title: Formation of embryogenic cell clumps from carrot epidermal cells is suppressed by 5-azacytidine, a DNA methylation inhibitor.
abstract: Using a direct somatic embryogenesis system in carrot, we examined the role of DNA methylation in the change of cellular differentiation state, from somatic to embryogenic. 5-Azacytidine (aza-C), an inhibitor of DNA methylation suppressed the formation of embryogenic cell clumps from epidermal carrot cells. Aza-C also downregulated the expression of DcLEC1c, a LEC1-like embryonic gene in carrot, during morphogenesis of embryos. A carrot DNA methyltransferase gene, Met1-5 was expressed transiently after the induction of somatic embryogenesis by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), before the formation of embryogenic cell clumps. These findings suggested the significance of DNA methylation in acquiring the embryogenic competence in somatic cells in carrot.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho W2-11, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hatsumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togashi
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuriyama
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokuji
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014230:Triazoles; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D001374:Azacitidine; C092705:uniconazole