Bruce A. McClure

Professor of Biochemistry

Email:	mcclureb@missouri.edu
Phone:	(573) 882-3932
Fax:	(573) 884-9395
Office:	240A Bond Life Sciences Center
Mailing Address:	Biochemistry 240A Bond Life Sciences Center University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO 65211
Research Areas:	Cell-cell interactions in pollen recognition and rejection.

Educational Background

BS		University of Minnesota	St. Paul, Minn.	Biochemistry
PhD		University of Minnesota	St. Paul, Minn.	Biochemistry

Notable Honors and Service

Associate Director for Scientific Research, Life Sciences Center
Board Member, Science Teachers of Missouri (Director of College Division)

Research Description

Researchers in the McClure Lab investigate the molecular basis of pollen recognition. We work in the genus Nicotiana for its ease of experimental manipulation, and because the inter- and intra-specific compatibility relationships are well known. For example, N. alata displays gametophytic self- incompatibility. Self-pollen and pollen from closely related plants are rejected, thus maintaining hybrid vigor. N. alata also has specific mechanisms for recognizing and rejecting pollen from related species such as N. plumbaginifolia and N. tabacum. A single multialielic locus called the S-locus contributes to controlling both inter- and intra-specific pollination. In intraspecific pollinations, pollen is rejected if its single S-allele is the same as either S-aliele in the diploid pistil.

The product of the S-locus is called S-RNase, a glycoprotein that is secreted into the pollen transmitting tract. Each S-allele encodes a different S-RNase. We developed a system to express recombinant S-RNases in transgenic plants. Using this system, we can engineer specific changes in pollination behavior. For example, transgenic plants expressing SA2-RNase reject SA2-pollen. We use this system to investigate the specificity of inter- and intra-specific pollen recognition.

We also use genetic and biochemical techniques to identify new factors that control pollination. For example, a population of plants segregating for pollen rejection ability is being screened for cDNA AFLPs to identify non-S-RNase factors that may be required for pollen rejection.

In other experiments, we have identified stylar S-RNase binding proteins that may also be important. In all of these experiments, our goal is to identify gene products that help control pollination. These are the genes that plants use to control their own breeding behavior. By understanding the natural systems control pollination, plant breeders can design new strategies to manipulate their breeding behavior for their own purposes.

Selected Publications

McClure B.A., Haring V., Ebert P.R., Anderson M.A., Simpson R.J., Sakiyama F., and Clarke A.E. (1989). Style self-incompatibility gene products of Nicotiana alata are ribonucleases. Nature 342: 955-957.

McClure B.A., Gray J.E., Anderson M.A., and Clarke A.E. (1990). Self-incompatibility in Nicotiana alata involves degradation of pollen rRNA. Nature 347: 757-760.

Murfett J., Atherton T.L., Mou B., Gasser C.S., and McClure B.A. (1994). S-RNase expressed in transgenic Nicotiana causes S-allele specific pollen rejection. Nature 367:563-566.

McClure B. (2004) Pillow talk in plants. Nature 429:249-250.

Goldraij A., Kondo K., Lee C.B., Hancock C.N., Sivaguru M, Vasquez-Santana S., Kim, S., Phillips T.E., Cruz-Garcia F., and McClure B. (2006) Compartmentalization of S-RNase and HT-B degradation in self-incompatible Nicotiana. Nature 439:805-810.

Employment Opportunities

Post-Doctoral Opportunities

Electronic submission is encouraged, e-mail to biochemsearch@missouri.edu

Applicants should send CV and names of two references to:
Dr. Bruce McClure
Postdoctoral Application
Biochemistry
240A Bond Life Sciences Center
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211

Cell-cell interactions in pollen recognition and rejection.