Nucleic Acid Metabolism of Vicia faba during Germination and Growth

During the growth of Vicia faba seedlings in the absence of an external nitrogen supply, the cotyledons decreased rapidly in dry weight and nucleic acid content. In the developing shoot the dry weight increased rapidly for four weeks and then very slowly over the next two weeks growth; the nucleic acid content of the shoot increased to a maximum after 4 weeks growth and decreased in amount during the next 2 weeks. On the other hand the roots increased in both dry weight and nucleic acid content throughout the growth period, although they only accounted for a small proportion of the total dry weight and nucleic acid content of the plant. These changes during germination and growth are discussed in relation to those occurring during these developmental stages in other plants.     

Dynamic Histone Acetylation of Late Embryonic Genes during Seed Germination

Histone acetylation is involved in the regulation of gene expression in plants and eukaryotes. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from histones, which is associated with the repression of gene expression. To study the role of histone acetylation in the regulation of gene expression during seed germination, trichostatin A (TSA), a specific inhibitor of histone deacetylase, was used to treat imbibing Arabidopsis thaliana seeds. GeneChip arrays were used to show that TSA induces up-regulation of 45 genes and down-regulation of 27 genes during seed germination. Eight TSA-up-regulated genes were selected for further analysis – RAB18, RD29B, ATEM1, HSP70 and four late embryogenesis abundant protein genes (LEA). A gene expression time course shows that these eight genes are expressed at high levels in the dry seed and repressed upon seed imbibition at an exponential rate. In the presence of TSA, the onset of repression of the eight genes is not affected but the final level of repressed expression is elevated. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and HDAC assays show that there is a transient histone deacetylation event during seed germination at 1 day after imbibition, which serves as a key developmental signal that affects the repression of the eight genes. Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

Isoenzyme Activities during the Early Stages of Allium Radicle Germination

As a continuation of a study of the molecular events surrounding the establishment of a mature root apex, changes in the pattern and specific activity of the isoenzymes of aminopeptidase (AmP), esterase (EST), glucose-6-phosphate de-hydrogenase (G6PD) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) were investigated during the early germinative growth of the Allium radicle tip. Polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis revealed a total of 9 EST fractions. A shift in pattern and reactivity characteristic of pre-emergence to those characteristic of post-emergence was demonstrated. G6PD electropherograms displayed 5 isoenzyme bands. Relative specific activity analyses indicated that this enzyme may be more important during the very early stages of germination. Only quantitative differences were noted in the 3 AmP isoenzymes detected. The progressive increase in AmP isoenzyme activity during the period of maximal protein body degradation suggested a role for these exopeptidases in the degradation of reserve proteins. The 3 isoenzyme bands of GOT exhibited only quantitative changes during germination. Parallel increases in the quantity of soluble protein and GOT specific activity suggest that this isoenzyme is involved in the onion's nitrogen metabolism during germination.     

Protein Synthesis in the Axes of Polyethylene Glycol-Treated Pea Seed and during Subsequent Germination

Germination of Alaska pea seeds is inhibited by –0.3 MPapolyethylene glycol but upon subsequent transfer to water, germinationis completed rapidly and radicle emergence occurs more quicklythan in water-imbibed seeds. Protein synthesis is reduced inthe axes of seeds imbibed on PEG but increases upon their returnto water, though not to the level exhibited by axes germinatedon water. Mobilization of proteins in the axes is retarded bytheir failure to complete germination on PEG, although somedoes occur. The quantitative reduction in protein synthesisresulting from incubation in osmoticum is not accompanied bymarked qualitative changes. The block to germination is notobviously associated with a restriction in synthesis of anyparticular protein or set of proteins; conversely, no ‘water-stress’proteins are synthesized in the presence of PEG. The synthesisof growth-specific proteins is prevented by PEG, but these increaseupon relief from the osmoconditioning treatments. These observationsdispute earlier claims for accelerated protein synthesis resultingfrom PEG treatments. Key words: Osmotic priming, Pisum sativum, germination, protein synthesis     

