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MBC in Press, published online ahead of print July 18, 2007
Mol. Biol. Cell 10.1091/mbc.E06-11-0979

A more recent version of this article appeared on October 1, 2007
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Submitted on November 1, 2006
Revised on July 5, 2007
Accepted on July 10, 2007

Mago Nashi Is Essential for Spermatogenesis in Marsilea

Corine M. van der Weele, Chia-Wei Tsai, and Stephen M. Wolniak

Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

Monitoring Editor: Tim Stearns

Spermatogenesis in Marsilea vestita is a rapid process that is activated by placing dry microspores into water. Nine division cycles produce seven somatic cells and 32 spermatids, where size and position define identity. Spermatids undergo de novo formation of basal bodies in a particle known as a blepharoplast. We are interested in mechanisms responsible for spermatogenous initial formation. Mago nashi (Mv-mago) is a highly conserved gene present as stored mRNA and stored protein in the microspore. Mv-mago protein increases in abundance during development and localizes at discrete cytoplasmic foci (Mago-dots). RNAi experiments show that new Mv-mago protein is required for development. With Mv-mago silenced, asymmetric divisions become symmetric, cell fate is disrupted, and development stops. {alpha}-tubulin protein distribution, centrin translation, and Mv-PRP19 mRNA distribution are no longer restricted to the spermatogenous cells. Centrin aggregations, resembling blepharoplasts, appear in jacket cells. Mago-dots are undetectable after the silencing of Mv-mago, Mv-Y14 or Mv-eIF4AIII, three core components of the exon junction complex (EJC), suggesting that Mago-dots are either EJCs in the cytoplasm, or Mv-mago protein aggregations dependent on EJCs. Mv-mago protein and other EJC components apparently function in cell fate determination in developing male gametophytes of Marsilea vestita.

Address correspondence to: Stephen M. Wolniak (swolniak{at}umd.edu)






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