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Abstract
FERTILIZATION INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (FIE) is a core component of PcG complexes and
functions in plant phase transition and seed generation. However, understanding in
its function of apomictic monocot plants remains blank. Here an FIE homology EbFIE,
has been isolated from apomictic Graminae species Eulaliopsis binata. EbFIE shares
higher homology to OsFIE2 than OsFIE1, and has been classified into the monocot FIE2
clade. In addition, the broad expression pattern of EbFIE is also similar to OsFIE2.
While, ectopic expression of EbFIE in rice resulted in pleiotropic phenotypes similar
to that of OsFIE1 over-expressing plants. Meanwhile, EbFIE could bind OsCLF in vitro
as OsFIE1 but different with OsFIE2. Molecular models comparison indicated that both
EbFIE and OsFIE1 had a smaller E(z) protein binding groove than OsFIE2. Further site-directed
mutagenesis analysis revealed that single amino acid substitution of I194F in OsFIE2
could improve its OsCLF binding capacity. Taken together, our results suggested that
EbFIE was a conserved FIE homolog belonging to monocot FIE2 clade, but due to the
similarity in protein conformation with FIE1, EbFIE might play a broad role in vegetative
and reproductive development regulation by interaction with CLF homolog.