The analysis of DNA methylation in various tissues of Sarcopoterium spinosum L. Spach grown in Sinop province

In plant organs, different methylation profiles of cytosines in CCGG sequences of the genome are associated with an increase or decrease in the expression of genes in the relevant organs. In this study, the levels of methylated cytosine in the four organs of Sarcopoterium spinosum L. Spach, used as a folk remedy from its roots, stems, and leaves, were investigated by Methylation-Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism (MSAP) technique, and compared among organs. In all organs, the full or hemi-methylated internal cytosine at CCGG sequences (Type II, (CG)) was common. Only one monomorphic region was detected only in the CG methylation type. When organs are compared binary, the leaf-stem has monomorphic regions of 14 (4.8%), leaf-fruit 4 (1.4%), leaf-root 5 (1.7%), fruit-stem 6 (2.1%), fruit-root 2 (0.7%), stem-root 5 (1.7%). These results indicated that CG and CHG methylation levels in organs were different. The MSAP ratio was the lowest in the fruit (23.9%) and the highest (38.4%) in the stem and root. Different methylation levels and patterns determined in organs may result from differences in the expression of organ-specific genes involved in cell differentiation and development. However, cloning, sequencing, and uncovering the functions of organ-specific fragments are needed to verify these results. MSAP method has been found to be very effective for large-scale detection of cytosine methylation especially in plants such as S. spinosum with a high rate of methylated cytosine and whose genome sequence is unknown.