Isolation of the gene encoding Carrot leafy cotyledon1 and expression analysis during somatic and zygotic embryogenesis

The Arabidopsis thaliana LEC1 gene regulates embryo morphology and seed maturation. For a better understanding of its function, we isolated a carrot (Daucus carota L. cv. US-Harumakigosun) counterpart of this gene, C-LEC1, from a cDNA library of carrot somatic embryos, since carrot is a better model plant for preparing large quantities of somatic embryos at the same developmental stage. The predicted amino acid sequence of C-LEC1 is similar to that of LEC1 and contains regions that are conserved in the heme-activated protein 3 (HAP3) subunit of plants, animals and microorganisms. C-LEC1 expression was detected in embryogenic cells, somatic embryos, and developing seeds. In situ hybridization analysis revealed C-LEC1 expression in the peripheral region of the embryos but not in the endosperm. Expression of C-LEC1 driven by Arabidopsis LEC1 promoter was able to complement the defects of the Arabidopsis lec1-1 mutant. These results suggest that C-LEC1 is a functional homolog of Arabidopsis LEC1, an important regulator of zygotic and somatic embryo development.