Jasmonic acid signaling modulates ozone-induced hypersensitive cell death

Methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid induced oxidative stress and accumulation of phenolics in Panax ginseng bioreactor root suspension cultures

To investigate the enzyme variations responsible for the synthesis of phenolics, 40 day-old adventitious roots of Panax ginseng were treated with 200 microM methyl jasmonate (MJ) or salicylic acid (SA) in a 5 L bioreactor suspension culture (working volume 4 L). Both treatments caused an increase in the carbonyl and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents, although the levels were lower in SA treated roots. Total phenolic, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, non-protein thiol (NPSH) and cysteine contents and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical reducing activity were increased by MJ and SA. Fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) decreased significantly after 9 days of exposure to SA and MJ. The highest total phenolics (62%), DPPH activity (40%), flavonoids (88%), ascorbic acid (55%), NPSH (33%), and cysteine (62%) contents compared to control were obtained after 9 days in SA treated roots. The activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, substrate specific peroxidases (caffeic acid peroxidase, quercetin peroxidase and ferulic acid peroxidase) were higher in MJ treated roots than the SA treated ones. Increased shikimate dehydrogenase, chlorogenic acid peroxidase and beta-glucosidase activities and proline content were observed in SA treated roots than in MJ ones. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity remained unaffected by both MJ and SA. These results strongly indicate that MJ and SA induce the accumulation of phenolic compounds in ginseng root by altering the phenolic synthesis enzymes.

Degradation of oxidized proteins by autophagy during oxidative stress in Arabidopsis

Upon encountering oxidative stress, proteins are oxidized extensively by highly reactive and toxic reactive oxidative species, and these damaged, oxidized proteins need to be degraded rapidly and effectively. There are two major proteolytic systems for bulk degradation in eukaryotes, the proteasome and vacuolar autophagy. In mammalian cells, the 20S proteasome and a specific type of vacuolar autophagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy, are involved in the degradation of oxidized proteins in mild oxidative stress. However, little is known about how cells remove oxidized proteins when under severe oxidative stress. Using two macroautophagy markers, monodansylcadaverine and green fluorescent protein-AtATG8e, we here show that application of hydrogen peroxide or the reactive oxidative species inducer methyl viologen can induce macroautophagy in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants. Macroautophagy-defective RNAi-AtATG18a transgenic plants are more sensitive to methyl viologen treatment than wild-type plants and accumulate a higher level of oxidized proteins due to a lower degradation rate. In the presence of a vacuolar H(+)-ATPase inhibitor, concanamycin A, oxidized proteins were detected in the vacuole of wild-type root cells but not RNAi-AtATG18a root cells. Together, our results indicate that autophagy is involved in degrading oxidized proteins under oxidative stress conditions in Arabidopsis.

Inducible cell death in plant immunity

Programmed cell death (PCD) occurs during vegetative and reproductive plant growth, as typified by autumnal leaf senescence and the terminal differentiation of the endosperm of cereals which provide our major source of food. PCD also occurs in response to environmental stress and pathogen attack, and these inducible PCD forms are intensively studied due their experimental tractability. In general, evidence exists for plant cell death pathways which have similarities to the apoptotic, autophagic and necrotic forms described in yeast and metazoans. Recent research aiming to understand these pathways and their molecular components in plants are reviewed here.

Interaction between nitric oxide and ethylene in the induction of alternative oxidase in ozone-treated tobacco plants

The higher plant mitochondrial electron transport chain contains, in addition to the cytochrome chain, an alternative pathway that terminates with a single homodimeric protein, the alternative oxidase (AOX). We recorded temporary inhibition of cytochrome capacity respiration and activation of AOX pathway capacity in tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv BelW3) fumigated with ozone (O(3)). The AOX1a gene was used as a molecular probe to investigate its regulation by signal molecules such as hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), ethylene (ET), salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid (JA), all of them reported to be involved in the O(3) response. Fumigation leads to accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in mitochondria and early accumulation of NO in leaf tissues. Although ET accumulation was high in leaf tissues 5 h after the start of O(3) fumigation, it declined during the recovery period. There were no differences in the JA and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid levels of treated and untreated plants. NO, JA, and ET induced AOX1a mRNA accumulation. Using pharmacological inhibition of ET and NO, we demonstrate that both NO- and ET-dependent pathways are required for O(3)-induced up-regulation of AOX1a. However, only NO is indispensable for the activation of AOX1a gene expression.

