MARIO
CAPPADOCIA

Genetic and molecular studies of reproduction

Full professor and undergraduate program coordinator
Department of biological sciences - University of Montreal
mario.cappadocia@umontreal.ca
514-343-2104

RESEARCH TOPICS


Self-incompatibility (SI) is the inherited ability of a fertile plant to prevent self-fertilization. SI constitutes a prezygotic barrier present in about half of the Angiosperm families, and is one of the most widespread evolutionary devices used by flowering plants to prevent inbreeding depression by promoting gene exchange within a species. This cell-cell recognition mechanism, involves finely tuned pollen-pistil interactions under the control of elements of the S-locus. As a result, self-incompatible plants reject self- but accept non-self pollen. In Solanum chacoense pollen rejection occurs when pollen and pistil share a same S-haplotype. The pistillar product involved in SI is a polymorphic S-RNase, encoded by the S-locus, expressed in the style, and that acts as a cytotoxin by degrading the RNA of incompatible pollen tubes. Immunocytochemical studies in our laboratory have shown that the entry of the S-RNases into pollen tubes is haplotype-independent. The pollen component of SI is an F-box protein, motif usually associated with protein-tagging by ubiquitin and degradation through the 26S proteasome. According to a current model, degradation of S-RNases should occur during compatible crosses, and indeed we have very recently shown degradation of S-RNases in in vivo experiments. According to an alternative SI model, during compatible crosses pollen tubes avoid rejection by sequestering S-RNases in the vacuole.

In collaboration with Drs David Morse and M. Hijri, we use the powerful tools provided by genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and confocal microscopy to test the degradation and the sequestration models. In particular, we want to follow the destiny of S-RNases inside pollen tubes after compatible pollinations.

Keywords: Intra- and interspecific barriers in plant reproduction • Self-incompatibility in Solanum chacoense: genetic and molecular aspects



