Partial characterization of genes whose transcripts accumulate preferentially in cell clusters at the earliest stage of carrot somatic embryogenesis.

We attempted to identify genes that are preferentially expressed immediately after somatic cells divide to form cell clusters at the earliest stage of carrot somatic embryogenesis when they are not or barely expressed in non-embryogenic suspension-cultured cells in the presence of 2,4-D. Using the differential display technique, we isolated three cDNA clones, designated No. 43, No. 87 and No. 93. The No. 43 transcript was preferentially expressed in the earliest cell clusters, its level decreased drastically at the globular and heart-shaped and torpedo-shaped stages, and it was not detected in non-embryogenic suspension-cultured cells. No. 43 cDNA encoded a protein with homology to thaumatin-like proteins and the deduced positions of seven cysteine residues in the 63 amino acid sequence from the carboxyl terminus were identical to those in thaumatin-like proteins. The full-length nucleotide sequence of No. 93 cDNA was determined and its product was about 80% homologous to precursor of the 14 kDa proline-rich DC 2.15 protein of carrot at the amino acid level. However, the deduced amino acid sequence lacked the characteristic core of repeating Pro-X motifs found in DC 2.15. The No. 93 transcript accumulated preferentially in the earliest cell clusters but it was also detected at a low level in non-embryogenic suspension-cultured cells, unlike DC 2.15 transcripts that begin to accumulate in heart-shaped embryos before their level falls in torpedo-shaped embryos. No. 87 transcripts were expressed preferentially in the earliest cell clusters that has been incubated with 2,4-D but were also detected at a low level in suspension-cultured cells subcultured in the continued presence of 2,4-D. The No. 87 cDNA exhibited no significant homology to any sequences in databases.