To clone and examine expression profiles of DlRan genes during somatic embryogenesis in Dimocarpus longan Lour. Thirty cDNA sequences and two genomic sequences encoding DlRan proteins were isolated from longan embryogenic cultures. Structural analysis of DlRan genes revealed that the longan Ran gene family is more expanded than that of Arabidopsis. Expression analysis of DlRan genes during somatic embryogenesis uncovered a high abundance of DlRan genes in early embryogenic cultures and heart- and torpedo-shaped embryos. The expression of DlRan genes in embryogenic calli was affected by exogenous 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid treatment. DlRan is involved in 2,4-D induced somatic embryogenesis and development of somatic embryos in longan.
Keywords: Cloning; Dimocarpus longan; Gene expression; Ras-related nuclear protein; Somatic embryogenesis.