Spontaneous Chemiluminescence of Soybean Embryonic Axes during Imbibition

Isolated soybean (Glycine max L. var Hood) embryonic axes have a spontaneous chemiluminescence (about 150 counts per minute per embryo) that increases showing two phases, upon water imbibition. The first photoemission burst was measured between 0 and 7 hours of imbibition with a maximum of about 350 counts per minute per embryo after 2 hours. The second photoemission phase, between 7 and 30 hours, increased from about 220 to 520 counts per minute per embryo. Both chemiluminescence phases were inhibited by infused butylated hydroxyanisole while only the second phase was inhibited by infused salicylhydroxamic acid. On the basis of the sensitivity of the lipoxygenase reaction to both inhibitors (about 90%), the first burst is tentatively assigned to oxy-radicals mobilized upon water uptake by the embryonic axes, and the second phase is tentatively identified as due to lipoxygenase activity. The in vivo lipoxygenase activity of the embryonic axes was estimated by both the fraction of total oxygen uptake that was inhibited by butylated hydroxyanisole and by the fraction of photoemission that was inhibited by butylated hydroxyanisole and by salicylhydroxamic acid. Both approaches indicated marked increases (5-fold and 12-fold, respectively) of lipoxygenase activity between 2 and 30 hours of imbibition. The measured chemiluminescence per O₂ uptake ratio (the experimental quantum yield) for the lipoxygenase reaction (3.3 × 10⁻¹⁴ counts per O₂ molecule) was used to estimate the O₂ uptake due to lipoxygenase activity from the photoemission of the embryonic axes after 30 hours of imbibition. The value (0.54 microliters per minute per axis) was close to the butylated hydroxyanisole-sensitive O₂ uptake (1.2 microliters O₂ per minute per axis) of the same embryonic axes. Chemiluminescence may afford a noninvasive assay for lipoxygenase activity in intact plant tissues.     

myo-Inositol Synthesis from [1-H]Glucose in Phaseolus vulgaris L. during Early Stages of Germination

Radiolabeled d-[1-³H]glucose was fed by imbibition under sterile conditions to bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds. After 72 and 96 hours of feeding, the ³H was located in uronic acid and pentose residues as well as hexose residues of cell wall polysaccharides in growing hypocotyl and root. Free myo-inositol present in cotyledons, hypocotyl, and root also contained ³H, showing that de novo synthesis of myo-inositol from [1-³H]glucose did occur during the first 72 hours of germination. More than 90% of the labeled, free myo-inositol was present in the cotyledons. The ³H percentage in trifluoroacetic acid-soluble arabinose residues of cell wall polysaccharides from 72-hour-old bean hypocotyls was only half of their mole percentage. On the other hand, ³H percentages in hexose residues were higher than their mole percentages. The results suggest that myo-inositol is synthesized from reserve sugars during the very early stages of germination, and that the newly synthesized myo-inositol, as well as that stored in cotyledons, can be used for the construction of new hypocotyl and root cell wall polysaccharides after conversion into uronic acids and pentoses via the myo-inositol oxidation pathway.     

Synthesis of Translatable mRNA for Phytochrome during Imbibition in Embryonic Axes of Pisum sativum L.

The activity of translatable mRNA for phytochrome was measuredin excised embryonic axes of Pisum sativum L. during imbibitionboth in the dark and under continuous irradiation with whitelight. When measured in cell-free protein synthesis systemsof both rabbit reticulocyte lysate and wheat germ extract, theactivity of translatable mRNA for phytochrome was not detectedin dry quiescent axes but increased rapidly after imbibitionin the dark. After 24 h imbibition, the level of translatablemRNA for phytochrome, in terms of the incorporation of [³⁵S]methioninein the wheat germ system, was ca. 0.0034% of total translatablemRNA. In the presence of 0.5 µg ml^–1 -amanitin,the appearance of translatable mRNA for phytochrome was inhibitedby 60%, while 2 µg ml^–1 -amanitin was almost completelyinhibitory. This indicates that the synthesis of translatablemRNA for phytochrome in embryonic axes begins upon imbibition. When the axes were imbibed under continuous white light, theactivity of phytochrome mRNA increased as rapidly during thefirst 3 h as in the dark. After this time, the activity wasmarkedly lower than in the dark. Nevertheless, during the 24h of imbibition, activity in the light was always found to bemore than half of that in the dark. These results indicate thatin germinating pea axes the level of translatable mRNA for phytochromeis partially repressed by light. (Received June 5, 1985; Accepted September 2, 1985)     

Effects of Gabaculine on Phytochrome Synthesis during Imbibition in Embryonic Axes of Pisum sativum L.

