Rejuvenation of a 100-year-old Sequoiadendron giganteum through in vitro meristem culture. II. Biochemical arguments

The phenomena of phase change and rejuvenation are characterized mainly by morphological and physiological criteria. Thus far, biochemical assessments have been relatively limited. In Sequoiadendron giganteum , techniques of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and miniaturized two-dimensional gel electrophoresis were applied to a meristem-derived line from a 100-year-old tree to attest the basic origin of the resulting rejuvenation observed from morphological and organogenic standpoints in vitro as well as after acclimation in outdoor conditions. The membrane-associated protein J16, which characterizes the juvenile status was detected in both the juvenile control and the rejuvenated line, while in the original mature form it was totally lacking. In addition, two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of protein patterns of single meristems belonging to the mature and the rejuvenated form suggested that rejuvenation might involve a drastic modification of the protein content within the meristem itself.