Quantitative analysis of ultrastructural changes during zygotic and somatic embryogenesis in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.)

Ultrastructural changes during zygotic and somatic embryogenesis in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) were quantified using morphometric techniques. The total area per cell profile and the cell volume percentage of the whole cell, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi bodies, mitochondria, nuclei, lipids, plastids, starch grains and vacuoles were measured and comparisons made between three zygotic and three somatic embryo developmental stages. All measurements were taken from scutellar or scutellar-derived cells. Zygotic embryogenesis was characterized by increases in cell size, lipids, plastids, starch, Golgi bodies, mitochondria and ER. Somatic embryogenesis was characterized by two phases of cell development: (1) the dedifferentiation of scutellar cells involving a reduction in cell and vacuole size and an increase in cell activity during somatic proembryoid formation and (2) the development of somatic embryos in which most cell organelle quantities returned to values found in late coleoptile or mature predesiccation zygotic stages. In summary, although their developmental pathways differed, the scutella of somatic embryos displayed cellular variations which were within the ranges observed for later stages of zygotic embryogenesis.     

Apolipophorin-III expression and low density lipophorin formation during embryonic development of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

We examined the expression of apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III) during embryonic development of the silkworm Bombyx mori. ApoLp-III mRNA was first expressed 24 h after oviposition, which corresponds to the time of germ band formation. The amount of apoLp-III in the eggs increased from day 2, peaked on day 4, and then gradually decreased until hatching (on day 9.5). ApoLp-III was apparently synthesized during early embryogenesis, as radioactive amino acids were incorporated into newly synthesized apoLp-III in three-day-old eggs. Moreover, radioactive apoLp-III was found only in the embryo and not in the extraembryonic tissue. KBr density gradient ultracentrifugation of egg homogenates showed that apoLp-III was associated with low-density lipophorin (LDLp). These results suggest that LDLp is required for the delivery of lipids for organogenesis during embryogenesis.     

Stockpiling of DNA polymerases during oogenesis and embryogenesis in the frog, Xenopus laevis

The amounts of the various forms of DNA polymerase (alpha 1, alpha 2, beta, and gamma) have been determined in oocytes, eggs, and embryos of the frog, Xenopus laevis. During oogenesis the relative proportions and absolute levels of all forms changed dramatically. In stage I (early) oocytes, DNA polymerase-gamma, the "mitochondrial" polymerase, was the predominant form. During oocyte growth, DNA polymerase-alpha 1 and -alpha 2 increased by more than 100-fold, DNA polymerase-beta by 15-fold, and DNA polymerase-gamma by only 8-fold. During oocyte maturation and ovulation, the levels of all forms of DNA polymerase roughly doubled. The mature stage VI oocyte contained 5 orders of magnitude more DNA polymerase activity than is found in an individual somatic cell. DNA polymerase-alpha 1 and -alpha 2, the "replicative" polymerases, were the predominant forms in mature oocytes and ovulated unfertilized eggs. During fertilization, the relative proportions and absolute levels of the four forms remained constant. During subsequent stages of embryogenesis, the total amounts of DNA polymerase-alpha 1 and -alpha 2 declined slightly from cleavage through gastrulation, the stages of most rapid chromosomal DNA replication. The rapid increase in cell number during early embryogenesis establishes the same levels of DNA polymerase/cell as are present in adult somatic cells. After neurulation, the absolute levels of DNA polymerase-alpha 1 and -alpha 2 increased in proportion to increases in cell number. The absolute levels of DNA polymerase-beta remained constant, and the levels of DNA polymerase-gamma increased 2-fold throughout embryogenesis.     

