Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2003; 5(3): 285-289
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-40800
Original Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Telomere Length Dynamics in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) as Observed at Different Developmental Stages

K. Uma Devi 1 , V. Sri Devi 1 , K. Nirmal 1 , S. Sivaramakrishnan 2 , N. R. Isola 3
  • 1Department of Botany, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India
  • 2Genetic Resources Enhancement Programme, International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, 502324, India
  • 3Oak Ridge Biotech (OrBit), 148 Brentwood Circle, Oliver Springs, Tennessee 37840, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 July 2003 (online)

Preview

Abstract

In plants, the developmental dynamics of telomere length have only been studied in a few species to date. Contrasting results have been reported. To search for the pattern(s) operating in plants, a study of the telomere length was made in pearl millet. Telomere length in cells representing different developmental stages: a) embryo, b) leaves of 1-week-old seedlings, 1-month-old plants and boot leaf and c) germ cells (pollen) were compared. The presence of the consensus plant telomere repeat sequence (5′-TTTAGGG-3′) in pearl millet telomeres was first ascertained; the sensitivity of the sequences hybridizing with (TTTAGGG)4 oligonucleotide to time course Bal 31 exonuclease digestions were studied on dot blots and gel blots. The exonuclease digestion kinetics revealed the presence of the consensus telomere repeat sequence in pearl millet telomeres. The average telomere length (ATL) was measured from autoradiograms of Hae III digested DNA, hybridized with labelled (5’-TTTAGGG-3′)4 oligonucleotide using “UVI band” software. No significant difference in the average telomere length was observed between the embryo, leaves of 1-week-old seedlings, boot leaf and pollen. The ATL in leaves of 1-month-old plants was slightly higher. The results of the present investigation and analysis of the reports in the other plants suggest that there is an occasional increase in telomere length in some telomeres but no significant decrease due to loss during DNA replication.

References

K. Uma Devi

Department of Botany
Andhra University

Visakhapatnam, 530003

India

Email: kumadevi@eth.net

Section Editor: M. Koornneef