Comparative Analysis of the <i>HAP2</i>/<i>GCS1</i>, <i>GEX2</i> Genes Expression in Maize Lines of Saratov Selection

Abstract

The haploinduction phenomenon have a scientific and practical aspects for development the effective haploid-inducing maize line and diploid homozygous lines creation. The article discusses the relationship between the maize haploid–induction and the violation of the gamete interactions, in particular for GEX2-HAP2/GCS1-mediated adhesion and fusion of gamete membranes in Zarodishevii Marker Saratovskii Purpurnii (ZMSP) maize lines. Using real-time RT-PCR method, it was found that the GEX2, HAP2/GCS1 genes are expressed in sperm and ovules, but the maize haploid-inducing ability does not correlate with their expression. It was shown that the ZMSP haploid-inducing line have 27 SNP, one 9-bp insertion, 2-bp SNP and the corresponding 10 amino acid substitutions with two insertions in the GEX2 protein in comparing with reference B73 line. It was found that HAP2/GCS1, as a conservative protein for membrane fusion has only one amino acid substitution in ZMSP in comparing with B73 maize and Brown Marker maize lines.