SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE cooperates with MADS-domain transcription factors to regulate an auxin-dependent network controlling Megaspore-Mother-Cell differentiation
The formation of the female gamete is a complex developmental process that begins with the differentiation of the Megaspore Mother Cell (MMC) within the ovule. SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE (SPL/NZZ) is the principal regulator of the MMC formation, as mutations in the SPL/NZZ gene lead to the failure of the MMC differentiation. Nonetheless, the SPL/NZZ-dependent regulatory pathway governing the MMC development remains largely unknown. Using a multi-omics approach, we identify direct SPL/NZZ targets and their downstream network. We discover that SPL/NZZ interacts with ovule-identity MADS-domain transcription factor complexes to regulate the expression of common target genes. By integrating the omics data with the analysis of either complementation or mutant lines, we describe a comprehensive regulatory mechanism in which SPL/NZZ controls the differentiation of the MMC by acting on an auxin-dependent downstream network.
Authors
- M. Spano
- Alex Cavalleri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4929-222X)
- Veronica Gregis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1876-9849)
- Silvia Manrique (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6241-4143)
- Kerstin Kaufmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7960-6256)
- Chiara Mizzotti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3644-2890)
- Cezary Smaczniak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4663-8275)
- Lucia Colombo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8415-1399)
- Chiara Astori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4244-1916)
- Xiaocai Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2972-4251)
- Andrea Movilli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8539-5368)
- Greta Bruzzaniti
- Alessandro Ruiu
Institutions
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- University of Milan (IT)
- University of Perugia (IT)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (DE)
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (ES)
- Max Planck Institute for Biology (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-12-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67343-x
- Primary Topic
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Università degli Studi di Milano
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
- Papua New Guinea University of Technology