Effect of DNA methylation on potential transcriptional activity in different tissues and organs of Vicia faba ssp. minor.
Routine protocol was used to isolate DNA (average size 50000 Kbp) from old/young leaves, cotyledons, apical buds and different zones of roots from 4 and 7 days-old Vicia faba seedlings as well as from mature plants. The level of m5dC, as determined by HPLC, varies in the tested material from 22.9% to 31% and could be arranged in the following order: first leaves of seedlings<root<meristematic buds approximately = differentiated zones of root<young leaves<old leaves = cotyledons. This observation suggests that there is a relation between the level of DNA methylation and the processes of differentiation and aging of leaves. DNase I digestion of chromatin of interphase nuclei from different organs of Vicia faba (in situ nick-translation, cytophotometry) indicates that the increase in DNA methylation reduces potential transcriptional activity.
Kaźmierczak
J
J
Department of Plant Cytology and Cytochemistry, University of Lódź, Poland.
D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000378:metabolism; D003853:Deoxyribonucleosides / Q000032:analysis; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D002843:Chromatin; D018744:DNA, Plant; D003853:Deoxyribonucleosides; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C016569:5-methyldeoxycytidine; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I