Abstract
Successful double fertilization in flowering plants relies on two coordinated gamete fusion events, but the underlying molecular processes are not well understood. We show that two sperm-specific DOMAIN OF UNKNOWN FUNCTION 679 membrane proteins (DMP8 and DMP9) facilitate gamete fusion, with a greater effect on sperm-egg fusion than on sperm-central cell fusion. We also show that sperm adhesion and sperm cell separation depend on egg cell-secreted EGG CELL 1 proteins.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Arabidopsis / physiology*
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Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
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Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Cell Fusion*
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Fertilization
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
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Ovule / genetics
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Ovule / physiology*
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Plants, Genetically Modified
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Pollen / genetics
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Pollen / physiology*
Substances
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AT1G09157 protein, Arabidopsis
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AT5G39650 protein, Arabidopsis
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Arabidopsis Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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DMP1 protein, Arabidopsis
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HAP2 protein, Arabidopsis
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Membrane Proteins
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Green Fluorescent Proteins