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Developmental changes induced by gamma irradiation in Ipomoea batatas L. Lam (sweet potato).

Storage roots of Ipomoea batatas L. Lam were exposed to gamma irradiation at 90, 180, and 240 Gy. The two highest doses caused a delay in the initiation of rooting and especially of shooting; they also caused formation of rosette-like, stemless shoots without apical meristems. The storage roots irradiated with 90 Gy did form stems, but 50% of them had no apical meristem. The irradiated storage roots produced absorbent roots which developed shoots after 70 days of growth. Nonirradiated storage roots did not differentiate shoots from the absorbent roots. When grown in vitro, phytomers, stem segments with leaves and an axillary meristem, separated from the shoots of irradiated storage roots and exhibited growth aberrations, very intense rooting, and a delay in shooting. Phytomers from nonirradiated normal plants were irradiated with 10, 20, 30, 40, and 90 Gy and grown in a hormone-free medium. The 40- and 90-Gy doses delayed shooting as well as rooting. Only phytomers exposed to 40 and 90 Gy differentiated shoots from the absorbent roots. A stimulation of growth revealed in the accumulation of dry mass was found in the shoots of phytomers irradiated with 10 to 30 Gy. The long after-effects of irradiation as well as possible causes of growth stimulation are discussed.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗

The effect of calcium on DNA synthesis in pea (Pisus sativus L.) roots after treatment with heavy metals.

Cortex cells of the meristematic (1 mm) and differentiated (7 mm) zones of Pisus sativus L. roots after 144 h culture in distilled water (control), Ca2+ (10(-3) M) and/or Cd2+, Cr3+, Pb2+ solutions (10(-4) M, each) were subject of the present studies. Reductions in the number of nuclei incorporating 3H thymidine was observed in meristem in the presence of Cd2+ and in differentiated zone in Pb2+ treated roots. Intensity of DNA synthesis diminished after Pb2+ treatment but mostly in Cd2+ treated roots, mainly in meristem. Addition of calcium to the metal solutions caused an increase in the number of nuclei witch uptook the radioactive material in both studied root zones. Positive effect of calcium alone was visible also in the differentiated zone. Presence of calcium in the metal solutions caused a marked increase in 3H thymidine incorporation into nuclear DNA in meristem, although neutralizing calcium effect in this root zone was visible only in roots treated with Cr2+ and Pb2+. In the differentiated zone of roots growing in Cd2+ solution, calcium addition stimulated DNA synthesis but the intensity of this process was lower than in control (water).

Calcium↗

[Effect of polyamines on the cellular radiation reaction].

The influence of polyamines (e.g. putrescine, spermine and spermidine) on the survival rate of HeLa cells and the mitotic index of A. cepa meristem cells, as well as a change in a radiation response of cells under the effect of polyamines have been investigated. Putrescine was shown to produce the lowest cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells, whereas the cytotoxic effect on plant cells was either insignificant or absent at all. One-hour incubation of HeLa cells with putrescine of 5 x 10(-4)-5 x 10(-5) M prior to or after irradiation with a dose of 6 Gy increased the survived cell fraction. Spermine of 10(-3) M increased considerably the mitotic index of the exposed meristem as compared to irradiated meristem untreated with spermine. The role of polyamines in the formation of radiation damage to a cell is discussed.

Allium↗

Temperature and the cell cycle.

During the period between successive divisions, a cell traverses three stages of interphase: G1 (pre-synthetic interphase), S-phase (DNA synthetic interphase) and G2 (post-synthetic interphase). The time taken for all cells in a meristem to divide (the cell doubling time (cdt] decreases in response to an increase in temperature. For example, the cdt in root meristems of Zea mays decreases 21-fold as the temperature is increased from 3 to 25 degrees C. Whether all phases of the cell cycle alter proportionately with temperature has been ascertained by comparing data from the root meristem of five species: Pisum sativum, Helianthus annuus, Tradescantia paludosa, Allium cepa and Triticum aestivum. In three of the five species there is a disproportionate lengthening of the G1 phase at low temperatures. We suggest that arrest in G1 with the associated 2C amount of DNA, confers maximal protection on the genome of a somatic cell to the stress of low temperature. DNA replication has been studied at different temperatures for Helianthus annuus, Secale cereal and Oryza sativa. The rate of DNA replication, per single replication fork, increases when the temperature is raised, while the distance between initiation points (replicon size) remains constant. The temperature at which the cell cycle has a minimum duration is close to 30 degrees C in many species, and it seems that this optimum temperature is always near the upper temperature limit of the cell cycle. The rate of cell division determines the rates of organ and cell growth. Thus, temperature has a major effect on the way in which meristematic cells are deployed in organogenesis. The rate of organogenesis, in turn, determines the response of the plant to the growing season. We predict that species growing in sub-arctic conditions comprise cells with low DNA contents and hence have the potentialities for rapid cell cycles so that maximum advantage can be taken of a short growing season. Data from Triticum aestivum show that at 5 degrees C, nucleoli are large compared with those at 10-25 degrees C. These observations are consistent with high levels of RNA polymerase and cellular RNA found at low compared with high temperatures. These responses may be important in sustaining growth at 5 degrees C. Finally, the effects of temperature on developmental transitions are discussed. The picture that emerges is that more is known about low, as opposed to high, temperature as a morphogenetic switch but virtually nothing is known about cell cycle activity during such transitions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗

