Changes in DNA methylation levels and nuclear distribution patterns after microspore reprogramming to embryogenesis in barley.

Under specific stress treatments, the microspore can be induced in vitro to deviate from its gametophytic development and to reprogram towards embryogenesis, becoming a totipotent cell and forming haploid embryos. These can further regenerate homozygous plants for production of new isogenic lines, an important biotechnological tool for crop breeding. DNA methylation constitutes a prominent epigenetic modification of the chromatin fiber which regulates gene expression. Changes in DNA methylation accompany the reorganization of the nuclear architecture during plant cell differentiation and proliferation; however, the relationship between global DNA methylation and genome-wide expression patterns is still poorly understood. In this work, the dynamics of global DNA methylation levels and distribution patterns were analyzed during microspore reprogramming to embryogenesis and during pollen development in Hordeum vulgare. Quantification of global DNA methylation levels and 5-methyl-deoxycytidine (5mdC) immunofluorescence were conducted at specific stages of pollen development and after reprogramming to embryogenesis to analyze the epigenetic changes that accompany the change of developmental program and cell fate. The results showed low DNA methylation levels in microspores and a high increase along pollen development and maturation; an intense 5mdC signal was concentrated in the generative and sperm nuclei whereas the vegetative nucleus exhibited a weaker DNA methylation signal. After inductive stress treatment, low methylation levels and faint 5mdC signals were observed in nuclei of reprogrammed microspores and 2-4-cell proembryos. This data revealed a global DNA hypomethylation during the change of the developmental program and first embryogenic divisions. This is in contrast with the hypermethylation of generative and sperm cells of the male germline during pollen maturation, suggesting an epigenetic regulation after induction of microspore embryogenesis. At later embryogenesis stages, global DNA methylation progressively increased, accompanying embryo development and differentiation events like in zygotic embryos, corroborating that DNA methylation is critical for the regulation of gene expression in microspore embryogenesis.