PLANT PHYSIOLOGY , Vol 111, Issue 4 1043-1050, Copyright © 1996 by American Society of Plant Biologists
|
WHOLE PLANT, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND STRESS PHYSIOLOGY |
Molecular Characterization of the Rehydration Process in the Resurrection Plant Craterostigma plantagineum
G. Bernacchia, F. Salamini and D. Bartels
Max-Planck-Institut fur Zuchtungsforschung, Carl-von-Linne-Weg 10, D-50829 Koln, Germany
The resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum is unique among higher
plants because it is able to survive a desiccation treatment. For this
reason it has been used as a model system for the analysis of the molecular
mechanisms of desiccation tolerance. Many transcripts and proteins are
expressed de novo during dehydration. This paper describes the molecular
events that occur during the rehydration process of dried C. plantagineum
plants. Changes in gene expression patterns were first analyzed by in vivo
labeling and in vitro translation experiments. In a second set of
experiments steady-state mRNA levels were monitored using specific cDNA
clones. The experiments indicated three major changes on the molecular
level during rehydration: the dehydration-specific gene products
disappeared during an early phase of rehydration, a small number of
rehydration-specific transcripts were synthesized around 12 to 15 h after
the onset of rewatering, and hydration-related gene products appeared
concomitantly. The gene expression patterns during rehydration are
discussed with respect to the possible roles of the gene products.
