Takakia possesses a key marker of embryophyte sporopollenin

Abstract

The enigmatic moss, Takakia lepidozioides, possesses a particular type III polyketide synthase, ASCL (Anther-Specific Chalcone synthase-Like), that is an identifying marker for genuine sporopollenin in the walls of embryophyte spores and pollen grains. By contrast, a survey of all algae with sequenced genomes confirms that they do not possess ASCL and, therefore, their spore walls are not composed of sporopollenin.