Effects of gabaculine, a transaminase inhibitor, on phytochromesynthesis in the embryonic axes of Pisum sativum during imbibitionat 25°C on 0.2% agar medium were investigated. The contentof phytochrome in crude homogenates (2kS) prepared from embryonicaxes was determined both by a spectrophotometric assay, withhighly purified phytochrome solution as the internal standard,and by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (a sandwichmethod) with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against peaphytochrome. The-content of optically detectable phytochromein 2kS prepared from 12 h-imbibed embryonic axes was reducedin the presence of gabaculine at concentrations of 0.002 minor higher. The maximum inhibitory effect occurred at ca. 0.1IBM. The effect of 0.5 mM gabaculine on optically detectablephytochrome became noticeable 3 h after the start of imbibition.In contrast, the time course of the increase of apophytochromeduring imbibition was unaffected in the presence of gabaculineat concentrations below 1 miu. We conclude that the appearanceof holophytochrome in imbibed embryonic axes results from denovo synthesis of both the protein moiety of phytochrome andits chromophore. (Received July 18, 1986; Accepted September 8, 1986)     

The Messenger RNA Population in the Embryonic Axes of Phaseolus vulgaris During Development and Following Germination

Misra, S. and Bewley, J. D. 1985. The messenger RNA populationin the embryonic axes of Phaseolus vulgaris during developmentand following germination.—J. exp. Bot. 36: 1644–1652. Messenger RNAs were extracted from young, mid-maturation, late-maturation,mature-dry, and 20-h-germinated embryonic axes of Phaseolusvulgaris cv. Taylor's Horticultural. They were translated invitro in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate protein synthesizing system.Analysis of the translation products using two-dimensional polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis indicated that there were substantial changesin the messenger RNA populations of developing and germinatingaxes. The number of polypeptides synthesized increased sharplyat 20–22 d after pollination and then declined. Therewas a parallel increase and decrease in the Poly(A)⁺ contentof the seed axis. The analysis showed that certain messageswere present throughout development and were stored in maturedry seed. These messages were degraded upon subsequent rehydration.Some messages appeared during mid-maturation but declined duringlater stages of development and were absent from the matureseed. In the germinating seed a set of messages unique to germinationappeared. Key words: —Seed development, germination, mRNA, in vitro translation, Phaseolus vulgaris     

Changes in the Ascorbate System during Seed Development of Vicia faba L

Large changes occur in the ascorbate system during the development of Vicia faba seed and these appear closely related to what are generally considered to be the three stages of embryogenesis. During the first stage, characterized by embryonic cells with high mitotic activity, the ascorbic acid/dehydroascorbic acid ratio is about 7, whereas in the following stage, characterized by rapid cell elongation (stage 2), it is lower than 1. The different ascorbic/dehydroascorbic ratio may be correlated with the level of ascorbate free radical reductase activity, which is high in stage 1 and lower in stage 2. Ascorbate peroxidase activity is high and remains constant throughout stages 1 and 2, but it decreases when the water content of the seed begins to decline (stage 3). In the dry seed, the enzyme disappears together with ascorbic acid. Ascorbate peroxidase activity is observed to be 10 times higher than that of catalase, suggesting that ascorbate peroxidase, rather than catalase, is utilized in scavenging the H₂O₂ produced in the cell metabolism. There is no ascorbate oxidase in the seed of V. faba. V. faba seeds acquire the capability to synthesize ascorbic acid only after 30 days from anthesis, i.e. shortly before the onset of seed desiccation. This suggests that (a) the young seed is furnished with ascorbic acid by the parent plant throughout the period of intense growth, and (b) it is necessary for the seed to be endowed with the ascorbic acid biosynthetic system before entering the resting state so that the seed can promptly synthesize the ascorbic acid needed to reestablish metabolic activity when germination starts.     

