CRRSP18 Antibody

Definition and Target

CRRSP18 antibody targets the CRRSP18 protein (Uniprot ID: Q9LRM1), a cysteine-rich repeat secretory protein involved in pollen coat formation. Produced in rabbits using recombinant Arabidopsis thaliana CRRSP18 protein, it is validated for ELISA and Western blotting (WB) applications .

Biological Role of CRRSP18

CRRSP18 is a pollen coat protein (PCP) regulated by the transcription factor MS1, which is activated by MS188. This regulatory cascade controls the synthesis of structural components critical for pollen wall development . Key findings include:

• Gene Regulation: MS188 directly activates MS1, which subsequently upregulates CRRSP18 and other PCP genes.

• Functional Impact: Disruption of CRRSP18 leads to defective pollen coat formation, affecting fertility in Arabidopsis .

4.1. Regulatory Mechanism

• CRRSP18 expression is induced by MS1, which itself is regulated by the MYB transcription factor MS188 .

• Experimental evidence from chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) confirms direct binding of MS188 to the MS1 promoter .

4.2. Functional Studies

• Phenotypic Rescue: Expression of MS1 in ms188 mutants partially restores CRRSP18 levels but fails to fully rescue pollen fertility, suggesting additional downstream factors are required for robust PCP synthesis .

• Developmental Timing: CRRSP18 and related PCPs are upregulated 30 hours post-MS1 induction, correlating with late-stage pollen maturation .

Applications in Plant Science

• Pollen Development Studies: Used to track CRRSP18 expression dynamics during microgametogenesis.

• Protein Localization: Employed in immunohistochemistry (IHC) to map CRRSP18 distribution in floral tissues .

• Genetic Screens: Facilitates identification of mutants with disrupted pollen coat formation.

Limitations and Future Directions

• Species Specificity: Reactivity is restricted to Arabidopsis thaliana, limiting cross-species applications .

• Functional Redundancy: CRRSP18 belongs to a gene family with overlapping roles, necessitating combinatorial knockout studies.

• Therapeutic Potential: While not directly studied in humans, insights into secretory protein regulation may inform crop engineering for enhanced fertility .