Characterization of Overexpressed cDNAs Isolated from a Hormone-Autonomous, Radiation-Induced Tumor Tissue Line of Arabidopsis thaliana

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of hormonal control of growth, we constructed a subtracted cDNA library enriched for sequences expressed more in a hormone-autonomous, radiation-induced tumor tissue line of Arabidopsis thaliana than in normal, hormone-dependent callus. Ten cDNA clones, which are expressed 1.3- to 10-fold more in the tumor line, were isolated and partially characterized. The clones differ greatly in their level of expression in tumor tissue and in their pattern of expression in plant organs. Southern blot hybridization and sequence analysis showed that this group contains three pairs of closely related clones. Northern blot analysis indicates that one pair of clones represents two members of a gene family that are expressed in different plant organs. One of the isolated sequences shows strong sequence similarity to a cDNA encoding a lipid transfer protein. Two sequences are highly similar to those of previously described membrane channel proteins but have different organ specificities. Two other cDNAs have significant sequence similarity to glycine-rich proteins and hydroxy-proline-rich glycoproteins. When used to probe Southern blots, none of the cDNAs identified polymorphisms between tumor and callus DNA, which might be expected if their overexpression were due to local genome rearrangements induced by radiation. The diversity observed among these 10 clones suggests that some are likely to be involved in tumorous growth and not simply specific to a certain cell or tissue type present in the tumor.     

Transcriptional profiles of primary metabolism and signal transduction-related genes in response to water stress in field-grown sunflower genotypes using a thematic cDNA microarray

A sunflower cDNA microarray containing about 800 clones covering major metabolic and signal transduction pathways was used to study gene expression profiles in leaves and embryos of drought-tolerant and -sensitive genotypes subjected to water-deficit stress under field conditions. Using two-step ANOVA normalization and analysis models, we identified 409 differentially expressed genes among genotypes, water treatment and organs. The majority of the cDNA clones differentially expressed under water stress was found to display opposite gene expression profiles in drought-tolerant genotype compared to drought-sensitive genotype. These dissimilarities suggest that the difference between tolerant and non-tolerant plants seems to be associated with changes in qualitative but not quantitative mRNA expression. Comparing leaves and embryos, 82 cDNA clones showing organ-specific variation in gene expression levels were identified in response to water stress across genotypes. Genes related to amino acids and carbohydrates metabolisms, and signal transduction were induced in embryos and repressed in leaves; suggesting that vegetative and reproductive organs respond differentially to water stress. Adaptive mechanisms controlling water deficit tolerance are proposed and discussed.     

Unusual composition of thylakoid membranes of the resurrection plant Boea hygroscopica: Changes in lipids upon dehydration and rehydration

Boea hygroscopica is a resurrection plant that is able to pass from biosis to anabiosis and vice versa following slow dehydration, but loses this ability following a rapid water loss. Fresh leaves were detached from plants grown in well-watered conditions and subjected to either rapid or slow dehydration and rehydration. Upon rehydration only slowly dried leaves revived. Analysis of thylakoid membranes revealed a rather small amount of total lipids (1,4–2 μmol g^?1 dry weight) in comparison with other flowering plants. The main glycolipid was digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) rather than monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) as is common in higher plants. Linoleic acid was the main fatty acid (30–40 mol% of total fatty acids), while linolenic acid was present from 14 to 26 mol%. In both the fresh and rehydrated leaves nearly all lipid components were present in similar amounts. Following dehydration the DGDG/MGDG molar ratio, which was 1.1 in control and rehydrated leaves, doubled by the end of the rapid drying period and was three times as high in slowly dried leaves. The total polar lipid/free sterol molar ratio as well as the free fatty acid level assumed the highest values in the rapidly dehydrated leaves. A shift towards the more unsaturated fatty acids was observed in all lipid classes upon dehydration irrespective of whether it was slow or rapid. Our data show only small differences between rapidly and slowly dehydrated leaves which can be correlated to the capacity of slowly dehydrated leaves to revive.