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Wheat Antipodal Cells with Polytene Chromosomes in the Embryo Sac Are Key to Understanding the Formation of Grain in Cereals

Wheat Antipodal Cells with Polytene Chromosomes in the Embryo Sac Are Key to Understanding the Formation of Grain in Cereals

Authors :
Tatiana V. Doronina
Vasily V. Ashapkin
Elena M. Lazareva
Source :
Biology, Vol 11, Iss 9, p 1340 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

The ultrastructure of antipodal cells of the Triticum aestivum embryo sac was studied at different stages of differentiation and programmed cell death. The importance of cell function in the antipodal complex is evidenced by the fact that it is fully formed before double fertilization, past the stages of proliferation of three initial cells, and several rounds of genome endoreduplication during differentiation. In this study, we showed that the actively synthesizing organelles, the granular reticulum, and Golgi apparatus, alter their structure during differentiation and death. The polymorphism of the shape of the mitochondria and plastids was demonstrated. For the first time, the actin filaments of the cytoskeleton and numerous multivesicular bodies associated with the plasma membrane were detected in the cytoplasm. The transfer of cytoplasm and organelles between antipodal cells and into the coenocyte of the endosperm was confirmed. DNA breaks and the release of cytochrome c at various stages of death were revealed. To understand the function of the antipodal cells, a quantitative PCR analysis of the expression of wheat genes involved in protective, antistress, and metabolic processes was carried out. We found that gene expression in the antipodal cell fraction was increased compared with that in the whole embryo sac. On the basis of the data, we assume that antipodal cells produce both nutrients and numerous antistress factors that ensure the normal development of the endosperm of the grain, which, in turn, further ensures the development of the embryo.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20797737
Volume :
11
Issue :
9
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.7221dcb7a041d1a5fbc9f812e9b069
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11091340