Gene expression profiles of O3-treated Arabidopsis plants

To analyse cellular response to O(3), the tolerant Arabidopsis thaliana genotype Col-0 was exposed to O(3) fumigation (300 ppb) for 6 h and the modulation of gene expression during the treatment (3 h after the beginning of the treatment, T3 h) and the recovery phase (6 h from the end of the treatment, T12 h) assessed by gene chip microarray and real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analyses. The Arabidopsis transcriptional profile is complex, as new genes (i.e. reticuline oxidase) and pathways, other than those already reported as O(3)-responsive, appear to be involved in the O(3) response. The steady-state transcript levels of several WRKY genes were increased in O(3)-treated plants and the W-box was the cis-element over-represented in the promoter region of T3 h up-regulated genes. The fact that the W-box element was also over-represented in almost all T3 h-induced receptor-like kinases (RLKs) suggests a WRKY-mediated control of RLKs under O(3) stress and a mechanicistic similarity with the pathogen-induced transcriptional responses. We investigated the molecular and physiological implications of our findings in relation to O(3)-induced plant stress response.

A highly efficient transient protoplast system for analyzing defence gene expression and protein-protein interactions in rice

SUMMARY The transient assay system based on mesophyll or cultured cell-derived protoplasts has been exploited in several plant species and has become a powerful tool for rapid gene functional analysis and biochemical manipulations. However, the system has not been widely used in rice owing to the difficulties in large-scale isolation of viable rice protoplasts from leaves or suspension-cultured cells. Here, we describe a significantly improved method to isolate a large number of protoplasts from stem and sheath tissues of both young and mature plants. High-level coexpression of multiple constructs and efficient suppression of exogenous and endogenous genes were observed in the stem- and sheath-derived protoplasts. A transient green fluorescent protein and luciferase-based reporter system for defence-related genes expression analysis has been established, which is useful for screening and characterizing genes involved in rice defence signalling pathways. Furthermore, a protoplast-based bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) system for the detection of protein-protein interactions in living rice cells was developed. The YFP complementation of two split-YFP halves mediated by homodimerization of the GUS and SPIN1, a cell-death related protein, was observed in transfected protoplasts. In combination with genetic, genomic and proteomic approaches, the established versatile protoplast transient assay system will facilitate large-scale functional analysis of defence-related genes in rice.

Transcriptional regulators of stamen development in Arabidopsis identified by transcriptional profiling

In Arabidopsis, jasmonate is required for stamen and pollen maturation. Mutants deficient in jasmonate synthesis, such as opr3, are male-sterile but become fertile when jasmonate is applied to developing flower buds. We have used ATH1 oligonucleotide arrays to follow gene expression in opr3 stamens for 22 h following jasmonate treatment. In these experiments, a total of 821 genes were specifically induced by jasmonate and 480 genes were repressed. Comparisons with data from previous studies indicate that these genes constitute a stamen-specific jasmonate transcriptome, with a large proportion (70%) of the genes expressed in the sporophytic tissue but not in the pollen. Bioinformatics tools allowed us to associate many of the induced genes with metabolic pathways that are probably upregulated during jasmonate-induced maturation. Our pathway analysis led to the identification of specific genes within larger families of homologues that apparently encode stamen-specific isozymes. Extensive additional analysis of our dataset identified 13 transcription factors that may be key regulators of the stamen maturation processes triggered by jasmonate. Two of these transcription factors, MYB21 and MYB24, are the only members of subgroup 19 of the R2R3 family of MYB proteins. A myb21 mutant obtained by reverse genetics exhibited shorter anther filaments, delayed anther dehiscence and greatly reduced male fertility. A myb24 mutant was phenotypically wild-type, but production of a myb21myb24 double mutant indicated that introduction of the myb24 mutation exacerbated all three aspects of the myb21 phenotype. Exogenous jasmonate could not restore fertility to myb21 or myb21myb24 mutant plants. Together with the data from transcriptional profiling, these results indicate that MYB21 and MYB24 are induced by jasmonate and mediate important aspects of the jasmonate response during stamen development.