TEACHING


BIO-1203: Introduction à la génétique
BIO-3701: Vitroculture des végétaux



  • Cappadocia, A. Nantel et D.P. Matton. (2015). The FRK1 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) from Solanum chacoense is involved in embryo sac and pollen development. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66 (7): 1833-1843.
  • Lafleur E, Kapfer K, Joly V, Liu Y, Tebbji F, Daigle C, Gray-Mitsumune M, Cappadocia M, Nantel A, and D. Ph. Matton (2015). The FRK1 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) from Solanum chacoense is involved in embryo sac and pollen development J. Exp. Bot. (2015) 66 (7): 1833-1843
  • Roy, S. Beauchemin, M. Dagenais-Bellefeuille, S. Letourneau, L. Cappadocia, M. Morse, D. (2014). The Lingulodinium circadian system lacks rhythmic changes in transcript abundance BMC Biol Dec 20;12:107. doi: 10.1186/s12915-014-0107-z.
  • Boivin N., Morse D., and Cappadocia M. (2014). Degradation of S-RNase in compatible pollen tubes of Solanum chacoense visualized by immunogold labeling J Cell Sci. 127, 4123-4127; doi:10.1242/jcs 154823
  • Soulard, J., N. Boivin, D. Morse and M. Cappadocia (2014). eEF1A Is an S-RNase binding factor in self-incompatible Solanum chacoense. PLoS One 9(2): e90206 (7 p.).
  • Soulard, J., X. Qin, N. Boivin, D. Morse and M. Cappadocia (2013). A new dual-specific incompatibility allele revealed by absence of glycosylation in the conserved C2 site of a Solanum chacoense S-Rnase. J. Exp. Bot. 64(7): 1995-2003.
  • Bolin, L., N. Boivin, D. Morse and M. Cappadocia (2012). A time course GFP expression and mRNA stability in pollen tubes following compatible and incompatible pollinations in Solanum chacoense. Sex Plant Reprod. 25: 205-213.
  • Liu, B., N. Boivin, D. Morse and M.Cappadocia (2012). A time course of GFP expression and mRNA stability in pollen tubes following compatible and incompatible pollinations in Solanum chacoense. Sex. Plant Reprod. 25: 205-213.
  • Liu, B., Morse D. and Cappadocia, M. (2009). Compatible Pollinations in Solanum chacoense Decrease Both S-RNase and S-RNase mRNA. PLoS ONE 4(6): e5774: 1-10
  • Liu, B., Morse D. and Cappadocia, M. (2008). Glycosylation of S-RNases may influence pollen rejection thresholds in Solanum chacoense. J Exp. Bot. 59: 545-552
  • Qin, X., Liu, B., Soulard, J., Morse D. and Cappadocia, M. (2006). Style-by-style analysis of two sporadic self-compatible Solanum chacoense lines supports a primary role for S-RNases in determining pollen rejection thresholds. J Exp. Bot. 57: 2001-2013
  • Qin, X., Soulard, J., Laublin, G., Morse, D. and Cappadocia, M. (2005). Molecular analysis of the conserved C4 region of the S11-RNase of Solanum chacoense. Planta 221: 531-537
  • Nassoury, N., Cappadocia, M. and Morse, D. (2003). Plastid ultrastructure defines the protein input pathway in dinoflagellates. J. Cell Science 116, 2867-2874.
  • Luu,D.T., Qin, X., Laublin, G., Yang, Q., Morse, D., and M. Cappadocia. (2001). Rejection of S-heteroallelic pollen by a dual specific S-RNase predicts a multimeric pollen-S. Genetics 159 : 329-335.
  • Qin, X., Luu, D.T., Yang, Q., Maes, O., Matton, D., Morse, D. and M. Cappadocia. (2001). Genotype-dependent differences in S12-RNase expression lead to sporadic self-compatibility in Solanum chacoense Plant Mol Biol 45: 295-305.
  • Luu, D.T., Qin, X., Morse, D. and M. Cappadocia. (2000). S-RNase uptake by compatible pollen tubes in gametophytic self-incompatibility Nature 407: 649-651.
  • Matton, D., Luu, D.T., Morse, D. and M. Cappadocia. (2000). Reply to: Establishing a paradigm for the generation of new S-alleles. Letter to the editor Plant Cell 12: 313-315.
  • Matton, D., Luu, D.T., Qin, X., Laublin, G., O’Brien, M., Maes, O., Morse, D. and M. Cappadocia. (1999). The production of an S-RNase with dual specificity suggests a novel hypothesis for the generation of new S-alleles Plant Cell 11: 2087-2097.
  • M. Cappadocia. and K.S. Ramulu. (1998). Anther culture in potato improvement. In Khurana, S.M. and R. Chandra (eds) Comprehensive Potato Biotechnology. pp.1-30. Malhotra Publ. New Delhi.
  • Birhman R.K. and M. Cappadocia. (1998). DNA fingerprinting in potato. In Kurana: S.M. and R. Chandra (eds) Comprehensive Potato Biotechnology. pp. 73-96. Malhotra Publ. New Delhi.
  • Matton, D.P., Bertrand, C., Laublin, G. and M. Cappadocia. (1998). Molecular aspects of self-incompatibility in tuber-bearing Solanum species. In Khurana, S.M. and R. Chandra (eds) Comprehensive Potato Biotechnology. pp. 97-114. Malhotra Publ. New Delhi.
