Abstract
CURLY LEAF (CLF) and SWINGER (SWN) are factors of the Polycomb complex that plays key roles in chromatin remodeling by modulating histone methylation. The clf swn plants form somatic embryos after germination at 23oC. The LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1) expressed in the embryos is a key gene not only for the normal embryogenesis but also for the somatic embryogenesis.
We found that the formation of somatic embryos in the aerial part of the clf swn was suppressed by low temperature (10 ). The LEC1 was mis-expressed in a whole part of the clf swn plants at 23oC. By contrast, the LEC1 expression in the aerial part of the clf swn was reduced at 10oC, consistent with the suppression of the formation of somatic embryos. These results suggest that the de-methylation of histones may cause the ectopic expression of the LEC1 and play a key role in the somatic embryogenesis.