Over-expression of different aldehyde dehydrogenase genes in Arabidopsis thaliana confers tolerance to abiotic stress and protects plants against lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) play a major role in the detoxification processes of aldehydes generated in plants when exposed to abiotic stress. In previous studies, we have shown that the Arabidopsis thaliana ALDH3I1 gene is transcriptionally activated by abiotic stress, and over-expression of the ALDH3I1 gene confers stress tolerance in transgenic plants. The A. thaliana genome contains 14 ALDH genes expressed in different sub-cellular compartments and are presumably involved in different reactions. The purpose of this study was to compare the potential of a cytoplasmic and a chloroplastic stress-inducible ALDH in conferring stress tolerance under different conditions. We demonstrated that constitutive or stress-inducible expression of both the chloroplastic ALDH3I1 and the cytoplasmic ALDH7B4 confers tolerance to osmotic and oxidative stress. Stress tolerance in transgenic plants is accompanied by a reduction of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) derived from cellular lipid peroxidation. Involvement of ALDHs in stress tolerance was corroborated by the analysis of ALDH3I1 and ALDH7B4 T-DNA knockout (KO) mutants. Both mutant lines exhibited higher sensitivity to dehydration and salt than wild-type (WT) plants. The results indicate that ALDH3I1 and ALDH7B4 not only function as aldehyde-detoxifying enzymes, but also as efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and lipid peroxidation-inhibiting enzymes. The potential of ALDHs to interfere with H2O2 was also shown for recombinant bacterial proteins.

Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Ozone on Foliar Proanthocyanidins in Betula platyphylla, Betula ermanii, and Fagus crenata Seedlings

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) or condensed tannins are a major group of phenolic compounds in the leaves of birch trees and many other woody and herbaceous plants. These compounds constitute a significant allocation of carbon in leaves and are involved in plant responses to environmental stress factors, such as pathogens or herbivores. In some plants, PA concentrations are affected by atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and ozone (O(3)) levels that may influence, for example, species fitness, community structure, or ecosystem nutrient cycling. Therefore, a study on the quantitative response of PAs to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and ozone (O(3)) was undertaken in seedlings of Betula platyphylla, Betula ermanii, and Fagus crenata. Seedlings were exposed to ambient or elevated O(3) and CO(2) levels during two growing seasons in the Kanto district in Japan. Ten open-top chambers were used for five different treatments with two replicates: filtered air (FA), ambient air (ambient O(3), 43 ppb; ambient CO(2), 377 ppm), elevated O(3) (1.5 x ambient O(3), 66 ppb), elevated CO(2) (1.5 x ambient CO(2), 544 ppm), and elevated O(3) and CO(2) combined. In addition, seedlings growing in natural conditions outside of chambers were studied. Leaf samples were analyzed for total PA concentrations by butanol-HCl assay and for polymeric PA concentrations by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Total PA concentrations in leaves of all species were similarly affected by different treatments. They were significantly higher in seedlings treated with elevated CO(2) and O(3) combined, and in seedlings growing outside chambers compared with the FA controls. F. crenata contained only traces of polymeric PAs, but significant species x treatment interaction was observed in the polymeric PA concentrations in B. ermanii and B. platyphylla. In B. platyphylla, leaves treated with elevated CO(2) + O(3) differed significantly from all other treatments. It was suggested that the strongest effect of elevated CO(2) and O(3) combined on leaf PA contents resulted from the additive effect of these environmental factors on phenolic biosynthesis.

