--- title: "DREAM complex plays key role in plant reproduction" url: https://newscentral.site/dream-complex-plays-key-role-in-plant-reproduction/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Science" published: 2026-10-16T18:00:01.000Z updated: 2026-10-17T09:48:37.860Z id: 26845867-80b5-487c-9519-994f287e3215 source: "Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-10-offspring-protein-complex-play-key.html" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/dream-complex-plays-key-role-in-plant-reproduction/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # DREAM complex plays key role in plant reproduction Research published in Science Advances suggests that the DREAM complex is essential for successful meiosis in thale cress plants and highlights the importance of precise regulation during this critical process. A crucial protein complex that normally regulates gene expression has been found to play a key role in plant reproduction. Research published in Science Advances suggests that the DREAM complex is essential for successful meiosis in thale cress plants. In these plants, DREAM appears to activate specific genes during meiosis, which enables the exchange of genetic material between chromosomes. However, when the DREAM complex is absent or defective, reproductive development becomes severely impaired and fertility is significantly reduced. This highlights the importance of precise regulation during this critical process. Meiosis is a complex series of events that requires the coordinated activity of numerous genes and proteins to ensure accurate chromosome distribution. The correct timing, location, and concentration of these molecules are crucial for successful meiosis. As part of her research, molecular biologist Hasibe Tunçay investigated the role of molecular regulators in thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) reproduction at the University of Hamburg and now as a postdoctoral researcher at ISTA. Her findings have shed new light on the significance of the DREAM complex in plant fertility. Since related complexes are known to influence reproduction in animals, this discovery may point to an evolutionarily conserved mechanism underlying fertility across many organisms. The research team behind this study collaborated with institutions from France, China, and elsewhere to explore the intricacies of plant cell division. Sexually reproducing organisms rely on two distinct types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis. While these processes are crucial for an organism's development and growth, they have different outcomes. Mitosis produces daughter cells that are largely identical to their parent, whereas meiosis yields reproductive cells with half the usual number of chromosomes. For meiosis to proceed correctly, specific genes must be activated at the right time to ensure proper transcription into RNA. This RNA serves as a blueprint for proteins necessary for carrying out the process. Meiosis is a fundamental aspect of reproduction in many organisms, but its underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. The molecular regulators responsible for controlling meiotic gene expression are known as transcription factors. These switches play a critical role in determining when and how genes are expressed during this complex process. Despite their importance, the transcriptional regulation of meiosis in plants remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, researchers used thale cress as a model organism to identify key molecular regulators involved in meiotic gene expression. This choice was likely driven by the plant's relatively simple genetic makeup and ease of cultivation. The role of the DREAM complex in plant fertility appears to be multifaceted, extending beyond its traditional function in somatic cells. In these non-reproductive cells, the complex typically acts as a transcription factor that represses gene expression. Research has shown that when certain parts of the DREAM complex are missing from plants, their pollen and seed production is severely impaired. This finding suggests that the complex plays a crucial role in plant reproduction, specifically by regulating gene expression during meiosis. Tunçay's study identified the MER3 gene as being activated by the DREAM complex, resulting in a protein that is essential for crossover formation during meiosis. Crossovers are critical for generating genetic diversity and ensuring proper chromosome distribution to daughter cells. During crossover formation, homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material, creating new combinations of genes and maintaining physical connections between chromosomes. In plants where the DREAM complex does not function properly, MER3 protein levels are insufficient, leading to impaired crossover formation and disconnected chromosomes. Impaired crossover formation can have significant consequences for plant fertility, as it disrupts the normal distribution of chromosomes during meiotic division. The presence of univalent chromosomes in plant cells can lead to an uneven distribution of chromosomes during meiotic division, ultimately resulting in reproductive cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes. This irregularity can cause fertility problems in plants, as it disrupts the normal process of chromosome segregation and pairing. In some mutants where only one component of the DREAM protein complex was impaired, seed production was significantly reduced, but the plants remained fertile. In contrast, mutants carrying disruptions in multiple components of the DREAM complex were found to be sterile, failing to produce any seeds at all. This suggests that the integrity of the DREAM complex is crucial for plant fertility and reproduction. The Arabidopsis thaliana plant, a self-fertilizing hermaphroditic species, provides an ideal model for studying plant fertility. Both male stamens and female pistils are present within the same flower, allowing researchers to examine pollen and seeds as indicators of reproductive health. In experiments examining seed production, scientists can assess plant sterility by staining pollen grains under a microscope or counting undeveloped seeds in the silique. This approach enables researchers to determine whether mutations affect reproduction and identify potential causes of fertility problems. The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of plant fertility, suggesting that a complex regulatory mechanism may play a crucial role in determining reproductive success. Research suggests that this protein complex can take on an unexpected activating function during meiosis, the process by which plants produce gametes. This finding is particularly interesting given that related complexes also influence reproduction in animals, implying that fertility may be regulated by a conserved mechanism across a wide range of organisms. The study's results suggest that this regulatory mechanism could be a key factor in determining plant fertility, with potential implications for breeding and agricultural practices. --- Source: [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-10-offspring-protein-complex-play-key.html) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/dream-complex-plays-key-role-in-plant-reproduction/