Abstract
Promoter behaviors at the single cell level are of great interest. Variance of promoter activity between cells and its fluctuation in single cells should be unveiled for the clarity of mechanism and meanings of biological systems. We succeeded in monitoring the promoter activities in single cells in the plant body by using a bioluminescence reporter imaging technology. We used Lemnaceae plants (duckweeds) that are suitable for imaging of the entire body due to the flatness and tininess. We introduced luciferase reporter genes under control of promoters into cells of plant surface by using a particle bombardment method, and then those plants were monitored for the bioluminescence of transfected cells with an EM-CCD camera system. We succeeded in obtaining time-series data of bioluminescence under the growth conditions with various light-dark schedules. We applied promoters with constitutive or circadian expression to duckweeds (Lemna and Spirodela genera) and also Arabidopsis.
