Molecular characterization and expression patterns of SWI1/DYAD gene in apomictic and sexual boechera species

In this research, the molecular structure and expression patterns of SWI1/DYAD ortholog gene is characterized in apomictic (B. gunnisoniana, B. holboelii) and sexual (B. stricta) Boechera speices. The SWI1/DYAD (AT5G51330) cDNAs were obtained from flower buds of Boechera spp. by RT-PCR. and also SWITCH1/DYAD gene is amplified from genomic DNA in B. gunnisoniana, B. stricta and B. divaricarpa speices. SWITCH1/DYAD gene was first isolated from a model organism; Arabidopsis thaliana determined as to be in charge of sister chromatid cohesion and chromosom organisation in meiosis and also gave rise to diploid gamet formation. Thus, AT5G51330 thought to be effective gene in apomixis process. Apomixis is a reproduction way of some species of Angiosperm which creates genetically identical seeds with the maternal plant and it will enable the clonal reproduction of hybrids when it is achieved in culture plants. Apomixis is formaition of diploid individulas having same genotype with maternal plant and embriyo formation with parthenogenic development of egg cell followed by functional endosperm development. Althought molecular base of apomixis has not found out yet, it is set out that DYAD gene mutation led to apomeiosis; an impotant level of apomixis. In this work, we isolated a partial cDNA from Boechera species (apomictic B. gunnisoniana, B. holboellii and sexual B. stricta) that are shows high similarity with AT5G511330. Furthermore, AT5G51330 homolog gene regions were characterized from genomic DNA templates of B. gunnisoniana, B. stricta and B. divaricarpa speices for the first time.Keywords: Apomixis, apomeiosis, DYAD, SWITCH.?