While mitochondrial mutants of the respiratory machinery are rare and often lethal, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), a mitochondrially inherited trait that results in pollen abortion, is frequently encountered in wild populations. It generates a breeding system called gynodioecy. In Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima, a gynodioecious species, we found CMS-G to be widespread across the distribution range of the species. Despite the sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of CMS-G, the mitochondrial sterilizing factor causing CMS-G is still unknown. By characterizing biochemically CMS-G, we found that the expression of several mitochondrial proteins is altered in CMS-G plants. In particular, Cox1, a core subunit of the cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV), is larger but can still assemble into complex IV. However, the CMS-G-specific complex IV was only detected as a stabilized dimer. We did not observe any alteration of the affinity of complex IV for cytochrome c; however, in CMS-G, complex IV capacity is reduced. Our results show that CMS-G is maintained in many natural populations despite being associated with an atypical complex IV. We suggest that the modified complex IV could incur the associated cost predicted by theoretical models to maintain gynodioecy in wild populations.
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February 2018
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The X-ray crystal structure of the substrate binding pocket of cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP268A2, from Mycobacterium marinum, with the molecule pseudoionone bound in the active site. In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, Bell et al. show how the substrate becomes completely enclosed by the active site of the enzyme; for details see pages 705–722.
Research Article|
February 23 2018
CMS-G from Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima is maintained in natural populations despite containing an atypical cytochrome c oxidase
Etienne H. Meyer
;
1Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 12 rue du général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
2Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Correspondence: Etienne Meyer (emeyer@mpimp-golm.mpg.de)
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Caroline Lehmann;
Caroline Lehmann
*
2Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
3Molekulare Zellbiologie der Pflanzen, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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Stéphane Boivin;
Stéphane Boivin
1Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 12 rue du général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
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Lea Brings;
Lea Brings
3Molekulare Zellbiologie der Pflanzen, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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Isabelle De Cauwer;
Isabelle De Cauwer
4Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 – Evo-Eco-Paleo, Bât. SN2 F, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Asq, France
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Ralph Bock;
Ralph Bock
2Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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Kristina Kühn;
Kristina Kühn
3Molekulare Zellbiologie der Pflanzen, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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Pascal Touzet
Pascal Touzet
4Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 – Evo-Eco-Paleo, Bât. SN2 F, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Asq, France
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Biochem J (2018) 475 (4): 759–773.
Article history
Received:
August 24 2017
Revision Received:
January 08 2018
Accepted:
January 22 2018
Accepted Manuscript online:
January 22 2018
Citation
Etienne H. Meyer, Caroline Lehmann, Stéphane Boivin, Lea Brings, Isabelle De Cauwer, Ralph Bock, Kristina Kühn, Pascal Touzet; CMS-G from Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima is maintained in natural populations despite containing an atypical cytochrome c oxidase. Biochem J 28 February 2018; 475 (4): 759–773. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20170655
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