[Determination of optimal conditions for the electron-cytochemical detection of ATPase activity in isolated nuclei].

The optimal conditions are selected for electron-cytochemical detection of the ATPase activity in nuclei of the skeletal muscles of rabbits and nuclei of Vicia faba L. meristem. It is shown that the previous fixation of nuclei in the rabbit skeletal muscle for 10 min in a mixture of the buffer solutions of 4% glutaric dialdehyde and 4% neutral formalin (1:1) causes a decrease in their ATPase activity by 78% in the medium containing Mg2+ and by 34% - in the medium containing Ca2+; in nuclei of horse bean seedlings meristem it lowers respectively by 28 and 16%. Ions of lead in a concentration of 0.4 mM evoke a decrease in the ATPase activity in the medium containing Mg2+, in nuclei of the rabbit skeletal muscles by 35% and in nuclei of horse bean meristem by 15% in the medium containing Ca2+. The vaule of the residual activity is sufficient for detection of the product of ATP enzymic hydrolysis reaction by activity is sufficient for detection of the product of ATP enzymic hydrolysis reaction by the method of electronic cytochemistry. An increase in the Pb2+ concentration higher than 2.8 mM evokes nonenzymic hydrolysis of ATP. The ATPase activity under the electron-cytochemical study is found within the range of pH 6.3-8.5. The product of reaction forms most intensively at pH 7.2-7.5 in the medium with both Mg2+ and Ca2+.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Rearrangements of F-actin arrays in growing cells of intact maize root apex tissues: a major developmental switch occurs in the postmitotic transition region.

Immunofluorescence labeling, using a monoclonal antibody developed against actin, revealed the relative abundance and rearrangements of F-actin arrays which occur in cells of the maize root apex as they make the developmental transition from proliferative growth in the meristem to a non-proliferative state in more mature root parts, and during the concomitant process of tissue differentiation. Cells in both the root cap and the quiescent center are depleted of F-actin, whereas it is abundant in cells of the central cylinder but less so in the cortex. The cortical cytoplasm associated with the endwalls of both mitotic and postomitotic cells is characterized by a more intense reactivity to the actin antibody than the longitudinal side walls. A major change in F-actin arrangement occurs in the transitional growth region interpolated between the meristem and the zone of rapid cell elongation. The location and nature of these F-actin rearrangements within the root suggest that the F-actin system might be involved in generating a force associated with the developmental transition of cells from their slow near-isotropic mode of growth close to the base of the meristem, to rapid anisotropic growth which is characteristic of the zone of cell elongation. This attraction notion was strongly supported using specific inhibitors of F-actin and myosin.

Actins↗

[Protein and RNA synthesis during the transition of potato tuber meristematic tissue from rest to growth].

The rate of RNA and protein synthesis in resting and growing meristem tissues from isolated tuber growth points under their incubation with labelled precursors is studied. It is found that the label incorporation into RNA is low during deep resting, protein synthesis being rather intensive. Both RNA and protein synthesis is intensified with the beginning of growth period. More homogenous in their metabolic rate set of RNAs is found in resting tissues in contrast with growing ones. The data on fractionation of total RNA preparation on MAK column and in sucrose density gradient showed that synthesis of high molecular weight RNA with metabolic period of 4 hours is stimulated in growing meristems. It is possible that synthesis of certain fractions of RNA and protein is one of regulation mechanisms for resting in meristem tissues.

Plant Development↗

Removal of O6-methylguanine from plant DNA in vivo is accelerated under conditions of clastogenic adaptation.