  • Matton, D, Morse, D. and M. Cappadocia. (1998). Reply to: Are the hypervariable regions of S-RNases sufficient for allele-specific recognition of pollen? Letter to the editor. Plant Cell 10: 316-317.
  • Matton, D., Maës, O., Laublin, G., Xike, Q., Bertrand, C., Morse, D. M. Cappadocia. (1997). Hypervariable domains of self-incompatibility RNases mediate allele-specific pollen recognition. Plant Cell 9: 1757-1766.
  • Luu, D.-T., Heizmann, Ph., Dumas, C. and M. Cappadocia. (1997). Involvement of SLR1 gene in pollen adhesion to stigmatic surface in Brassicaceae. Sex. Plant Reprod. 10: 227-235.
  • Cloutier, S., M. Cappadocia. and B. Landry. (1997). Analysis of RFLP mapping inaccuracy in Brassica napus L. Theor. Appl. Genet. 95: 83-91.
  • Van Sint Jan V., Laublin, G., Birhman, R.K. and M. Cappadocia. (1996). Genetic analysis of leaf explant regenerability in Solanum chacoense Bitt. Plant Cell Tissue Org. Cult. 47: 9-13.
  • Rivard, S., M. Cappadocia. and B. Landry (1996). A comparison of RFLP maps based on anther-derived selfed and hybrid progenies of Solanum chacoense. Genome 39: 611-621.
  • St-Pierre, B., Bertrand, A., Camirand, A., M. Cappadocia.and N. Brisson (1996). Expression of the potato starch phosphorilase gene: evidence of post transcriptional regulation. Plant Mol. Biol. 30: 1087-1098.
  • Birhman, R.K., Rivard, S.R. and M. Cappadocia. (1996). Segregation of RFLP markers In Solanum chacoense Bitt Proc. Second Asia-Pacific Conf. on Agric.Biotech. pp 127-134. Oxford-IBH Publ.
  • Cloutier, S., M. Cappadocia. and Landry, B. (1995). Study of microspore culture responsiveness in oilseed rape (B. napus) by comparative RFLP mapping of an F2 and two microspore derived populations. Theor. Appl. Genet. 91: 841-847.
  • Birhman, K. Laublin, G. and M. Cappadocia. (1994a). Genetic control of in vitro shoot regeneration from leaf explants in Solanum chacoense Bitt. Theor. Appl. Genet. 88: 535-540.
  • Birhman, R.K., Laublin, G. and M. Cappadocia. (1994b). Inheritance of yellow cotyledon seedling mutant in Solanum chacoense Bitt. Journal of Heredity. 85: 241-242.
  • Birhman, K., Rivard, S., and M. Cappadocia. (1994). Origin of anther-culture derived plants in Solanum chacoense Bitt. determined by RFLP analysis. Hort. Science. 29: 206-208.
  • Saba El Leil, M., Rivard, S., Morse, D. and M. Cappadocia. (1994). The S11 and S13 self-incompatibility alleles in Solanum chacoense are remarkably similar. Plant Mol. Biol. 24: 571-583.
  • Després, C., M. Saba El Leil, S. Rivard, D. Morse and M. Cappadocia. (1994). Molecular cloning of two Solanum chacoense S-alleles and a hypothesis concerning their evolution. Sex. Plant Reprod. 76: 169-176.
  • Rivard, S., Saba El Leil, M., Landry, B. and M. Cappadocia. (1994). RFLP analyses and segregation of molecular markers in plants produced by in vitro anther culture, selfing and reciprocal crosses of two lines of self-incompatible Solanum chacoense Bitt. Genome. 37: 775-783
  • Birhman, K., Brault, M. and M. Cappadocia. (1994). Genetic analysis of in vitro growth and microtuber production in Solanum chacoense J. Indian Pot. Assoc. 21: 195-200.
  • M. Cappadocia. M., Heizmann, P. and C. Dumas (1993). Application of tissue printing technique to self-incompatibility studies in B. oleracea and S. chacoense Plant Mol. Biol. 23: 1079-1085.
  • Véronneau, H., G. Lavoie and M. Cappadocia. (1992). Genetic analysis of anther and leaf disc culture in two clones of S. chacoense Bitt. and their reciprocal hybrids. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 30: 199-209.
  • Laublin, G. and M. Cappadocia. (1992). In vitro plant regeneration from cultured ovaries of some rhizomatous irise. Botanica Acta. 105: 319-322.
  • Vieth, J., Laublin, G., Morisset, C. and M. Cappadocia. (1992). Multiplication in vitro de quelques Iris à partir de racines: aspect histologique de l’embryogenèse somatique. Can. J. Bot. 70: 1809-1814.
  • Jean, M. and M. Cappadocia. (1992). Effects of some growth regulators on in vitro tuberization in Dioscorea alata cv. Brazo fuerte and D. abyssinica Hoch. Plant Cell Reports. 11: 34-38.
  • Lauzer, D., Laublin, G. Vincent, G. and M. Cappadocia. (1992). In vitro propagation and cytology of wild yams, Dioscorea abyssinica Hoch. and D. mangenotiana Miege. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 28: 215-223.