Arabidopsis HAPLESS13/AP-1µ is critical for pollen sac formation and tapetal function

• Published in: Plant science (Limerick) Vol. 341; p. 111998
• Main Authors: Yin, Gui-Min, Fang, Yi-Ru, Wang, Jia-Gang, Liu, Yue, Xiang, Xiaojiao, Li, Sha, Zhang, Yan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; AP-1; Apoptosis; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Biological Transport; Cell Communication; Flowers; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Pollen development; Programmed cell death; Tapetum; TGN/EE; Pollen development; Tapetum; Programmed cell death; AP-1; TGN/EE
• ISSN: 0168-9452; 1873-2259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111998

The production of excess and viable pollen grains is critical for reproductive success of flowering plants. Pollen grains are produced within anthers, the male reproductive organ whose development involves precisely controlled cell differentiation, division, and intercellular communication. In Arabidopsis thaliana, specification of an archesporial cell (AC) at four corners of a developing anther, followed by programmed cell divisions, generates four pollen sacs, walled by four cell layers among which the tapetum is in close contact with developing microspores. Tapetum secretes callose-dissolving enzymes to release microspores at early stages and undergoes programmed cell death (PCD) to deliver nutrients and signals for microspore development at later stages. Except for transcription factors, plasma membrane (PM)-associated and secretory peptides have also been demonstrated to mediate anther development. Adaptor protein complexes (AP) recruit both cargos and coat proteins during vesicle trafficking. Arabidopsis AP-1µ/HAPLESS13 (HAP13) is a core component of AP-1 for protein sorting at the trans-Golgi network/early endosomes (TGN/EE). We report here that Arabidopsis HAP13 is critical for pollen sac formation and for sporophytic control of pollen production. Functional loss of HAP13 causes a reduction in pollen sac number. It also results in the dysfunction of tapetum such that secretory function of tapetum at early stages and PCD of tapetum at later stages are both compromised. We further show that the expression of SPL, the polar distribution of auxin maximum, as well as the asymmetric distribution of PIN1 are interfered in hap13 anthers, which in combination may lead to male sterility in hap13. •HAPLESS13/AP-1µ, a component of the Adaptor Protein 1 (AP-1) complex, is critical for the formation of pollen sac and essential for tapetal function, two key processes collectively leading to pollen production.•The hap13 mutant shows a reduction in pollen sac number, consistent with the reduced expression of SPOROCYTELSS and compromised auxin distribution during early stages of anther development.•The hap13 mutant is defective in tapetal secretion and programmed cell death, resulting in male sterility.