Analysis of genes expressed specifically in carrot somatic cells treated with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and lateral suppressor-like protein gene

Abstract

We have developed a carrot somatic embryo-forming system in which somatic embryos are directly formed when hypocotyl explants are treated with 2,4-D and then cultured in hormone-free medium. Searching for genes expressed specifically in 2,4-D-treated hypocotyls may reveal the mechanism of somatic embryogenesis. Differential display analysis revealed three genes, No.130, No.151 and No.209. No.130 and No.209 proteins had high similarities with alcohol dehydrogenases and BRI1-like lateral suppressor region Cs, respectively, but No.151 protein had hardly similarities with any proteins. No.130 and No.209 were expressed the highest before the globular stage of somatic embryogenesis and No.151, at the heart-shaped stage.
Because of similarity between No.209 and lateral suppressor region C, lateral suppressor also may acts during somatic embryogenesis. We identified the full-length carrot lateral suppressor-like protein cDNA. The expression pattern of this gene was similar to that of No.209 gene during somatic embryogenesis.