Recent advances in identification of male specificity determinant and its function in S-RNase-mediated gametophytic self-incompatibility

S-RNase-mediated gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) is controlled by a multillalelic S-locus at which two separate genes, the female (pistil) and male (pollen) specificity determinants, are tightly linked. This review described both the identification of pollen specific F-box genes, SLF/SFBs, in Antirrhinum, Petunia and Prunus species and the demonstration of SLF/SFB as pollen determinant together with their functions in GSI response. Recent studies of how the pollen determinant functions in pollination reaction revealed that pollen determinant interacted with S-RNases in a non-allele-specific manner. It targeted all of the non-self S-RNases for ubiquitination through a functional SCF complex and subsequent degradation via 26S proteasome pathway in compatible reaction. It allows pollen tube to reach into the embryo sac and to finish double fertilization. In incompatible response, the intact self S-RNases were left to function as a cytotoxin that degrades self-pollen tube RNA, resulting in the cessation of pollen tube growth.