Identification of a new class of pistil-specific proteins of Petunia inflata that is structurally similar to, but functionally distinct from, the self-incompatibility factor HT

Pollen–pistil interactions are thought to involve a wide variety of intercellular recognition events controlled by diverse proteins and other molecules. One of the best characterized interactions is the S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system found in Solanaceae, Rosaceae and Scrophulariaceae. Although the S specificity of the pistil and the pollen in these families is determined by the S locus-encoded proteins S-RNase and SLF/SFB, respectively, these proteins alone are not sufficient for operation of the GSI reaction. Other factors are also required and are classified into three groups. To date, the only known factor is the pistil-expressed small asparagine-rich protein HT-B in three solanaceous genera Nicotiana, Lycopersicon and Solanum. HT-B is a Group 2 factor that is required for pollen rejection but do not affect S-RNase expression; factors in the other groups have not yet cloned. Here, we identified a new class of HT-like proteins in the style of Petunia inflata and named it HTL. Through alternative splicing, it was found that two isolated homologous HTL cDNAs, HTL-A and HTL-B, derived from a single gene. Like HT-B, HTL showed pistil-specific accumulation as well as significant sequence similarity to HT including conserved cystein residues at the C-terminal region and a signal peptide for extracellular localization. However, unlike HT-B, HTL lacked an asparagine-rich domain. Thus, it represents a new class of HT proteins. To determine whether HTL is involved in GSI function, RNA silencing constructs for HTL-A and HTL-B were introduced into self-incompatible P. inflata. Although several transgenic lines showed no detectable levels of both HTL-A and HTL-B transcripts, they retained normal GSI function and produced large fruits upon compatible pollination. This suggests that since silencing of the HTL gene alone is not sufficient to affect reproductive physiology, the gene is functionally distinct from the GSI factor HT-B.