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Cloning and molecular characterisation of a potato SERK gene transcriptionally induced during initiation of somatic embryogenesis

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Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis offers great potential in plant propagation, long-term germplasm conservation, and as a suitable model system for deciphering early events during embryogenesis. The up-regulation and ectopic expression of a SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SERK) gene has been shown to mark and enhance embryogenic competence in somatic cells of model plant species. We have cloned and characterised a SERK gene (StSERK1) from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), an important crop plant. Sequence analysis of StSERK1 revealed high levels of similarity to other plant SERKs, as well as a conserved intron/exon structure which is unique to members of the SERK family. Furthermore, StSERK clustered most closely with SERK gene family members such as MtSERK1, CuSERK1, AtSERK1, and DcSERK, implicated in evoking somatic embryogenesis. Monitoring of SERK expression during progression of potato somatic embryogenesis revealed increased StSERK expression during the induction phase. Subsequently, during the embryo transition phases, StSERK expression was unchanged and did not vary among embryo-forming and inhibitory conditions. However, in isolated somatic embryos StSERK expression was again up-regulated. In other plant parts (leaves, true potato seeds, microtubers and flower buds), StSERK showed different levels of expression. Expression analysis suggests that the isolated StSERK could be a functional SERK orthologue. The possible role of SERK as a marker of pluripotency, rather than embryogenesis alone, is discussed.

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Abbreviations

2,4-D:

2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

BAC:

Bacterial artificial chromosome

EST:

Expressed sequence tag

INS:

Internodal segment

LRR:

Leucine-rich repeat

ORF:

Open reading frame

RLK:

Receptor-like kinase

RT-PCR:

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

SE:

Somatic embryogenesis

SERK:

Somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase

SNP:

Single nucleotide polymorphism

SPP:

Serine-proline-proline

ZIP:

Leucine zipper

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Acknowledgements

S.K.S. is grateful to the Government of India and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, United Kingdom for his doctoral Commonwealth Scholarship Award. The authors are thankful to Drs Mark A. Taylor and Pete E. Hedley (SCRI) for critical reading of the manuscript. SCRI is supported by grant-in-aid from the Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD).

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  1. Steve Millam

    Present address: Chichester College, Brinsbury Campus, North Heath, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1DL, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetics Programme, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK

    Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Ingo Hein & Glenn J. Bryan

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  1. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma
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Correspondence to Sanjeev Kumar Sharma.

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Sharma, S.K., Millam, S., Hein, I. et al. Cloning and molecular characterisation of a potato SERK gene transcriptionally induced during initiation of somatic embryogenesis. Planta 228, 319–330 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0739-8

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