[Synchronous synthesis of DNA in coleoptiles and the initial leaf of developing etiolated wheat shoots: the nature and correlation of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA syntheses].

: In etiolated coleoptiles and initial leaf of developing wheat shoots the DNA synthesis is periodical and synchronous. In the initial leaf each step of DNA synthesis results in a stepwise increase of DNA content and is doubled at the first three steps. During the leaf plane formation the synthesis of nuclear DNA (nDNA) is decreased, while that of mitochondrial DNA (mitDNA) continues in synchronous cycles. This is the cause of relative stabilization of DNA content per unit of leaf plane length. The DNA increase in this organ occurs due to synchronous synthesis of nDNA and mitDNA in intercalary meristem cells. In coleoptiles a marked replication of nDNA is observed at the first three steps of the synthesis; in each cycle nDNA synthesis precedes that of mitDNA. With completion of coleoptile formation the nDNA synthesis in it practically ceases, whereas that of mitDNA continues in synchronous cycles. MitDNA is non-methylated and its composition (56 mol.% GC) differs significantly from that of the newly synthesized nDNA (44 mol.% GC; 100 X m5C/(C + m5C) = 16-17%). It may be concluded that in various organs of wheat shoots the composition and methylation of newly synthesized DNA depend on the age of the shoot and on the ratio of nDNA/mitDNA syntheses.