Effects of chronic ozone exposure on gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes and in Thellungiella halophila

Arabidopsis thaliana (At) ecotypes Columbia-0 (Col-0), Wassilewskija (WS), Cape Verde Islands (Cvi-0) and a relative, Thellungiella halophila (Th), were exposed to 20-25% over ambient ozone [O3] in a free air concentration enrichment (FACE) experiment (http://www.soyFACE. uiuc.edu), mirroring increases expected in the near future. Col-0 and WS accelerated development and developed lesions within 10 d under increased ozone, while Cvi-0 and Th grew slowly. RNAs were used in microarray hybridizations (Col-0-based 26 000 elements, 70-mer oligonucleotides). A two-step analysis of variance (ANOVA) model, including comparison with values obtained under [O3], was used for analyses. WS showed the greatest number of changes in gene expression in response to ozone. Th showed the least changes, suggesting that its expression state at [O3] was sufficient for resistance at increased ozone. Patterns observed in ambient air controls for Cvi-0 and Col-0 were most similar, while Th showed the greatest number of differences compared with the other controls. Compared with Col-0, however, Cvi-0 showed higher levels of expression of chaperones, receptor kinase-like and photosynthesis-related genes in ambient air. Cvi-0 exhibited ozone-mediated changes in a pathway involving AtSR, a homologue of the mammalian NF kappa B family of redox-sensitive transcription factors, changes in chaperones, WRKY and C2H2 proteins and antioxidants. WS displayed ozone-mediated decreases in the expression of two AtSR/NF kappa B family members, C2-domain proteins and genes associated with cell wall growth and changes in the expression of marker genes for programmed cell death (PCD), among them RCD1, a key regulator in this pathway. Microarray data were verified by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. We relate O3-response diversity across the four lines to different responses among signaling and transcriptional response networks and differences in gene expression at [O3] levels.

Involvement of a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in modulating the NADH/NAD+ ratio provides evidence of a mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle in Arabidopsis

A mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate (G-3-P) shuttle that channels cytosolic reducing equivalent to mitochondria for respiration through oxidoreduction of G-3-P has been extensively studied in yeast and animal systems. Here, we report evidence for the operation of such a shuttle in Arabidopsis thaliana. We studied Arabidopsis mutants defective in a cytosolic G-3-P dehydrogenase, GPDHc1, which, based on models described for other systems, functions as the cytosolic component of a G-3-P shuttle. We found that the gpdhc1 T-DNA insertional mutants exhibited increased NADH/NAD+ ratios compared with wild-type plants under standard growth conditions, as well as impaired adjustment of NADH/NAD+ ratios under stress simulated by abscisic acid treatment. The altered redox state of the NAD(H) pool was correlated with shifts in the profiles of metabolites concerning intracellular redox exchange. The impairment in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis was manifest by a higher steady state level of reactive oxygen species under standard growth conditions and by a significantly augmented hydrogen peroxide production under stress. Loss of GPDHc1 affected mitochondrial respiration, particularly through a diminished capacity of the alternative oxidase respiration pathway. We propose a model that outlines potential involvements of a mitochondrial G-3-P shuttle in plant cells for redox homeostasis.

