female tissues play a critical role in this event. Many studies have documented the existence of diffusible chemotropic factors in the lily stigma that can induce pollen tube chemotropism in vitro, but no molecules have been isolated to date. In this study, we identified a chemotropic compound from the stigma by use of biochemical methods. We purified a lily stigma protein that is active in an in vitro chemotropism assay by using cation exchange, gel filtration, and HPLC. Tryptic digestion of the protein yielded peptides that identified the protein as a plantacyanin (basic blue protein), and this was confirmed by cloning the cDNA from the lily stigma. Plantacyanins are small cell wall proteins of unknown function. The measured molecular mass by electrospray ionization ion source MS is 9,898 Da, and the molecular mass of the mature protein (calculated from the cDNA) is 9,900.2 Da. Activity of the lily plantacyanin (named chemocyanin) is enhanced in the presence of stigma/stylar cysteine-rich adhesin, previously identified as a pollen tube adhesin in the lily style.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16125-16130
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume100
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 23 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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