Cell and Nuclear Size in Vicia faba Roots: changes during Germination and in Response to Levels of Ambient Water

Changes in cell and nuclear size were studied in roots of germinatingseeds of Vicia faba in order to answer the following questions:(1) When is growth of cells and nuclei initiated? (2) Is theratio, nucleus: cell size, constant over the first two to threecell cycles, i.e. are nuclear and cell growth closely coordinatedor can they vary independently of one another? Answers to thesequestions should contribute to our knowledge of the relationbetween cell and nuclear growth and the systems that regulategrowth of actively proliferating cells. The results show thatmean cell area increased very little during the first cell cycleand then decreased over the subsequent two to three cell cycles,i.e. until roots reached a steady state condition. Nuclei, onthe other hand, increased in size from 30 to 50 h after seedswere sown, i.e. when most nuclei were in S or G₂ The mean andthe range in nuclear volumes reached in the first two mitoticcycles during germination are maintained when root meristemsachieve a steady state condition. Thus nuclei maintain a constantmean size over the first few cycles, while cells decrease insize. As a, result of this difference, the ratio, nucleus: cellarea, increases over the few first cell cycles from 0·157to 0·222. The ratio increases in both interphase andprophase cells. Increases in size of cells and nuclei are notabsolutely coordinated; this suggests that nuclear and cellgrowth are, to some extent, regulated independently of eachother. Vicia faba L, broad bean, nuclear volume, cell area, root meristem, germination, water level     

The Emergence and Early Growth of the Lateral Root in Vicia faba L.

The duration of the mitotic cycle, as well as the proportionof cells with long and short cycle times and quiescent cells,have been investigated in the apical meristems of young lateralroots of Vicia faba. No changes took place in the duration ofC or in the phases of the mitotic cycle as the lateral rootemerged from the primary root, though the proportion of proliferatingcells increased and the quiescent fraction of cells decreased.It is suggested that the low frequency with which newly emergedlateral roots label with ³H-TdR is a result of the formationof a large endogenous pool of TdR in the meristems during theperiod they are temporarily quiescent. The changes which tookplace in the parameters of cell proliferation during the earlygrowth of the lateral root have been correlated with those inroot apical meristems following the onset of seed germination.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Vicia faba

Among the major grain legume crops, Vicia faba belongs to those where the production of transgenic plants has not yet convincingly been reported. We have produced stably transformed lines of faba bean with an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer system. Stem segments from aseptically germinated seedlings were inoculated with A. tumefaciens strains EHA101 or EHA105, carrying binary vectors conferring (1) uidA, (2) a mutant lysC gene, coding for a bacterial aspartate kinase insensitive to feedback control by threonine, and (3) the coding sequence for a methionine-rich sunflower 2S-albumin, each in combination with nptII as selectable marker. Kanamycin-resistant calluses were obtained on callus initiation medium at a frequency of 10–30%. Shoot regeneration was achieved on thidiazuron containing medium in a second culture step. A subsequent transfer of shoots to BA-containing medium was necessary for stem elongation and leaf development. Shoots were rooted or grafted onto young seedlings in vitro and mature plants were recovered. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the transgenes into the plant genome. Inheritance and expression of the foreign genes was demonstrated by Southern blot, PCR, western analysis and enzyme activity assays. Although at present the system is time-consuming and of relatively low efficiency, it represents a feasible approach for the production of genetically engineered faba beans.     

