Gene Families from the Arabidopsis thaliana Pollen Coat Proteome

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Abstract
The pollen extracellular matrix contains proteins mediating species specificity and components needed for efficient pollination. We identified all proteins >10 kilodaltons in the Arabidopsispollen coating and showed that most of the corresponding genes reside in two genomic clusters. One cluster encodes six lipases, whereas the other contains six lipid-binding oleosin genes, includingGRP17, a gene that promotes efficient pollination. Individual oleosins exhibit extensive divergence between ecotypes, but the entire cluster remains intact. Analysis of the syntenic region inBrassica oleracea revealed even greater divergence, but a similar clustering of the genes. Such allelic flexibility may promote speciation in plants.
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