Organelle DNA compositions and isoenzyme expression in an interspecific somatic hybrid of Daucus

Summary Cell suspension cultures of Daucus carota, D. capillifolius and a somatic hybrid of these lines were analyzed to determine their chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA compositions. The plastid DNAs (pDNA) from the somatic hybrid and D. carota were identical and were different from that of D. capillifolius when analyzed on agarose electrophoretic gels after digestion by the restriction endonuclease HpaII. The endonuclease restriction patterns of the mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNA) from each cell line were different. Although the restriction pattern of the mtDNA from the somatic hybrid contained fragments in common with one or both parents, unique fragments not found in the restriction pattern of either parent were also present.The amounts and feedback regulation of aspartokinase, homoserine dehydrogenase and dihydrodipicolinic acid synthase were quantified to define the effects of somatic hybridization upon the pathway leading to the biosynthesis of lysine, threonine, methionine and isoleucine. Regulation of each enzyme by end product inhibitors was not altered in the somatic hybrid, but levels of each enzyme appeared to be increased. However, isoenzyme analysis indicated two major forms of homoserine dehydrogenase were present in the hybrid, including one unique form not present in either parent.