Indications for Changes in DNA Composition Correlated with Early Embryonic Differentiation (Triturus vulgaris,Urodela)*

During early embryogenesis of the newt Triturus vulgaris (early gastrula to early neurula) the DNA was characterized by various methods of genome analysis. By preparative CsCl density gradient centrifugation an AT-rich satellite fraction (about 10% of total DNA) was found in all developmental stages studied. An additional GC-rich fraction, with a portion of about 3% of the genome, could be visualized only in the yolk plug stages. Filter hybridization experiments with labelled ribosomal RNA indicate that the number of rRNA cistrons is by a factor of 1.69±0.17 higher in the DNA of the mid-gastrula than of the tailbud stage. In ethidium bromide-CsCl gradients this additional (possibly amplified) rDNA bands at the same density as linear DNA. The analytical cleavage of DNA with ten restriction endonucleases reveals an extreme heterogeneity of the Triturus genome. The methylation pattern of DNA, studied with the aid of the isoschizomers Hpa II and Msp I, remains constant during early development. The reassociation kinetics of DNA, recorded spectrophotometrically, show that the portion of DNA that reassociates until Cot 10 increases significantly from 20% in the gastrula stages to 30% in the early neurula stage.     

The ultrastructure of zygotic embryo development in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum; Poaceae)

The ultrastructure, morphology, and histology of zygotic embryogenesis in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) were examined using light and electron microscopic techniques. Embryogenesis was initially characterized by the presence of a vacuolated egg cell and zygote. The increased presence of Golgi bodies in the zygote suggested it was metabolically more active than the egg cell. The first zygotic division resulted in a densely cytoplasmic apical cell and a highly vacuolated basal cell. The club-shaped proembryo displayed a large amount of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and ribosomes, very few lipids, and a continuous gradient of vacuoles from the highly vacuolated basal suspensor cells to the densely cytoplasmic apical cells. The embryo had well-defined parts by 8 days after pollination, including shoot and root meristems, coleoptile, scutellum, provascular system, and the first leaf primordium. Large increases in ER, lipids, starch, and vacuoles occurred in the scutellum during the maturation of the embryo, except in the provascular cells. Throughout zygotic embryogenesis, embryo cells were connected by plasmodesmata except where intercellular spaces occurred. Ultrastructural, morphological, and histological observations of zygotic embryogenesis in pearl millet are in agreement with previous reports for other grass species.     

Factors affecting the onset of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis during wheat embryo germination. Study of the changes in DNA polymerases A, B and C and the pool of DNA precursors.

DNA synthesis starts about 12 h after water imbibition in wheat embryos. We have determined that noticeable amounts of labelled thymidine are found inside the embryo only after 6 hr of germination. DNA polymerase C from ungerminated wheat embryos decreased markedly in activity during the first hours of germination, whereas the activities of DNA polymerases A and B increased, having a maximum at about 15 h or germination. Serological evidence has suggested a clear antigenic relationship between DNA polymerases A and C. Although the pool of ATP increases rapidly after water imbibition, the increase in the pool of dNTP species was much slower.     

Changing rates of DNA and RNA synthesis in Drosophila embryos

Rates of DNA and RNA synthesis during Drosophila embryogenesis were measured by labeling octane-treated embryos with [¹⁴C]thymidine and [³H]uridine. Radioactivity incorporated per hour was converted to rates of synthesis using measurements of the pool-specific activity during the labeling periods. The rate of DNA synthesis during early embryogenesis increases to a maximum at 6 hr after oviposition and then decreases sharply. Measured rates of DNA synthesis were used to calculate that the total amount of DNA per embryo doubles every 18 min at blastoderm, every 70–80 min during gastrulation, and less than once every 7 hr at later stages. The rate of RNA accumulation per embryo increases continuously during the first 14 hr of embryogenesis. The rate of nuclear RNA synthesis per diploid amount of DNA, however, decreases fivefold between blastoderm and primary organogenesis. The cytoplasmic poly(A)⁺ RNA synthesized by blastoderm embryos associates rapidly with polysomes. The relatively high rate of synthesis of polysomal poly(A)⁺ RNA per nucleus at blastoderm allows the small number of nuclei present at blastoderm to make a significant quantitative contribution to the informational RNA active in the early embryo. At the end of blastoderm, approximately 14% of the mRNA being translated in the embryo has been synthesized after fertilization.     