Previously it was shown that the clastogenic efficiency of high doses of alkylating agents in plant root meristems can be reduced significantly by conditioning pretreatment with either a low dose of the same agents, a sublethal heat shock, or heavy metal salts. The molecular mechanisms responsible for these protective effects are still unclear. Here we report on the quantification of O6-methylguanine [O6-MeG] by immuno-slot-blot analysis in DNA of root tip meristems of field bean (Vicia faba) seedlings under conditions of clastogenic adaptation. When root tips were pretreated with a low, conditioning dose of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU, 10(-4) M, 1 hour) 2 hours before exposure to a high dose of the same clastogen (10(-3) M, 1 hour), the frequency of chromatid aberrations was reduced by more than 50% at a recovery time of 1 B hours, as compared to treatment with the high dose alone. The same was observed when conditioning pretreatment was by a sublethal heat shock [10 minutes, 40 degrees C] or a heavy metal salt (Cd(NO)3, 10(-7) M, 1 hour). The frequency of O6-MeG immediately after exposure to a conditioning and a subsequent challenge treatment was reduced by 43% as compared to treatment with only the high dose. At a recovery time of 18 hours the corresponding frequency of adducts was reduced by 68.3% (related to the initial level) after treatment with the high dose alone, and by 81.3% under adaptive conditions. Sublethal heat shock or heavy metal salt used as conditioning pretreatments also resulted in a decrease of adducts immediately after treatment with the challenge dose. From these data and from prevention of the effects by pretreatment with cycloheximide or O6-benzylguanine we conclude that under conditions of clastogenic adaptation O6-MeG is more efficiently removed from the DNA, presumably by induction of an alkyl acceptor protein such as O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase [MGMT]. This could explain the observed protective effects (clastogenic adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Patterns and symmetries in leaf development.

The leaf is a coordinated mosaic of developmental domains, which are evident from leaf inception on the flanks of the apical meristem. The subdivision of the meristem into molecularly defined domains is regulated by the interactions of a number of gene products and by receptor kinase-mediated signals. The acquisition of symmetry axes in the emerging leaf is a process coordinated by hormones (such as auxin and cytokinins) and the expression of classes of genes (such as the knox and the ARP, as1/rs2/phan, genes). As with simple leaves, the architecture of compound leaves is defined by spatial/temporal gradients of regulatory gene functions: complexity results from the interplay between leaf differentiation processes and genes maintaining a partial level of indeterminacy in the developing primordium. Boundaries between regions with different molecular 'addresses' are considered, in plants as in Drosophila, as organizing centres for lateral organ development.

Body Patterning↗

Expression of Agrobacterium rhizogenes auxin biosynthesis genes in transgenic tobacco plants.

Plant oncogenes aux1 and aux2 carried by the TR-DNA of Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4 encode two enzymes involved in the auxin biosynthesis pathway in transformed plant cells. The short divergent promoter region between the two aux-coding sequences contains the main regulatory elements. This region was fused to the uidA reporter gene and introduced into Nicotiana tabacum in order to investigate the regulation and the tissue specificity of these genes. Neither wound nor hormone induction could be detected on transgenic leaf discs. However, phytohormone concentration and auxin/cytokinin balance controlled the expression of the chimaeric genes in transgenic protoplasts. The expression was localised in apical meristems, root tip meristems, lateral root primordia, in cells derived from transgenic protoplasts and in transgenic calli. Histological analysis showed that the expression was located in cells reactivated by in vitro culture. Experiments using cell-cycle inhibitors such as hydroxyurea or aphidicolin on transgenic protoplast cultures highly decreased the beta-glucuronidase activity of the chimaeric genes. These results as well as the histological approach suggest a correlation between expression of the aux1 and aux2 genes and cell division.

Cell Cycle↗

Competency of Nicotiana tabacum L. stem tissues to dedifferentiate is associated with differential levels of cell cycle gene expression and endogenous cytokinins.

The expression of the mitotic cyclin Arath; CYCB1;1 and of the cyclin-dependent kinase Arath; CDC2a was located by beta-glucuronidase histochemical detection and in situ hybridization, and was quantified by 4-methylumbelliferyl beta- D-glucuronide assay in tobacco stem tissues during both in vivo differentiation and in vitro dedifferentiation. The changes in localization of endogenous cytokinins were also determined during both processes using quantitative analysis and in situ immunocytochemistry. The CDC2a promoter was expressed continuously during stem development, with particularly high expression in the shoot apical meristem and in the internal and external primary phloem. CYCB1 expression was not restricted to the dividing cells; its expression in the shoot apical meristem was particularly high in the leaf-forming peripheral cells but the gene was also expressed throughout development in the internal and external phloem in which the rate of cell division was reduced or zero. Following in vitro culture, the internal phloem cells appeared to be particularly competent to re-enter the cell cycle within a short lag phase while the pith tissue reactivated later. In culture, cells that resumed division were found to accumulate cytokinins. The high competency of primary phloem to dedifferentiate was associated with its capacity to express CDC2a and CYCB genes and the presence of high cytokinin levels, providing some insights into the determinants of competency for resuming cell division.

