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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Plant Gene Expression Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182071
Title: KINASE PARTNER PROTEIN INTERACTS WITH THE LEPRK1 AND LEPRK2 RECEPTOR KINASES AND PLAYS A ROLE IN POLARIZED POLLEN TUBE GROWTH

Author
item KAOTHIEN, PULLA - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item OK, SUNG HAN - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item SHUAI, BIN - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item WENGIER, DIEGO - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item COTTER, ROBYN - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item KELLEY, DIOR - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item KIRIAKOPOLOS, STEPHANIE - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item MUSCHIETTI, JORGE - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item McCormick, Sheila

Submitted to: Plant Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2005
Publication Date: 5/1/2005
Citation: Kaothien, P., Ok, S., Bin, S., Wengier, D., Cotter, R., Kelley, D., Kiriakopolos, S., Muschietti, J., McCormick S. 2005. Kinase partner protein interacts with the LePRK1 and LePRK2 receptor kinases and plays a role in polarized pollen tube growth. Plant Journal. 42(4):492-503.

Interpretive Summary: We show that a protein named KPP (for kinase partner protein) interacts with two receptor kinases that are in the pollen tubes. We also show that KPP is phosphorylated. When KPP is overexpressed the pollen tubes are abnormal. Our data suggests a connection between the receptor kinases, via KPP, to the actin cytoskeleton, already known to be important for pollen tube growth.

Technical Abstract: The pollen-specific receptor kinases LePRK1 and LePRK2 have localization and expression profiles that strongly suggest they play roles in pollen germination and tube growth. To identify downstream components of LePRK signaling, we used their cytoplasmic domains (CDs) as baits in yeast two-hybrid screens of a tomato pollen cDNA library. A pollen-specific protein we named kinase partner protein (KPP) interacted with the CDs of both LePRK1 and LePRK2 in yeast and in an in vitro pull-down assay, and with LePRK2 in a co-immunoprecipitation assay. KPP is a peripheral membrane protein and is phosphorylated in pollen. Pollen tubes over-expressing KPP developed balloon-like tips with abnormal cytoplasmic streaming and F-actin arrangements and plants over-expressing KPP exhibited impaired transmission of the transgene through the male. KPP-like genes are found only in plants; the 14 family members in Arabidopsis thaliana exhibit diverse expression patterns and potentially play roles in signaling pathways in other tissues.