山黧豆胚胎发育过程中ODAP和一些大分子物质含量的变化

应用微量分析方法检测了山黧豆胚胎发育过程中ODAP毒素含量和核酸、蛋白质、糖类等大分子物质含量变化。结果表明：每粒种子的ODAP含量随着胚的发育而增加。每粒种子DNA量随着细胞的迅速分裂而增加,R、蛋白质、淀粉含量随着胚的发育而成倍地增加,当进入心形胚时这些物质的增加更为迅速。如以每克干重中的含量来表示,那么ODAP,DNA及可溶性糖含量则随胚的发育而下降,其它大分子物质含量在胚发育前期升高;进入心形胚时,这些物质达到最高峰;到鱼雷胚时,这些物质含量开始下降;直到胚基本分化完全时,降到最低点;只有酸性蛋白质含量一直保持增长。     

Somatic embryo development in carrot is associated with an increase in levels of S-adenosylmethionine,S-adenosylhomocysteine and DNA methylation

Almost homogeneous populations representing different developmental stages of somatic embryos (globular, torpedo-shaped, plantlets) and vacuolated cells were obtained from a cell suspension culture of carrot. The concentrations of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and methylated DNA were determined in embryos at different developmental stages and were found to increase during somatic embryogenesis. The highest increase during embryogenesis was a 5-fold increase in the level of SAM. A considerable increase in the methylation index (SAM/SAH ratio) was also found. We propose that the levels of SAM and SAH may be involved in the control of somatic embryogenesis by affecting the level of DNA methylation, which in turn might cause differential changes in gene activation. An increase in the level of SAM may be a prerequisite for progression of embryogenesis and the development of complete embryos.     

Metabolic heterogeneity of phosphoglyceride classes and subfractions during cell cleavage and early embryogenesis: Model for cell membrane biogenesis

During the early developmental stages of the toad, Bufo arenarum, Hensel. up to the stage of gill circulation (150 hr of development at 20–25°C) the total phospholipids content as well as that of phosphoglycerides of choline and of ethanolamine were found unchanged. The subfraction of both phosphoglycerides were separated according to the number of double bonds on silver-ion chromatography and were also found to be unchanged up to the tail bud stage. The distribution of non-polar side chains in the subfractions varied in both phosphoglycerides showing a structural heterogeneity. In the phosphatidylethanolamines predominate the polyenoic containing subfractions. In contrast with the constant concentration of polar lipids, during early embryogenesis a steady increase in ³²P incorporation into phospholipids takes place when oocytes labeled during oogenesis are used. These changes were also correlated with the DNA content up to gill circulation stage. It is proposed that most of the nascent membrane polar lipids during early embryogenesis may be derived from a storage site through an active and specific intracellular redistribution process. At the arrival of the polar lipid to the nascent membrane a change in their covalent structure by introduction of a phosphorylbase from a highly labeled pool may explain the raise in specific activity. This change may be necessary to make possible the assembly of the lipid into the membrane structure.     

苜蓿体细胞胚胎发生过程中DNA、RNA和蛋白质的合成动态

苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)下胚轴切段产生的愈伤组织经2,4-D短时间诱导后,在无激素液体培养基中可形成大量体细胞胚胎。经2,4-D诱导后的愈伤组织在转入无激素培养基1天后,其DNA、RNA和蛋白质的合成即进入活跃合成状态,并在体细胞胚胎发育过程中保持逐步升高的趋势。在苜蓿体细胞胚胎发生过程中,有些蛋白质组分含量减少或消失,但绝大部分蛋白质组分的含量明显增加,并且有若干新蛋白的出现,其中24 KD和46 KD蛋白质为体细胞胚胎发生早期所特有。     

Changes in zinc,copper and metallothionein contents during oocyte growth and early development of the teleost Danio rerio (zebrafish)