Nitrogen Metabolism of Vicia faba

Vicia faba plants were grown for four and six weeks without externally supplied nitrogen. Some nitrogen was transported to the plant axis from the cotyledons throughout this period, but the amount available was insufficient to support maximum shoot growth. During this period the protein content of the shoot declined whilst the free amino acids, especially aspartic acid, glutamic acid, histamine and the combined pool for threonine, serine, asparagine and glutamine and ammonia, increased in amount. In contrast to the shoot the protein content of the root increased as did their free amino acid content, but the increase in the latter was less than in the shoot and only the combined value for threonine, serine, asparagines and glutamine increased significantly. During tbe last two weeks growth, some soluble non-amino acid compound appeared to donate nitrogen to the pool of free amino acids in the root and shoot.     

Stability of rRNA genes during germination of Vicia faba seeds

Germinating Vicia embryos and the roots of 4-day-old seedlingswere assayed for the proportion of DNA that is complementaryto Vicia rRNA. Hybridization experiments which were performedusing DNA purified by ordinary procedures including RNase digestionshowed a higher level of saturation only for the DNA from theembryos. The embryo DNA showed a Tm of 74?C in 0.1?SSC, whereasthe Tm of the root DNA was 70?C. However, our final conclusionis that there is no gross amplification of rRNA genes for Viciafaba, since the saturation level for the embryo DNA did notexceed that for the root DNA when the DNAs were used after additionalpurification on CsCl gradients. ¹ Present address: Department of Botany, Faculty of Education,Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya 320, Japan. (Received November 25, 1974; )     

First DNA Synthesis around Sterile and Crown Gall-Inoculated Wounds in Vicia faba

DNA synthesis was measured during a 30 hour period in stem segments containing a wound — either sterile or inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens— and in control stems of Vicia faba. An identical series of experiments was conducted both on upper, still growing internodes and on lower, mature ones. The incorporation of ³H-thymidine was determined from extracted DNA with a liquid scintillation spectrometer. The results from the two internodes were fairly similar. DNA synthesis was not significantly different in the two types of wounds. It rose above control level at about 10 hours after wounding and reached its peak at about 19 hours. Roughly, this pattern of DNA synthesis seems to correspond to the minimum conditioning and transformation time as found in other plants. However, the decisive factor need not be DNA synthesis, but could be some other process coinciding with it.     

Gene Expression and Synthesis of Phytohemagglutinin in the Embryonic Axes of Developing Phaseolus vulgaris Seeds

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), the major seed lectin of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), is found largely in the cotyledons, but is also present in the embryonic axis. At mid-maturation, the percentage of total protein synthesis which is directed towards making PHA is 5 to 10 times greater in the cotyledons than in the axes. This lower rate of synthesis in the axes is correlated with a lower abundance of mRNA for PHA, as determined by dot blot hybridization using a cDNA clone for PHA. Manen and Pusztai (Planta 1982 155: 328-334) have claimed on the basis of immunocytochemical evidence that, in the axis, PHA is found in the cytosol although it is present in protein bodies in the cotyledons. In the cotyledons, PHA is synthesized on rough endoplasmic reticulum, and its transport to the protein bodies via the Golgi complex is associated with specific posttranslational processing steps (Vitale and Chrispeels, J Cell Biol 1984 In press). A cytosolic localization of axis PHA would be an indication of a different site of synthesis and transport pathway. The results presented here indicate that the site of synthesis of PHA and the posttranslational modifications of PHA are the same in the axes as in the cotyledons. Since in the cotyledons these modifications take place in the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi, and the protein bodies, it appears that the transport pathway and the site of accumulation of PHA in the axes is similar to that in the cotyledons. On the basis of our evidence, we suggest that the subcellular localization of PHA in the axes should be reexamined.     

He-Ne激光处理不同时期蚕豆幼苗对抗氧化系统的影响

采用功率为3.50 mW/mm2的He-Ne激光处理不同时期蚕豆,研究其四叶期叶片中丙二醛(MDA)含量,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及同工酶谱的变化。结果表明,与对照相比,He-Ne激光处理不同时期蚕豆,MDA含量均显著降低,且各处理间没有显著差异;SOD、POD、CAT酶活性有不同程度提高。SOD、POD同工酶的酶谱在浸种24小时和胚芽露头期经激光处理后改变,在一叶期处理后没有改变;CAT同工酶谱没有变化;在一叶期处理的三种同工酶谱都没有改变。