Abstract
One of the important points for understanding the molecular basis of cell differentiation and development is the cloning of the expressing gene (cDNA) in the target small tissue or the specific single cell. Laser capture micro-dissection (LCM) techniques allow for precise removal of single cell from morphologically distinct cells. We describe here an excellent method for separating a single cell or a few cells from a small target area of plant tissues. In rice endosperm tissues, the aleurone layer and starchy endosperm tissue are differentiated from a single endosperm mother cell. We succeeded in dissecting outer and inner area from endosperm tissue by LCM. RNA was extracted from these cells. RT-PCR analysis for seed storage protein mRNA revealed that the prolamin mRNA were accumulated in outer area of endosperm tissue, but not in inner area. The results of expression analysis of glutelin and vacuolar processing enzyme mRNA are discussed.