Arabidopsis↗

Molecular cloning and cytochemical analysis of exopolygalacturonase from carrot.

Exopolygalacturonase (exo-PGase, EC 3.2.1.67) attacks the non-reducing terminus of the polygalacturonic acid in pectic molecules, releasing galacturonic acid. We cloned the cDNA of exo-PGase purified from cell homogenates of suspension-cultured carrot ( Daucus carota L. cv. Kintoki) cells. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA (1.4 kb) contains an open reading frame that encodes a 391-amino-acid polypeptide. Sequence homology research showed 97.9% identity to the glycoprotein EP4 obtained from cultured carrot cells and 49.3% identity to the ENOD8 gene product of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa). However, no significant similarity was found to known PGases. The Southern hybridization pattern indicated that this exo-PGase protein is a member of a small-sized gene family. Predominant expression of the exo-PGase gene was detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in the root apical meristem and in the elongation region, but not in the root cap. A cross-immunoresponse with anti-exo-PGase also occurred in the root nodule meristem of alfalfa. These results suggest that this exo-PGase plays a role in the degradation of pectic molecules during root development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Basipetal propagation of gravity-induced surface pH changes along primary roots of Lepidium sativum L.

While there is ample evidence for a role of auxin in root gravitropism, the seeming rapidity of gravi-induced changes in electrical parameters has so far been an argument against auxin being a primary signal in gravitropic signal transmission. To address this problem, we re-investigated the effect of gravistimulation on membrane voltages of Lepidium sativum L. and Vigna mungo L. root cells. In our hands, gravistimulation did not induce changes in membrane voltage in cells of the root cap statenchyma, root meristem or apical elongation zone that can be correlated with the orientation of the cells relative to the gravity vector. While these results challenge a model of rapid electrically based signal transmission, there is evidence for a slower signal propagation along gravistimulated L. sativum roots. Using multiple proton-selective microelectrodes to simultaneously measure surface pH on opposite root flanks at different distances from the root tip, we observed gravi-induced asymmetric pH changes at the surface of all investigated root zones. Upon gravistimulation, the surface pH decreased on the physically upper root flank and increased on the lower flank. The pH asymmetry appeared first [2.1+/-0.4 min (mean +/- SD) after tilting] at the root cap and then - with incrementing lag times - at the meristem (after 2.5+/-0.3 min at 300 micro m from root tip; after 3.7+/-0.4 min at 700 micro m) and apical elongation zone (4.8+/-0.5 min at 1,000 micro m), suggesting a basipetal progression of differential surface acidification at a rate of 250-350 micro m min(-1), consistent with reported auxin transport rates.

Biological Transport↗

SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS regulates the transition and maintenance of flowering in tomato.

The characterisation of the single flower truss ( sft) mutant phenotype of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), as well as its genetic interactions with other mutations affecting FALSIFLORA ( FA) and SELF PRUNING ( SP) genes, has revealed that SFT is a key gene in the control of floral transition and floral meristem identity. The single sft mutation produces a late-flowering phenotype in both long-day and short-day conditions. In combination with fa, a mutation affecting the tomato gene orthologous to LFY, sft completely blocks the transition to flowering in this species. Thus, the phenotype of the sft fa double mutants indicates that SFT and FA participate in two parallel pathways that regulate the switch from vegetative to reproductive phase in tomato, and that both genes are indispensable for flowering. On the other hand, the replacement of flowers by vegetative shoots observed in the sft inflorescence suggests that SFT regulates flower meristem identity during inflorescence development of tomato. In addition to these two main functions, SFT is involved in the development of both flowers and sympodial shoots of tomato. First, the mutation produces a partial conversion of sepals into leaves in the first floral whorl, and a reduction in the number of floral organs, particularly carpels. Secondly, the sympodial development in the mutant plants is altered, which can be related to the interaction between SFT and SP, a gene controlling the number of nodes in sympodial shoots. In fact, we have found that the sft phenotype is epistatic to that of sp, and that the level of SP mRNA in the apical buds of sft around flowering is reduced. SFT can therefore co-ordinate the regulation of two simultaneous developmental processes in the tomato apical shoot, the promotion of flowering in one sympodial segment and the vegetative development of the next segment.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗

The tropical cedar tree (Cedrela fissilis Vell., Meliaceae) homolog of the Arabidopsis LEAFY gene is expressed in reproductive tissues and can complement Arabidopsis leafy mutants.

