The polyketide synthase OsPKS2 is essential for pollen exine and Ubisch body patterning in rice

Lipid and phenolic metabolism are important for pollen exine formation. In Arabidopsis, polyketide synthases （PKSs） are essential for both sporopollenin biosynthesis and exine formation. Here, we characterized the role of a polyketide synthase （OsPKS2） in male reproduction of rice （Oryza sativa）. Recombinant OsPKS2 catalyzed the condensation of fatty acyl-CoA with malonyl- CoA to generate triketide and tetraketide α-pyrones, the main components of pollen exine. Indeed, the ospks2 mutant had defective exine patterning and was male sterile. However, the mutant showed no significant reduction in sporopollenin accumulation. Compared with the WT （wild type）, ospks2 displayed unconfined and amorphous tectum and nexine layers in the exine, and less organized Ubisch bodies. Like the pksb/lap5 mutant of the Arabidopsis ortholog, ospks2 showed broad alterations in the profiles of anther-related phenolic compounds. However, unlike pksb/laps, in which most detected phenolics were substantially decreased, ospks2 accumu- lated higher levels of phenolics. Based on these results and our observation that OsPKS2 is unable to fully restore the exine defects in the pksb/laps, we propose that PKS proteins have functionally diversified during evolution. Collectively, our results suggest that PKSs represent a conserved and diversified biochemical pathway for anther and pollen development in higher plants.

酮类物质合成酶OsPKS1和Os PKS2对水稻花粉外壁形成的作用

【背景】植物花粉外围包裹的花粉外壁作为植物雄性配子的天然保护屏障对植物的生殖发育起到非常重要的作用。植物花粉外壁的主要成分是孢粉素,主要由脂类物质和酚类物质构成。因此,脂类物质和酚类物质的代谢是植物花药内外壁形成和花粉外壁形成的关键步骤。在其合成过程中,PKS1/PKSA/LAP6和PKS2/PKSB/LAP5在不同物种间发挥保守的生化功能。【目的】通过研究水稻OsPKS1和OsPKS2在花药内外壁和花粉外壁发育过程中的作用,为水稻花药内外壁和花粉外壁合成机理提供新认识。【方法】水稻花药发育基因共表达网络AntherNet预测到一个可能参与孢粉素合成的基因OsPKS1,利用CRISPR/Cas9技术在野生型9522背景和突变体ospks2背景下敲除OsPKS1获得ospks1单突变体和ospks1 ospks2双突变体。在同一生长条件下比较野生型和突变体植株表型,分析突变体植株的营养生长和花器官发育情况。通过I2-KI染色分析ospks1和ospks1 ospks2的花粉活力。通过半薄切片观察野生型和突变体各个时期花药四层细胞发育及小孢子发育,利用扫描电子显微镜观察野生型和突变体花药外壁、花药内壁和花粉外壁表面的精细结构,利用透射电子显微镜观察野生型和突变体花药壁细胞、花粉外壁和乌氏体的精细结构。【结果】获得4个ospks1单突变体和4个ospks1 ospks2双突变体,其中,ospks1-3是纯合的单突变体,ospks1-4 ospks2是纯合的双突变体。ospks1-3和ospks1-4 ospks2均呈现雄性不育的表型。ospks1-3与ospks2的花粉外壁和乌氏体结构均不正常,但两者结构不同。ospks1-3花药表面可形成凸起的外壁结构;绒毡层可正常降解。花粉外壁内部形成大量微小的空洞,柱状体变短,无法有效连接覆盖层和花粉外壁内层;乌氏体的底部结构减小,顶部结构增多,并且较野生型更为尖锐。ospks1-4 ospks2花药外壁角质层减少;绒毡层无法正常降解。小孢子表面无花粉外壁,在11期降解;乌氏体在9期形态异常,数目变少,到11期从绒毡层脱落。【结论】PKS1/PKSA/LAP6和PKS2/PKSB/LAP5的功能在多个物种间均保守,可以影响孢粉素的合成和堆积。但在水稻中两者对于花粉外壁内部结构身碎骨和乌式体形成的功能不同:OsPKS1对柱状层的形成以及乌氏体的底部结构形成更为重要;而OsPKS2对于覆盖层的形成以及乌氏体的顶部结构更为重要。两者互相补充,共同调控花粉外壁、花药外壁的形成和绒毡层的降解。