Abstract:

RNA biogenesis is essential and vital for accurate expression of genes. It is obvious that cell can not proceed normal metabolism when RNA splicing is interfered. sgt13018 is such a mutant,with partial loss of function of GAMETOPHYTIC FACTOR 1 (GFA1), a gene likely involved in RNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis. The mutant is featured with phenotype of slow-downed female gametophyte development at stage FG5 and arrest of early embryo development in Arabidopsis. Bioinformatics data showed that homologues of gene GFA1 in yeast and human encode putative U5 snRNP-specific proteins required for pre-mRNA splicing. Furthermore, result of yeast two-hybrid assay indicated that GFA1 physically interacted with AtBrr2 and AtPrp8, the putative U5 snRNP components, of Arabidopsis. This investigation suggests that GFA1 is involved in mRNA biogenesis through interaction with AtBrr2 and AtPrp8 and functions in megagametogenesis and embryogenesis in plant. 

Liu M, Yuan L, Liu NY, Shi DQ, Liu J, Yang WC (2009). GAMETOPHYTIC FACTOR 1, involved in pre-mRNA splicing, is essential for megagametogenesis and embryogenesis in Arabidopsis. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 51(3), 261-271.

Key words: embryogenesis, female gametophyte, pre-mRNA splicing, U5 snRNA complex.