In the present report, we investigated zinc, copper and metallothionein (MT) contents in zebrafish oocytes and embryos. Our results demonstrate that the metal content increases during oocytes maturation. Zinc increases from 30 ng/oocyte (stage-1 oocytes) to 100 ng/oocyte (stage-3 oocytes); copper varied from 1 ng/oocyte (stage-1 oocytes) to 3.5 ng/oocyte (stage-3 oocytes). During embryogenesis, zinc and copper contents dramatically increase after fertilisation around the 512-cells stage, then slowly decrease until the mid-gastrula stage. During oocyte growth, the changes in the MT level are proportional to metal content, whereas during embryogenesis the pattern of MT accumulation does not parallel that of the two metals. Indeed, the maternal pool of MT decreases steadily during the early stages of the development until the gastrula stage. We have examined the effect of cadmium on the expression of MT during zebrafish development. After cadmium exposure, MT content increases in embryos at the blastula stage, whereas no induction occurs in embryos at the gastrula stage. However, pre-treatment of embryos at the gastrula stage with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine induces MT synthesis following exposure to cadmium. These observations show that changes in metal levels are not correlated to MT content in the embryo, whereas DNA methylation is one of the factors regulating MT expression.     

Subcellular localization of DNA polymerase gamma and changes in its activity in sea urchin embryos

1. Subcellular localization and changes in the activity of DNA polymerase gamma were examined in sea urchin eggs and embryos. 2. The enzyme was shown to be localized predominantly in mitochondria by differential and isopycnic centrifugation. 3. During embryogenesis, the enzyme activity per embryo remained constant until blastula stage, and thereafter increased. 4. Similarly mitochondrial DNA per embryo increased, indicating that mitochondrial DNA replication starts during embryogenesis. 5. The gamma-activity per mitochondrial DNA remained constant during embryogenesis. 6. These results suggest that mitochondria contain a constant amount of replicative enzyme (DNA polymerase gamma) regardless of mitochondrial DNA replication, which differs from the case of nuclear DNA replication.     

枸杞体细胞胚发生中DNA代谢动态的立体计量

本文以宁夏枸杞无菌苗叶片为材料,离体培养,并诱导体细胞胚胎发生。根据细胞形态计量学原理,应用数学图像处理软件计量由光学底片经Ａ／Ｄ转换成的数学图像中的ＤＮＡ大分子,对枸杞体细胞胚发生过程中ＤＮＡ分子的代谢动态进行量化分析。结果表明：在整个体细胞胚发和过程中ＤＮＡ代谢呈现动态变化。非胚性细胞与胚性细胞期的量化值分别为１．８２％和１．９１％;在二细胞胚、四细胞胚、多细胞胚时期ＤＮＡ缓慢增长,随着胚性愈     

山黧豆胚胎发育过程中ODAP和一些大分子物质含量的变化

应用微量分析方法检测了山黧豆胚胎发育过程中ODAP毒素含量和核酸、蛋白质、糖类等大分子物质的含量变化。结果表明:每粒种子的ODAP含量随着胚的发育而增加。每粒种子DNA量随着细胞的迅速分裂而增加,R、蛋白质、淀粉含量随着胚的发育而成倍地增加,当进入心形胚时这些物质的增加更为迅速。如以每克干重中的含量来表示,那么ODAP、DNA及可溶性糖含量则随胚的发育而下降,其它大分子物质含量在胚发育前期升高,进入心形胚时,这些物质达到最高峰;到鱼雷胚时,这些物质含量开始下降,直到胚基本分化完全时,降到最低点;只有酸性蛋白质含量一直保持增长。     

