Proline‐rich extensin‐like receptor kinases PERK5 and PERK12 are involved in pollen tube growth

BORASSI, CECILIA; SEDE, ANA R.; MECCHIA, MARTI?N A.; MANGANO, SILVINA; MARZOL, ELIANA; DENITA?JUAREZ, SILVINA P.; SALGADO SALTER, JUAN D.; VELASQUEZ, SILVIA M.; MUSCHIETTI, JORGE P.; ESTEVEZ, JOSE? M.

FEBS LETTERS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2021 vol. 595 p. 2593 - 2607

0014-5793

Proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinases (PERKs) belong to thehydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) superfamily known to be involvedin many plant developmental processes. Here, we characterized two pollenexpressedPERKs from Arabidopsis thaliana, PERK5 and PERK12. Pollentube growth was impaired in single and double perk5-1 perk12-1 loss of functionmutants, with an impact on seed production. When the segregation wasanalysed, a male gametophytic defect was found, indicating that perk5-1 andperk12-1 mutants carry deficient pollen transmission. Furthermore, perk5-1perk12-1 displayed an excessive accumulation of pectins and cellulose at thecell wall of the pollen tubes. Our results indicate that PERK5 and PERK12are necessary for proper pollen tube growth, highlighting their role in cellwall assembly and reactive oxygen species homeostasis.