Molecular characterization of an anther-specific gene from tobacco shows sequence similarity to a tapetum-specific gene from tomato

We have cloned and determined the DNA sequence of the cDNA of ntGRP15. The cDNA ntGRP15 represents an anther-specific, developmentally regulated gene from Nicotiana tabacum that encodes a glycine-rich protein. Northern analysis shows that the gene is specifically expressed in anthers and is stringently regulated during anther development. It appears only in anthers at the meiosis to free microspore stages of development. The encoded protein is small (12.2 kDa), has a 31% glycine content and contains a putative signal sequence. By both nucleotide and amino acid sequence alignment, the gene shows high sequence similarity to a gene previously isolated from Lycopersicon esculentum, namely, TomA92b9. High glycine content, presence of a signal sequence and similarity to the tomato TomA92b9 gene suggests the protein functions as a structural cell wall protein, possibly involved in pollen exine formation.