Changes in intracellular cAMP level and activities of adenylcyclase and phosphodiesterase during meiosis of lily microsporocytes.

In the yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schyzosaccharomyces pombe, reduction of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is known to trigger the sporulation processes by activating various meiosis specific genes. In order to ascertain whether a similar mechanism is operative in higher plants, we carried out preliminary studies on lily microsporocytes. Measurement of cAMP levels as well as the activities of adenyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase in somatic cells and different stages of meiosis, and arrest of its in protoplasts cultured under conditions of high cAMP provided direct evidence that similar phenomena occur in plant meiocytes as earlier documented in yeasts.