Induction of high mitotic index in Petunia suspension cultures by sequential treatment with aphidicolin and colchicine

Strategies for "minimal growth maintenance" of cell cultures: a perspective on management for extended duration experimentation in the microgravity environment of a Space station

How cells manage without gravity and how they change in the absence of gravity are basic questions that only prolonged life on a Space station will enable us to answer. We know from investigations carried out on various kinds of Space vehicles and stations that profound physiological effects can and often to occur. We need to know more of the basic biochemistry and biophysics both of cells and of whole organisms in conditions of reduced gravity. The unique environment of Space affords plant scientists an unusual opportunity to carry out experiments in microgravity, but some major challenges must be faced before this can be done with confidence. Various laboratory activities that are routine on Earth take on special significance and offer problems that need imaginative resolution before even a relatively simple experiment can be reliably executed on a Space station. For example, scientists might wish to investigate whether adaptive or other changes that have occurred in the environment of Space are retained after return to Earth-normal conditions. Investigators seeking to carry out experiments in the low-gravity environment of Space using cultured cells will need to solve the problem of keeping cultures quiescent for protracted periods before an experiment is initiated, after periodic sampling is carried out, and after the experiment is completed. This review gives an evaluation of a range of strategies that can enable one to manipulate cell physiology and curtail growth dramatically toward this end. These strategies include cryopreservation, chilling, reduced oxygen, gel entrapment strategies, osmotic adjustment, nutrient starvation, pH manipulation, and the use of mitotic inhibitors and growth-retarding chemicals. Cells not only need to be rendered quiescent for protracted periods but they also must be recoverable and further grown if it is so desired. Elaboration of satisfactory procedures for management of cells and tissues at "near zero or minimal growth" will have great value and practical consequences for experimentation on Earth as well as in Space. All of the parameters and conditions and procedural details needed to meet all the specific objectives will be the basis of the design and fabrication of cell culture units for use in the Space environment. It is expected that this will be an evolutionary process.

Evaluation of DAPI as a fluorescent probe for DNA in viable Petunia protoplasts

4',6-Diamidino-2-phenyl-indole (DAPI), is a fluorescent probe that specifically and quantitatively stains DNA. Electroporation of viable Petunia protoplasts in the presence of DAPI revealed integral fluorescence that was similar for both the electroporated and fixed protoplasts, indicating quantitative staining of DNA. DAPI fluorescence was localized in the nuclei of viable protoplasts of Petunia. Protoplasts had a short term viability of 56-65% of the control (non-electroporated, unstained) protoplasts as determined by fluorescein diacetate staining 24 hr following electroporation in the presence of DAPI. The majority (84% of the number originally cultured) of these protoplasts subjected to electroporation were able to form a cell wall, but most did not form microcalli because they were blocked in cell division. The three week plating efficiency for protoplasts exposed to DAPI was 4% of the original number of protoplasts initially cultured compared to 30% for the control. DAPI should not be used as a fluorescent probe for plant protoplasts when the protoplasts are cultured for sustained growth because the levels of DAPI required to obtain quantitative staining of the DNA resulted in inhibition of the cell cycle. DAPI may, however, be used as a fluorescent DNA probe for short term (24 hr) studies.

Expression and occurrence of uracil-DNA glycosylase in higher plants

Uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) is the first enzyme in the base excision repair pathway for removal of uracil in DNA. DNA repair capacity is likely to be a critical factor in mutagenesis and thereby in the capacity to prevent genetic damage and unwanted variation. We have studied expression of UDG in 9 higher plant species. The highest expression of UDG was measured in Solanum tuberosum. A comparison of 6 Solanum tuberosum cultivars showed that the specific activity ranged from 30 pmol mg¹ protein min^-1 in the cultivar Laila to 80 pmol mg^-1 protein min^-1 in the cultivar Ostara. Measurement of UDG in Begonia X cheimantha gave no indications of enzyme activity. The possible effects of no or low UDG activity is discussed. In vitro cultures of Solanum tuberosum and Thymus vulgaris were used to examine the effect of auxin and cytokinin on the UDG activity. Axillary shoots of Solanum tuberosum were cultured on medium including 20 variations in hormone concentration. Auxin (1-naphtaleneacetic acid) increased the expression of UDG. Plants cultured on medium supplemented with 3 mg 1^-1 1-naphtaleneacetic acid showed a specific UDG activity which was approximately 3-fold higher than the activity in controls. The cytokinin benzyladenine reduced the specific UDG activity at concentrations in the range 0.25-10 mg 1^-1 . In vitro cultured Saintpaulia ionantha was used to examine UDG activity during initiation, conditioning and multiplication cycles. In general, highest expression of UDG was measured in the conditioning cycle on hormone free medium. Measurement of UDG expression during single subculture periods, clearly showed that UDG expression may vary over one culture period. Expression of UDG was in general highest three weeks after transfer to fresh medium. Of different seedling organs from 0- to 15-day-old Brassica napus L., roots and hypocotyls showed the highest UDG activities. In cotyledons a very low and nearly constant specific activity was observed. In 12-day-old seedlings the activity in roots was approximately 20 times higher than the activity in cotyledons.

A comparison of the effects of various spindle toxins on metaphase arrest and formation of micronuclei in cell-suspension cultures ofNicotiana plumbaginifolia

The effects of the spindle toxins colchicine, oryzalin and amiprophos-methyl (APM) on metaphase arrest, chromosome scattering, and on the induction and yield of micronuclei were compared in suspension cells ofNicotiana plumbaginifolia (kanamycin-resistant "Doba" line). The inhibition of spindle formation is stronger with oryzalin and APM than with colchicine, which resulted in a more efficient accumulation of meta-phases with well-scattered chromosomes, allowing the isolation of single chromosomes. Further, APM and oryzalin treatments resulted in a higher frequency of micro-nucleated cells and greater yield of micronuclei than after colchicine treatment. The different actions of the chemicals on the functioning of the spindle, development of nuclear membranes around the chromosomes, formation of micronuclei and fusion of micronuclei, resulting in restitution nuclei, are discussed.

Individual selection, culture and manipulation of higher plant cells

Due to the heterogeneity in morphology, physiological and morphogenetical capabilities of higher plant cells in mass culture, the development of methods for individually culturing defined cells seemed to be useful and necessary. Individual cell culture represents a powerful tool for studies on the physiology of different cell types, the analysis of differentiation programs, the genetic manipulation of plant cells and cell-cell interactions. An improved microculture system based on a computer-controlled set-up for the efficient selection, transfer and individual culture of defined higher plant cells until regeneration of whole plants is described. Related experimental approaches for individually manipulating higher plant cells under controlled conditions, such as electrofusion of defined pairs of protoplasts and subprotoplasts, cell reconstruction and intranuclear microinjection of protoplasts and karyoplasts - mainly performed with cells of the crop plant Brassica napus L. - are presented.