Gene activity during germination of spores of the fern, Onoclea sensibilis.  Cell-free translation analysis of mRNA of spores and the effect of alpha-amanitin on spore germination.
Poly(A)-RNA fractions of dormant, dark-imbibed (non-germinating) and photoinduced (germinating) spores of Onoclea sensibilis were poor templates in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate protein synthesizing system, but the translational efficiency of poly(A)+RNA was considerably higher than that of unfractionated RNA.  Poly(A)+RNA isolated from photoinduced spores had a consistently higher translational efficiency than poly(A)+RNA from dark-imbibed spores.  Analysis of the translation products by one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed no qualitative differences in the mRNA populations of dormant, dark-imbibed, and photoinduced spores.  However, poly(A)+RNA from dark-imbibed spores appeared to encode in vitro fewer detectable polypeptides at a reduced intensity than photoinduced spores.  A DNA clone encoding the large subunit of maize ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase hybridized at strong to moderate intensity to RNA isolated from dark-imbibed spores, indicating the absence of mRNA degradation.  Although alpha-amanitin did not inhibit the germination of spores, the drug prevented the elongation of the rhizoid and protonemal initial with a concomitant effect on the synthesis of poly(A)+RNA.  These results are consistent with the view that some form of translational control involving stored mRNA operates during dark-imbibition and photoinduced germination of spores.
Raghavan
V
V
Department of Plant Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002474:Cell-Free System; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D013170:Spores / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D000546:Amanitins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C049197:beta-amanitin