Identification of a canonical SCF(SLF) complex involved in S-RNase-based self-incompatibility of Pyrus (Rosaceae)

Plant Mol Biol. 2013 Feb;81(3):245-57. doi: 10.1007/s11103-012-9995-x. Epub 2012 Dec 20.

Abstract

S-RNase-based self-incompatibility (SI) is an intraspecific reproductive barrier to prevent self-fertilization found in many species of the Solanaceae, Plantaginaceae and Rosaceae. In this system, S-RNase and SLF/SFB (S-locus F-box) genes have been shown to control the pistil and pollen SI specificity, respectively. Recent studies have shown that the SLF functions as a substrate receptor of a SCF (Skp1/Cullin1/F-box)-type E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to target S-RNases in Solanaceae and Plantaginaceae, but its role in Rosaceae remains largely undefined. Here we report the identification of two pollen-specific SLF-interacting Skp1-like (SSK) proteins, PbSSK1 and PbSSK2, in Pyrus bretschneideri from the tribe Pyreae of Rosaceae. Both yeast two-hybrid and pull-down assays demonstrated that they could connect PbSLFs to PbCUL1 to form a putative canonical SCF(SLF) (SSK/CUL1/SLF) complex in Pyrus. Furthermore, pull-down assays showed that the SSK proteins could bind SLF and CUL1 in a cross-species manner between Pyrus and Petunia. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis revealed that the SSK-like proteins from Solanaceae, Plantaginaceae and Rosaceae form a monoclade group, hinting their shared evolutionary origin. Taken together, with the recent identification of a canonical SCF(SFB) complex in Prunus of the tribe Amygdaleae of Rosaceae, our results show that a conserved canonical SCF(SLF/SFB) complex is present in Solanaceae, Plantaginaceae and Rosaceae, implying that S-RNase-based self-incompatibility shares a similar molecular and biochemical mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • DNA, Plant / genetics
  • F-Box Proteins / genetics
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism
  • Flowers / enzymology
  • Flowers / genetics
  • Flowers / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Organ Specificity
  • Petunia / genetics
  • Petunia / metabolism
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Pollen / enzymology
  • Pollen / genetics
  • Pollen / physiology
  • Protein Binding
  • Pyrus / enzymology
  • Pyrus / genetics*
  • Pyrus / physiology
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Ribonucleases / genetics
  • Ribonucleases / metabolism*
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / genetics
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Self-Incompatibility in Flowering Plants / physiology*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • DNA, Plant
  • F-Box Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Plant
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases
  • Ribonucleases
  • ribonuclease S