A homolog of FLORICAULA/LEAFY, CfLFY (for Cedrela fissilis LFY), was isolated from tropical cedar. The main stages of the reproductive development in C. fissilis were documented by scanning electron microscopy and the expression patterns of CfLFY were studied during the differentiation of the floral meristems. Furthermore, the biological role of the CfLFY gene was assessed using transgenic Arabidopsis plants. CfLFY showed a high degree of similarity to other plant homologs of FLO/LFY. Southern analysis showed that CfLFY is a single-copy gene in the tropical cedar genome. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization results showed that CfLFY was expressed in the reproductive buds during the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth, as well as in floral meristems and floral organs but was excluded from the vegetative apex and leaves. Transgenic Arabidopsis lfy26 mutant lines expressing the CfLFY coding region, under the control of the LFY promoter, showed restored wild-type phenotype. Taken together, our results suggest that CfLFY is a FLO/LFY homolog probably involved in the control of tropical cedar reproductive development.

Arabidopsis↗

The Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolC-gene-induced somatic embryogenesis and shoot organogenesis in Panax ginseng transformed calluses.

Expression of the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolC gene in Panax ginseng callus cells results in formation of tumors that are capable to form roots. The selection of non-root forming tumor clusters yielded the embryogenic 2c3 callus line, which formed somatic embryos and shoots independently of external growth factors. Although the 2c3 somatic embryos developed through a typical embryogenesis process, they terminated prematurely and repeatedly formed adventitious shoot meristems and embryo-like structures. A part of the shoots and somatic embryos formed enlarged and fasciated meristems. This is the first indication of the rolC gene embryogenic effect and, to our knowledge, the first indication that a single gene of non-plant origin can induce somatic embryogenesis in plants.

Bacterial Proteins↗

A comparative analysis of the Arabidopsis mutant amp1-1 and a novel weak amp1 allele reveals new functions of the AMP1 protein.

Ethylene and gibberellins have a synergistic stimulatory effect on hypocotyl elongation of light-grown Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. seedlings. A screen for mutants with decreased response to these hormones led to the isolation of a novel allele (ampl-7) of the ALTERED MERISTEM PROGRAM (AMP) 1 locus. The amp1-7 allele contains a missense mutation causing a phenotype, which is weaker than that of the amp1-1 mutant that carries a nonsense mutation. The mutant phenotype prompted the hypothesis that AMP1 is involved in ethylene and GA signalling pathways or in a parallel pathway-controlling cell and hypocotyl elongation and cellular organization. Amp1 mutants contain higher zeatin concentrations causing enlargement of the apical meristem, which was confirmed by cytokinin application to wild type seedlings. Light grown amp1 seedlings have shorter hypocotyls than wild type; however, application of cytokinins promotes hypocotyl elongation of both Col-0 and amp1. We suggest that in amp1 mutants either zeatin overproduction or its action is strictly localized.

Alleles↗

Developmentally regulated expression of two MADS-box genes, MdMADS3 and MdMADS4, in the morphogenesis of flower buds and fruits in apple.

Two MADS-box genes, MdMADS3 and MdMADS4, were isolated from the apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) cultivar Fuji, and their spatial and temporal expression patterns were studied during morphological differentiation of the flower buds and the fruits. Both MdMADS3 and MdMADS4 showed high sequence similarities to FBP2 from petunia, TM5 from tomato, and AGL2, AGL4 from Arabidopsis. Although MdMADS3 was expressed in the inner three whorls of the floral primordium, its expression was hardly detectable in developing fruit. The second gene, MdMADS4, was ubiquitously expressed in the inflorescence meristem, floral meristem, all four floral organs, and fruit. Moreover, MdMADS4 expression was high in the vascular bundles assigned to the floral tube and the carpellary vascular bundles in fruit at early developmental stages. The MdMADS4 transcript also accumulated in embryos of the developing seeds. These results suggest that MdMADS3 and MdMADS4 are involved in different functions, and that MdMADS4 may function in the important events controlling flower and fruit development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