Abscisic acid and ethylene are integrated in the phytoglobin (Pgb) regulation of maize somatic embryogenesis
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
kapoor, karuna
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Suppression of Zea Mays phytoglobins (ZmPbg1.1 or ZmPgb1.2) during somatic embryogenesis induces programmed cell death (PCD) by elevating nitric oxide (NO). While ZmPgb.1.1 is expressed in many embryonic domains and its suppression results in embryo abortion, ZmPgb1.2 is expressed in the basal cells anchoring the embryos to the embryogenic tissue. Removal of these “anchor cells” by PCD allows the embryos to develop further. The effects of ZmPgb suppression on embryogenesis were abolished by exogenous applications of abscisic acid (ABA). A depletion of ABA, ascribed to a down-regulation of biosynthetic genes, was observed in those embryonic domains where the respective ZmPgbs were repressed. These effects were mediated by NO. Depletion in ABA content induced the transcription of genes participating in the synthesis and response of ethylene, as well as the accumulation of ethylene, which influenced embryogenesis. Somatic embryo number was reduced by high ethylene levels and increased with pharmacological treatments suppressing ethylene synthesis. The ethylene inhibition of embryogenesis was linked to the production of ROS and the execution of programmed cell death (PCD). Integration of ABA and ethylene in the ZmPgb regulation of embryogenesis is proposed in a model where NO accumulates in ZmPgb-suppressing cells, decreasing the level of ABA. Abscisic acid inhibits ethylene biosynthesis and the NO-mediated depletion of ABA relieves this inhibition causing ethylene to accumulate. Elevated ethylene levels trigger production of ROS and induce PCD. Ethylene-induced PCD in the ZmPgb1.1-suppressing line [ZmPgb1.1 (A) line] leads to embryo abortion, while PCD in the ZmPgb1.2-suppressing line [ZmPgb1.2 (A) line] results in the elimination of the anchor cells and the successful development of the embryos.
Description
Keywords
Abscisic acid, embryogenesis, ethylene, maize, phytoglobin, programmed cell death.