Identification and characterization of genes expressed in early embryogenesis from microspores of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis>

To understand the mechanism in induction of embryogenesis from microspores of Brassica napus, we isolated exhaustively the genes expressed differentially during the early stage of microspore culture. A subtracted cDNA library composed of up-regulated genes during androgenic initiation was produced by suppression subtractive hybridization followed by differential screening by dot blot hybridization, and a total of 136 non-redundant expressed sequence tags were identified. Analysis of the potential functions of the genes showed that 64% of these genes were homologous to known genes, and the remaining ones have not been previously reported to participate in embryogenesis. Many embryo-specific genes were contained in the isolated genes, for example, genes cording lipid transfer protein, napin, cruciferin, oleosin, and phytosulfokine. Real-time RT-PCR analysis for 15 selected genes, which are understood to not be related with embryogenesis, demonstrated that all genes were expressed highly in the early stage of microspore embryogenesis. A few genes also showed higher expression in microspores cultured in non-embryogenic condition or in later stages of embryos. A principal component analysis based on expression profiles of the 15 genes demonstrated that these genes were classified into 2 groups, one characterized by their high expression in initiation of embryogenesis, and the other characterized by their expression in the early to middle stage of embryogenesis. The expressions of these genes were confirmed in zygotic embryos. The identification and characterization of the genes isolated in the present study provide novel information on microspore embryogenesis in Brassica.     

大麦HvLEC1基因的克隆及其表达特征分析

植物LEC蛋白是NF-Y转录因子的一类B亚基,在植物胚状体形成过程中起重要作用。为了研究大麦小孢子体外培养形成胚状体的机理,本研究利用RACE技术在大麦中克隆了一个新的LEC基因,该基因cDNA全长为1004 bp,开放阅读框全长为597 bp,编码198个氨基酸,其蛋白1~59位氨基酸含有LEC结构域,命名为HvLEC1。HvLEC1在大麦的根、茎、叶和小孢子培养过程中均能表达,其中小孢子培养7 d时表达量最高,且HvLEC1在大麦品系BI04中的表达量比基19高,BI04愈伤产量也比基19高,表明HvLEC1表达量和愈伤产量有相关性,受盐胁迫后HvLEC1在大麦的根中快速上调表达,提示HvLEC1可能不仅参与小孢子胚状体发生,而且参与盐胁迫响应。     

14-3-3 isoforms and pattern formation during barley microspore embryogenesis

The members of the 14-3-3 isoform family have been shown to be developmentally regulated during animal embryogenesis, where they take part in cell differentiation processes. 14-3-3 isoform-specific expression patterns were studied in plant embryogenic processes, using barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) microspore embryogenesis as a model system. After embryogenesis induction by stress, microspores with enlarged morphology showed higher viability than non-enlarged ones. Following microspore culture, cell division was only observed among the enlarged microspores. Western blot and immunolocalization of three barley 14-3-3 isoforms, 14-3-3A, 14-3-3B and 14-3-3C were carried out using isoform-specific antibodies. The level of 14-3-3C protein was higher in enlarged microspores than in non-enlarged ones. A processed form of 14-3-3A was associated with the death pathway of the non-enlarged microspores. In the early embryogenesis stage, 14-3-3 subcellular localization differed among dividing and non-dividing microspores and the microspore-derived multicellular structures showed a polarized expression pattern of 14-3-3C and a higher 14-3-3A signal in epidermis primordia. In the late embryogenesis stage, 14-3-3C was specifically expressed underneath the L(1) layer of the shoot apical meristem and in the scutellum of embryo-like structures (ELSs). 14-3-3C was also expressed in the scutellum and underneath the L(1) layer of the shoot apical meristem of 21 d after pollination (DAP) zygotic embryos. These results reveal that 14-3-3A processing and 14-3-3C isoform tissue-specific expression are closely related to cell fate and initiation of specific cell type differentiation, providing a new insight into the study of 14-3-3 proteins in plant embryogenesis.     

油菜裂外壁小孢子胚在分子水平上具有胚体/胚柄分化

早期合子胚取材困难, 难以开展相关研究。前人的工作表明, 油菜(Brassica napus)裂外壁小孢子胚胎发生系统能够较好地模拟合子胚的分化模式, 因而可替代早期合子胚胎作为研究材料。但目前尚缺乏该胚胎发生系统中胚胎具有胚体/胚柄分化的分子水平的证据。该文首次证明了油菜WOX家族基因能够用于标记胚体/胚柄的分化过程, 利用胚柄标记基因BnWOX8的表达模式, 从分子水平上证明了带胚柄的裂外壁小孢子胚的确存在胚体/胚柄的分化。研究结果为充分利用油菜裂外壁小孢子胚胎发生系统, 解决早期胚胎取材困难的问题奠定了坚实的基础。同时, 建立了活体激光切割分离特定细胞的技术, 结合用于少量细胞RNA提取的活体特异细胞RNA提取技术, 为鉴定少量特异分化细胞的基因表达模式提供了一个可行且明确的解决方案。     