Proteomics of Rac GTPase signaling reveals its predominant role in elicitor-induced defense response of cultured rice cells

We have previously shown that a human small GTPase Rac homolog, OsRac1, from rice (Oryza sativa) induces cascades of defense responses in rice plants and cultured cells. Sphingolipid elicitors (SEs) have been similarly shown to activate defense responses in rice. Therefore, to systematically analyze proteins whose expression levels are altered by OsRac1 and/or SE treatment, we performed a differential display analysis of proteins by the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. A total of 271 proteins whose expression levels were altered by constitutively active (CA)-OsRac1 or SE were identified. Interestingly, of 100 proteins that were up-regulated by a SE, 87 were also induced by CA-OsRac1, suggesting that OsRac1 plays a pivotal role in defense responses induced by SE in cultured rice cells. In addition, CA-OsRac1 induces the expression of 119 proteins. Many proteins, such as pathogenesis-related proteins, SGT1, and prohibitin, which are known to be involved in the defense response, were found among these proteins. Proteins involved in redox regulation, chaperones such as heat shock proteins, BiP, and chaperonin 60, proteases and protease inhibitors, cytoskeletal proteins, subunits of proteasomes, and enzymes involved in the phenylpropanoid and ethylene biosynthesis pathways were found to be induced by CA-OsRac1 or SE. Results of our proteomic analysis revealed that OsRac1 is able to induce many proteins in various signaling and metabolic pathways and plays a predominant role in the defense response in cultured rice cells.

Involvement of a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in modulating the NADH/NAD+ ratio provides evidence of a mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle in Arabidopsis

A mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate (G-3-P) shuttle that channels cytosolic reducing equivalent to mitochondria for respiration through oxidoreduction of G-3-P has been extensively studied in yeast and animal systems. Here, we report evidence for the operation of such a shuttle in Arabidopsis thaliana. We studied Arabidopsis mutants defective in a cytosolic G-3-P dehydrogenase, GPDHc1, which, based on models described for other systems, functions as the cytosolic component of a G-3-P shuttle. We found that the gpdhc1 T-DNA insertional mutants exhibited increased NADH/NAD+ ratios compared with wild-type plants under standard growth conditions, as well as impaired adjustment of NADH/NAD+ ratios under stress simulated by abscisic acid treatment. The altered redox state of the NAD(H) pool was correlated with shifts in the profiles of metabolites concerning intracellular redox exchange. The impairment in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis was manifest by a higher steady state level of reactive oxygen species under standard growth conditions and by a significantly augmented hydrogen peroxide production under stress. Loss of GPDHc1 affected mitochondrial respiration, particularly through a diminished capacity of the alternative oxidase respiration pathway. We propose a model that outlines potential involvements of a mitochondrial G-3-P shuttle in plant cells for redox homeostasis.

Novel extracellular chitinases rapidly and specifically induced by general bacterial elicitors and suppressed by virulent bacteria as a marker of early basal resistance in tobacco

Early basal resistance (EBR, formerly known as early induced resistance) is triggered by general bacterial elicitors. EBR has been suggested to inhibit or retard expression of the type III secretion system of pathogenic bacteria and may also prevent nonpathogenic bacteria from colonizing the plant tissue. The quickness of EBR here plays a crucial role, compensating for a low bactericidal efficacy. This inhibitory activity should take place in the cell wall, as bacteria do not enter living plant cells. We found several soluble proteins in the intercellular fluid of tobacco leaf parenchyma that coincided with EBR under different environmental (light and temperature) conditions known to affect EBR. The two most prominent proteins proved to be novel chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) that were transcriptionally induced before and during EBR development. Their expression in the apoplast was fast and not stress-regulated as opposed to many pathogenesis-related proteins. Nonpathogenic, saprophytic, and avirulent bacteria all induced EBR and the chitinases. Studies using these chitinases as EBR markers revealed that the virulent Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, being sensitive to EBR, must suppress it while suppressing the chitinases. EBR, the chitinases, as well as their suppression are quantitatively related, implying a delicate balance determining the outcome of an infection.