Molecular and genetic analysis of an embryonic gene, DC 8, from Daucus carota L

Summary To understand the morphogenetic and physiological processes occurring during plant embryogenesis, we isolated cDNA clones homologous to genes preferentially expressed during somatic embryogenesis. One of these cDNA clones detected an embryo-specific mRNA species with a corresponding protein of 66 kDa. The expression pattern of the mRNA is similar between somatic and zygotic embryos of carrots. To characterize the gene encoding this mRNA, we isolated the corresponding genomic clones. Molecular analysis of the DNA from several haploid and diploid carrots showed that the mRNA was encoded by a single copy gene, named DC 8. DNA sequence analysis showed that the gene consisted of three exons and coded for a hydrophilic protein with a central region composed of 17 repeats. At the NH₂-terminus no typical signal sequence was found. Immunocytochemical analysis localized the protein primarily in the vacuoles and protein bodies of zygotic embryos; the cytoplasm showed some antibody staining. The protein was also found in cell walls of endosperm tissue. The amount of DC 8 protein was too low for it to be categorized as a seed storage protein; its role in embryogenesis remains to be determined.     

Germ line-restricted,highly repeated DNA sequences and their chromosomal localization in a Japanese hagfish (Eptatretus okinoseanus)

The various species of Japanese hagfish, namely, Eptatretus okinoseanus (types A and B), Eptatretus burgeri and Myxine garmani, are known to eliminate a fraction of their chromosomes during early embryogenesis. High molecular weight DNA from germ line cells and somatic cells of these hagfish species was isolated and digested with different restriction enzymes. The DNA fragments were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Digestion with BamHI and DraI generated two weak bands and one weak band, respectively, that were estimated to be about 90, and 180 bp and about 90 bp long and were limited to the germ line DNA in both types of E. okinoseanus. DNA filter hybridization experiments showed that the two BamHI fragments and the one DraI fragment were present almost exclusively in the germ line DNA of E. okinoseanus. Thus, these DNA fragments appear to be eliminated during embryogenesis. Moreover, evidence was obtained that these fragments are highly and tandemly repeated. Molecular cloning and sequence analysis revealed that the BamHI fragments are mainly composed of a family of closely related sequences that are 95 bp long (EEEo1, for Eliminated Element of E. okinoseanus 1), and the DraI fragment is composed of another family of closely related sequences that are 85 bp long (EEEo2). The two DNA families account for about 19% of the total eliminated DNA in E. okinoseanus type A. Fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments demonstrated that the two families of DNA are located on several C-band-positive, small chromosomes that are limited to germ cells in both types of E. okinoseanus.by W. Hennig     

综述: DNA甲基化在动物胚胎和生殖细胞发育过程中的重编程

表观遗传信息DNA甲基化在动物的发育、细胞分化和器官形成过程中,起着至关重要的作用．近期,关于DNA甲基化在脊椎动物胚胎发育和生殖细胞发育过程重编程的研究取得了重要的进展．发现斑马鱼的早期胚胎完整地继承了精子的DNA甲基化图谱,而哺乳动物的早期胚胎和原始生殖细胞发育过程则经历了整体去甲基化并重新建立甲基化图谱的过程,但胚胎发育过程中基因的印迹区未发生DNA去甲基化,而生殖细胞发育过程中印迹区的甲基化修饰被消除．     

枸杞体细胞胚发生中DNA代谢动态的立体计量

本文以宁夏枸杞无菌苗叶片为材料,离体培养,并诱导体细胞胚胎发生。根据细胞形态计量学原理,应用数字图像处理软件计量由光学底片经A/D转换成的数字图像中的DNA大分子,对枸杞体细胞胚发生过程中DNA分子的代谢动态进行量化分析。结果表明：在整个体细胞胚发生过程中DNA代谢呈现动态变化。非胚性细胞与胚性细胞期的量化值分别为1.82%和1.91%;在二细胞胚、四细胞胚、多细胞胚时期DNA缓慢增长,随着胚性愈伤组织的发育,DNA的含量在梨形胚时期达到高峰;成熟胚的DNA含量虽有所下降,但仍维持较高水平。因此DNA的合成动态变化与体胚生长发育和细胞增殖密切相关。