Fatty acid changes during development of zygotic and microspore-derived embryos of Brassica napus

Cultured microspores of Brassica napus L. cvs Topas and Reston initiated cell divisions within 3 to 4 days, and globular, heart and torpedo shaped embryos were prevalent after approximately 6, 8, and 10 days, respectively. Embryos with rudimentary cotyledons were evident within 2 weeks, but those that reached this stage of development represented only 1–5% of the original microspore population. The fresh weight of microspore-derived embryos at all stages of development was significantly greater than that for zygotic embryos, but the pattern of change in fresh weight and fatty acid accumulation was similar in developing zygotic and microspore embryos. In freshly isolated microspores of both Topas (low erucic acid) and Reston (high erucic acid), the predominant fatty acid was 18:3, while 18:1 comprised less than 15% of total fatty acids. During development in both zygotic and microspore embryos, the level of 18:3 declined markedly while 18:1 rapidly increased. Erucic acid (22:1) was not detected in the early stages of embryogenesis in Reston. However, small amounts of 22:1 appeared by early cotyledonary stage and the level gradually increased in both zygotic and microspore embryos through the later stages of development. The fatty acid compositions of mature embryos was nearly identical to that of dry seed, except the level of 22:1 in Reston embryos was consistently less than in the seed. Triacylglycerols comprised only 15% of total lipids in freshly isolated microspores, but increased to more than 90% by 4 weeks. The fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerol fraction was generally similar to that of total lipids at all stages of development of microspore-derived embryos.     

Expression of the BnmNAP subfamily of napin genes coincides with the induction of Brassica microspore embryogenesis

Brassica napus cv. Topas microspores can be diverted from pollen development toward haploid embryo formation in culture by subjecting them to a heat stress treatment. We show that this switch in developmental pathways is accompanied by the induction of high levels of napin seed storage protein gene expression. Changes in the plant growth or microspore culture conditions were not by themselves sufficient to induce napin gene expression. Specific members of the napin multigene family were cloned from a cDNA library prepared from microspores that had been induced to undergo embryogenesis. The majority of napin clones represented three members (BnmNAP2, BnmNAP3 and BnmNAP4) that, along with a previously isolated napin genomic clone (BngNAP1), constitute the highly conserved BnmNAP subfamily of napin genes. Both RNA gel blot analysis, using a subfamily-specific probe, and histochemical analysis of transgenic plants expressing a BngNAP1 promoter--glucuronidase gene fusion demonstrated that the BnmNAP subfamily is expressed in embryogenic microspores as well as during subsequent stages of microsporic embryo development.     

A novel stress-related gene in developing pepper anthers

To study gene expression patterns and to find genes related with microspore embryogenesis during pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) anther development, mRNA expression patterns were investigated at four developmental stages distinguished according to the size of flower bud, the color of anthers, and the cytological feature of microspores. Through GeneFishing using 120 random primers, 81 genes were found to be differentially expressed as anthers develop. We directly sequenced seven of them, which were either up- or down-regulated at stage 2, since microspores at stage 2 are known to be responsive to the induction signals for microspore embryogenesis. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the isolated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the comparison of these sequences with the GenBank data indicate that DEG13 is a novel gene, which is highly homologous to a stress-related gene of potato, POACT88 (≈91%) and to alcohol dehydrogenase gene of Arabidopsis (≈70%), whose expression is also tightly related to stresses. In vitro data also showed that DEG13 was more abundantly expressed in heat-treated microspores than in untreated microspores. Here, we report developmental stage-specific gene expression patterns during anther development and a novel stress-related gene, DEG13, which may be involved in microspore embryogenesis in response to heat treatment.     

Similarity of expression patterns of knotted1 and ZmLEC1 during somatic and zygotic embryogenesis in maize ( Zea mays L.)

Expression of knotted1 ( kn1) and ZmLEC1, a maize homologue of the Arabidopsis LEAFY COTYLEDON1 ( LEC1) was studied using in situ hybridization during in vitro somatic embryogenesis of maize ( Zea mays L.) genotype Hi-II. Expression of kn1 was initially detected in a small group of cells (5-10) in the somatic embryo proper at the globular stage, in a specific region where the shoot meristem is initiating at the scutellar stage, and specifically in the shoot meristem at the coleoptilar stage. Expression of ZmLEC1 was strongly detected in the entire somatic embryo proper at the globular stage, gradually less in the differentiating scutellum at the scutellar and coleoptilar stages. The results of analyses show that the expression pattern of kn1 during in vitro somatic embryogenesis of maize is similar to that of kn1 observed during zygotic embryo development in maize. The expression pattern of ZmLEC1 in maize during in vitro development is similar to that of LEC1 in Arabidopsis during zygotic embryo development. These observations indicate that in vitro somatic embryogenesis likely proceeds through similar developmental pathways as zygotic embryo development, after somatic cells acquire competence to form embryos. In addition, based on the ZmLEC1 expression pattern, we suggest that expression of ZmLEC1 can be used as a reliable molecular marker for detecting early-stage in vitro somatic embryogenesis in maize.     