Arabidopsis leaf necrosis caused by simulated acid rain is related to the salicylic acid signaling pathway

Arabidopsis leaves treated with simulated acid rain (SiAR) showed phenotypes similar to necrotic lesions caused by biotic stresses like Pseudomonad infiltration. Exposure of Arabidopsis to SiAR resulted in the up-regulation of genes known to be induced by the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated pathogen resistance response. The expression of enhanced disease susceptibility (EDS), nonexpressor of PR (NPR) and pathogen-related 1 (PR1), all of which are involved in the salicylic acid signaling pathway, were increased after SiAR exposure. However, vegetative storage protein (VSP), a member of the jasmonic acid pathway did not show a significant change in transcript level. SiAR treatment of transgenic plants expressing salicylate hydroxylase (Nah-G), which prevents the accumulation of salicylic acid, underwent more extensive necrosis than wild-type plants, indicating that the signaling pathway activated by SiAR may overlap with the SA-dependent, systemic acquired resistance pathway. Both Col-0 and Nah-G plants showed sensitivity to SiAR and sulfuric SiAR (S-SiAR) by developing necrotic lesions. Neither Col-0 plants nor Nah-G plants showed sensitivity to nitric SiAR (N-SiAR). These results suggest that SiAR activates at least the salicylic acid pathway and activation of this pathway is sensitive to sulfuric acid.

Dynamics of the enhanced emissions of monoterpenes and methyl salicylate, and decreased uptake of formaldehyde, by Quercus ilex leaves after application of jasmonic acid

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a signalling compound with a key role in both stress and development in plants, and is reported to elicit the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here we studied the dynamics of such emissions and the linkage with photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance. We sprayed JA on leaves of the Mediterranean tree species Quercus ilex and measured the photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductances, and emissions and uptake of VOCs using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry and gas chromatography after a dark-light transition. Jasmonic acid treatment delayed the induction of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance by approx. 20 min, and decreased them 24 h after spraying. Indications were found of both stomatal and nonstomatal limitations of photosynthesis. Monoterpene emissions were enhanced (20-30%) after JA spraying. Jasmonic acid also increased methyl salicylate (MeSa) emissions (more than twofold) 1 h after treatment, although after 24 h this effect had disappeared. Formaldehyde foliar uptake decreased significantly 24 h after JA treatment. Both biotic and abiotic stresses can thus affect plant VOC emissions through their strong impact on JA levels. Jasmonic acid-mediated increases in monoterpene and MeSa emissions might have a protective role when confronting biotic and abiotic stresses.

A mitogen-activated protein kinase NtMPK4 activated by SIPKK is required for jasmonic acid signaling and involved in ozone tolerance via stomatal movement in tobacco

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is involved in responses to biotic and abiotic stress in plants. In this study, we isolated a new MAPK, NtMPK4, which is a tobacco homolog of Arabidopsis MPK4 (AtMPK4). NtMPK4 was activated by wounding along with two other wound-responsive tobacco MAPKs, WIPK and SIPK. We found that NtMPK4 was activated by salicylic acid-induced protein kinase kinase (SIPKK), which has been isolated as an SIPK-interacting MAPK kinase. In NtMPK4 activity-suppressed tobacco, wound-induced expression of jasmonic acid (JA)-responsive genes was inhibited. NtMPK4-silenced plants showed enhanced sensitivity to ozone. Inversely, transgenic tobacco plants, in which SIPKK or the constitutively active type SIPKK(EE) was overexpressed, exhibited greater responsiveness to wounding with enhanced resistance to ozone. We further found that NtMPK4 was expressed preferentially in epidermis, and the enhanced sensitivity to ozone in NtMPK4-silenced plants was caused by an abnormal regulation of stomatal closure in an ABA-independent manner. These results suggest that NtMPK4 is involved in JA signaling and in stomatal movement.

