Outline for Embryogenesis, part II: September 3, 1999 (lecture 5)

Goals:
I. Discuss the role of the suspensor
II. Discuss some genetic and molecular approaches to understanding embryo development
III. Discuss some gene products involved in embryo development
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I. Role of the suspensor:
The suspensor is a product of the double fertilization event derived from the zygote. The size and
morphology varies a lot in flowering plants (can be a single cell or can be a column of 100's of
cells). The suspensor is usually present early and degenerates later in development. Although
the suspensor has a critical role in zygotic embryo development, it often does not form in somatic
embryogenesis.
A. Some interesting features that suspensor may have:
multinucleate cells
polyploid
haustoria and transfer cells
unusual plastids
lots of smooth ER
Development of the suspensor usually precedes differentiation of the embryo proper.
There are lots of plasmodesmata between suspensor cells, but few between the suspensor and
embryo proper and none between maternal tissues and the suspensor.
Structures that resemble suspensors are present in primitive vascular plants as well, and
therefore suspensors are not just a feature of higher plants.
B. Suspensors synthesize essential growth factors and transport nutrients to the young embryo.
Suspensors stimulate growth of the embryo proper. Experiments to show this:
1. culture experiments:

2. "feeding" experiments:

C. Developmental potential of suspensor cells:

Ablation of the embryo proper:

suspensor, raspberry, and twin mutants:

What does this tell us about the suspensor?

1. suspensor cells have the potential to form embryos
2. the embryo normally represses this potential
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II. and III. Genetic and molecular approaches to studying embryogenesis and gene products
involved in this stage of the life cycle:
A. Experiments suggesting that transcription is limited after fertilization until the globular stage of
development:
1. Incorporation of radiolabelled precursors of RNA and protein:

2. embryo-defective mutants:

B. Genetic approaches to embryogenesis and classes of mutants:

1. Embryo-lethal (defective) mutants:
2. Pattern formation mutants and domains of the embryo:
3. "leafy-cotyledon" mutants: lec1, lec2, fus3:

C. Some molecular approaches to isolate genes expressed during embryogenesis:

1. virtual subtraction
2. differential display of mRNA