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Function of DNA synthesis and DNA repair in the survival of embryos during early germination and in dormancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Rhoderick H. Elder  and
Daphne J. Osborne
Rhoderick H. Elder
Affiliation:
Department of Carcinogenesis, Paterson Institute, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 9BX, UK
Daphne J. Osborne*
Affiliation:
Oxford Research Unit, Open University, Foxcombe Hall, Boars Hill, Oxford OX1 5HR, UK
*
* Correspondence
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Abstract

DNA synthesis following the addition of water to excised embryos of non-dormant rye and to embryos of non-dormant and dormant genetic lines of Avena fatua has been examined. All the samples exhibit an early unscheduled DNA synthesis, have similar responses to DNA polymerase inhibitors and a similar increase in DNA ligase function for the first 24 h of imbibition, irrespective of whether they germinate or remain dormant. A β-polymerase-mediated DNA repair activity is indicated immediately upon imbibition with the stable incorporation of 3H-methyl-thymidine into high molecular weight DNA. Following γ-irradiation of dry or imbibed embryos, inhibitor results suggest the appearance of an additional α- or δ-polymerase activity in the ensuing repair. Abscisic acid permits the early unirradiated repair synthesis, but like aphidicolin, it inhibits replicative DNA synthesis and partly inhibits the post-irradiation incorporation of thymidine. DNA synthesis takes place continuously throughout dormancy of imbibed embryos: precursor incorporation into DNA cannot be chased in the short term and occurs in the absence of an S-phase or endoreduplication of nuclear DNA. It is proposed that dormant imbibed embryos maintain the integrity of the genome by a continuous but slow replacement of DNA steered by a non-amplifying and modified form of replicative DNA synthesis and that abscisic acid may play a determining role in this process.

Keywords

Abscisic acidAvena fatuaDNA integrityDNA repairdormancygerminationrye
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , March 1993 , pp. 43 - 53
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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