Arabidopsis nitric oxide synthase1 is targeted to mitochondria and protects against oxidative damage and dark-induced senescence

The Arabidopsis thaliana protein nitric oxide synthase1 (NOS1) is needed for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and signaling during defense responses, hormonal signaling, and flowering. The cellular localization of NOS1 was examined because it is predicted to be a mitochondrial protein. NOS1-green fluorescent protein fusions were localized by confocal microscopy to mitochondria in roots. Isolated mitochondria from leaves of wild-type plants supported Arg-stimulated NO synthesis that could be inhibited by NOS inhibitors and quenched by a NO scavenger; this NOS activity is absent in mitochondria isolated from nos1 mutant plants. Because mitochondria are a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which participate in senescence and programmed cell death, these parameters were examined in the nos1 mutant. Dark-induced senescence of detached leaves and intact plants progressed more rapidly in the mutant compared with the wild type. Hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, oxidized lipid, and oxidized protein levels were all higher in the mutant. These results demonstrate that NOS1 is a mitochondrial NOS that reduces ROS levels, mitigates oxidative damage, and acts as an antisenescence agent.

AtLACS7 interacts with the TPR domains of the PTS1 receptor PEX5

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (LACSs) activate fatty acids for further metabolism and are encoded by a multi-gene family in Arabidopsis. AtLACS6 possesses a type 2 (PTS2) peroxisomal targeting sequence, whilst AtLACS7 has both a type 1 and type 2 peroxisomal targeting sequence. AtLACS7 was used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen. Multiple clones of the PTS1 receptor PEX5 were isolated. Quantitative beta-galactosidase assay indicated that full-length PEX5 interacts with AtLACS7 with higher affinity than the TPR domains alone. The interaction between PEX5 and AtLACS7 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and shown to be specific for the PTS1, therefore the AtLACS7 PTS1 is accessible to bind PEX5 in the full-length AtLACS7 protein. The expression profile of AtLACS6, AtLACS7, AtPEX5, and AtPEX7 revealed that AtLACS6 and 7 have distinct patterns of expression and we speculate that the possession of two targeting signals may be advantageous for the import of AtLACS7 when receptors may be limiting.

Cytological and molecular analyses of non-host resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana to Alternaria alternata

SUMMARY When challenged with the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata Japanese pear pathotype, all tested ecotypes of Arabidopsis plants failed to show hypersensitive cell death, accumulation of detectable levels of reactive oxygen species or accumulation of phytoalexin. We operationally define A. alternata as a non-host pathogen for Arabidopsis plants and show that the protection against A. alternata demonstrated in this study is a non-host penetration resistance. To characterize non-host penetration resistance, we examined the expression patterns of c. 7000 genes by cDNA microarray analysis in Arabidopsis Col-0 plants after inoculation with A. alternata. After inoculation with A. alternata, the transcript levels of 48 genes increased in Col-0 plants. The expression of genes associated with hypersensitive reaction was induced in the non-host penetration resistance to A. alternata, despite the fact that A. alternata had no visible effect on the plants. The non-host penetration resistance to A. alternata was clearly associated with activation of the jasmonate- and ethylene-signalling pathways. In addition, analysis using histochemical staining of GUS activity suggests that defence reactions in non-host penetration resistance are activated locally. The characterization of non-host pathosystem involving Arabidopsis and A. alternata offers an overview of non-host penetration resistance.

Stress responses to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Arabidopsis include growth inhibition and hypersensitive response-like symptoms

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of global environmental concern because they cause many health problems including cancer and inflammation of tissue in humans. Plants are important in removing PAHs from the atmosphere; yet, information on the physiology, cell and molecular biology, and biochemistry of PAH stress responses in plants is lacking. The PAH stress response was studied in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) exposed to the three-ring aromatic compound, phenanthrene. Morphological symptoms of PAH stress were growth reduction of the root and shoot, deformed trichomes, reduced root hairs, chlorosis, late flowering, and the appearance of white spots, which later developed into necrotic lesions. At the tissue and cellular levels, plants experienced oxidative stress. This was indicated by localized H2O2 production and cell death, which were detected using 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine and trypan blue staining, respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and fluorescence spectrometry analyses showed that phenanthrene is internalized by the plant. Gene expression of the cell wall-loosening protein expansin was repressed, whereas gene expression of the pathogenesis related protein PR1 was induced in response to PAH exposure. These findings show that (i) Arabidopsis takes up phenanthrene, suggesting possible degradation in plants, (ii) a PAH response in plants and animals may share similar stress mechanisms, since in animal cells detoxification of PAHs also results in oxidative stress, and (iii) plant specific defence mechanisms contribute to PAH stress response in Arabidopsis.

