Identification and characterization of genes associated with the induction of embryogenic competence in leaf-protoplast-derived alfalfa cells

Alfalfa leaf protoplast-derived cells can develop into somatic embryos depending on the concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in the initial culture medium. In order to reveal gene expression changes during the establishment of embryogenic competence, we compared the cell types developed in the presence of 1 and 10 μM 2,4-D, respectively, at the time of their first cell divisions (fourth day of culture) using a PCR-based cDNA subtraction approach. Although the subtraction efficiency was relatively low, applying an additional differential screening step allowed the identification of 38 10 μM 2,4-D up-regulated transcripts. The corresponding genes/proteins were annotated and representatives of various functional groups were selected for more detailed gene expression analysis. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-QPCR) analysis was used to determine relative expression of the selected genes in 2,4-D-treated leaves as well as during the whole process of somatic embryogenesis. Gene expression patterns confirmed 2,4-D inducibility for all but one of the 11 investigated genes as well as for the positive control leafy cotyledon1 (MsLEC1) gene. The characterized genes exhibited differential expression patterns during the early induction phase and the late embryo differentiation phase of somatic embryogenesis. Genes coding for a GST-transferase, a PR10 pathogenesis-related protein, a cell division-related ribosomal (S3a) protein, an ARF-type small GTPase and the nucleosome assembly factor family SET protein exhibited higher relative expression not only during the induction of somatic embryogenesis but at the time of somatic embryo differentiation as well. This may indicate that the expression of these genes is associated with developmental transitions (differentiation as well as de-differentiation) during the process of somatic embryogenesis.