Effect of various exogenous and endogenous factors on microspore embryogenesis in Indian mustard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> (L.) Czern and Coss)

Summary The influence of donor plant growth environment, microspore development stage, culture media and incubation conditions on microspore embryogenesis was studied in three Indian B. juncea varieties. The donor plants were grown under varying environments: field conditions, controlled conditions, or a combination of the two. The correlation analysis between the bud size and microspore development stage revealed that the bud size is an accurate marker for donor plants grown under controlled conditions, however, the same does not hold true for the field-grown plants. The buds containing late uninucleate microspores collected from plants grown under normal field conditions up to bolting stage and then transferred to controlled environment were observed to be most responsive with genotypic variability ranging from 10 to 35 embryos per Petri dish, irrespective of the other factors. NLN medium containing 13% sucrose was found to be most suitable for induction of embryogenesis The fortification of this medium with activated charcoal, polyvinylpyrrolidone, colchicine, or growth regulators (6-benzylaminopurine and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid) was observed to be antagonistic for microspore embryogenesis, while silver nitrate (10 μM) had a significant synergistic effect. A post-culture high-temperature incubation of microspores at 32.5±1°C for 10–15 d was found most suitable for high-frequency production of microspore embryos. The highest frequency of microspore embryogenesis (78 embryos per Petri dish) was observed from the late uninucleate microspores (contained in bud sizes 3.1–3.5 nm irrespective of genotype) cultured on NLN medium containing 13% sucrose and silver nitrate (10 μM), and incubated at 32.5°C for 10–15 d.     

甘蓝型油菜小孢子胚状体发生的细胞学观察

应用甘蓝型油菜ＤＨ系保６０４为材料研究小孢子胚发生过程,结果表明,在小孢子离体培养１～５ｄ内,随培养天数增加,小孢子的存活率迅速下降,部分小孢子培养后出现细胞膨大和分裂,并沿２－细胞。“ｆ”形３细胞,多细胞原体,胚柄球形胚,心形胚最终发育成鱼雷形胚,一般在心形胚阶段,胚柄脱离胚主体部分游离到培养基中,大多数膨大的细胞不能分裂或分裂后停止发育或发育异常。     

甘蓝型油菜游离小孢子培养的胚胎发生

以生长在非控温控光下的４个冬性甘蓝型油菜（ＢｒａｓｓｉｃａｎａｐｕｓＬ．）品种为供体,进行游离小孢子培养。研究发现,多数品种在开花３－７天取材最为适宜。在甘蓝型油菜小孢子培养中只有单核晚期的小孢子才可能发育成胚状体,而花药培养时处于单核早期的小孢子易于发育成胚状体。在适当花期选取发育比较一致的单核晚期小孢子培养,经数小时后,部分小孢子便开始膨大,这是小孢子发育成胚的最早标志,膨大的小孢子中,有部分形成多细胞球并进一步发育成胚。用春性甘蓝型油菜为材料进行蔗糖浓度的实验结果表明：培养３天后,在１６％蔗糖培养基中存活的小孢子最多,达１６．１３％;培养３０天后,胚状体诱导频率则以１３％蔗糖浓度为最高,每花蕾可达１４４个胚状体。如果在１６％蔗糖培养基中培养３天后,添加等体积的１３％蔗糖培养基,能够大大提高胚状体的诱导频率,为仅用１３％蔗糖培养基培养的３．７倍。这一实验体系正在用于抗菌核病的诱变与筛选,并作为外源基因导入的实验体系。     

Effects of aluminum on DNA synthesis, cellular polyamines, polyamine biosynthetic enzymes and inorganic ions in cell suspension cultures of a woody plant, Catharanthus roseus

Individual buds of Brassica napus cv. Topas, near the first pollen mitosis, were used for microspore culture. Bud and petal lengths were recorded. Microspores isolated from the individual buds were plated and small samples were fixed for cytology. Following embryo induction and three weeks of culturing, numbers of embryos were scored. Bud and petal lengths did not accurately indicate which buds would supply microspores that would form embryos at high frequencies. Fluorescence microscopy was used to examine nuclei stained with Hoechst 33258 and vacuolar morphology of microspores was revealed by the weaker fluorescence due to glutaraldehyde fixation. Following isolation, nuclear and vacuolar characteristics were used to stage the microspores as miduninucleate, late uninucleate vacuolate, late uninucleate, mitotic, or binucleate. The relationship of developmental stage to the frequency of microspore-derived embryos was evaluated. A classification scheme was developed which uses the relative proportions of microspores at each of the stages to identify microspore isolations that would form embryos at high frequencies. It was found that when 1 to 87% of the isolated microspores were binucleate, 21.4 ± 3.0% of the viable microspores developed into embryos. This was a significant ( P < 0.001) increase over the other 3 classes. The ability to select highly embryogenic microspore isolations is of great advantage for developmental cell biology studies.