Discovery of a novel substance which inhibits somatic embryogenesis in Loblolly Pine

BIOL 196

Di Wu, di.wu@chemistry.gatech.edu1, Charlie D. Oldham, charlie.oldham@chemistry.gatech.edu1, Gerald S. Pullman, Jerry.pullman@ipst.gatech.edu2, and Sheldon W. May, sheldon.may@chemistry.gatech.edu1. (1) School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400, (2) School of Biology; Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0620
Somatic embryogenesis (SE), a vegetative propagation program reproducing whole plants from callus and suspension cultures, has become the most promising method for propagating superior genotypes. The unattached haploid female gametophyte (FG) surrounding the diploid zygotic embryo is not present in embryogenic tissue culture. We present here, evidence that FG of Loblolly Pine from late stages (9.9-9.12) and full-term dry seed can generate substance(s) suppressing early-stage somatic embryo growth and multiplication. A low molecular weight substance has been successfully isolated from the FG tissue, and its structure has been characterized by LC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and NMR. To our knowledge, this is a novel molecule. The discovery of this inhibitor suggests approaches that may circumvent the current bottleneck of conifer SE and its presence in the full-term dry seed is likely a reflection of its biological roles.
 

Frontiers in Chemical Biology
5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Biological Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007