Coordinated activation of metabolic pathways for antioxidants and defence compounds by jasmonates and their roles in stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

Jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), collectively termed jasmonates, are ubiquitous plant signalling compounds. Several types of stress conditions, such as wounding and pathogen infection, cause endogenous JA accumulation and the expression of jasmonate-responsive genes. Although jasmonates are important signalling components for the stress response in plants, the mechanism by which jasmonate signalling contributes to stress tolerance has not been clearly defined. A comprehensive analysis of jasmonate-regulated metabolic pathways in Arabidopsis was performed using cDNA macroarrays containing 13516 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) covering 8384 loci. The results showed that jasmonates activate the coordinated gene expression of factors involved in nine metabolic pathways belonging to two functionally related groups: (i) ascorbate and glutathione metabolic pathways, which are important in defence responses to oxidative stress, and (ii) biosynthesis of indole glucosinolate, which is a defence compound occurring in the Brassicaceae family. We confirmed that JA induces the accumulation of ascorbate, glutathione and cysteine and increases the activity of dehydroascorbate reductase, an enzyme in the ascorbate recycling pathway. These antioxidant metabolic pathways are known to be activated under oxidative stress conditions. Ozone (O3) exposure, a representative oxidative stress, is known to cause activation of antioxidant metabolism. We showed that O3 exposure caused the induction of several genes involved in antioxidant metabolism in the wild type. However, in jasmonate-deficient Arabidopsis 12-oxophytodienoate reductase 3 (opr3) mutants, the induction of antioxidant genes was abolished. Compared with the wild type, opr3 mutants were more sensitive to O3 exposure. These results suggest that the coordinated activation of the metabolic pathways mediated by jasmonates provides resistance to environmental stresses.

Gene expression patterns of trembling aspen trees following long-term exposure to interacting elevated CO2 and tropospheric O3

Expression of 4600 poplar expressed sequence tags (ESTs) was studied over the 2001-2002 growing seasons using trees of the moderately ozone (O(3))-tolerant trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) clone 216 exposed to elevated CO(2) and/or O(3) for their entire 5-yr life history. Based on replication of the experiment in years 2001 and 2002, 238 genes showed qualitatively similar expression in at least one treatment and were retained for analysis. Of these 238 genes, 185 were significantly regulated (1.5-fold) from one year to the other in at least one treatment studied. Less than 1% of the genes were regulated 2-fold or more. In the elevated CO(2) treatment, relatively small numbers of genes were up-regulated, whereas in the O(3) treatment, higher expression of many signaling and defense-related genes and lower expression of several photosynthesis and energy-related genes were observed. Senescence-associated genes (SAGs) and genes involved in the flavonoid pathway were also up-regulated under O(3), with or without CO(2) treatment. Interestingly, the combined treatment of CO(2) plus O(3) resulted in the differential expression of genes that were not up-regulated with individual gas treatments. This study represents the first investigation into gene expression following long-term exposure of trees to the interacting effects of elevated CO(2) and O(3) under field conditions. Patterns of gene-specific regulation described in this study correlated with previously published physiological responses of aspen clone 216.

Salicylic acid accumulation under O3 exposure is regulated by ethylene in tobacco plants

Ozone (O3), a major photochemical oxidant, induces leaf injury concomitant with salicylic acid (SA) synthesis. In pathogen-infected leaves, SA is synthesized via two pathways, involving phenylalanine or isochorismate. SA biosynthesis under O3 fumigation is not well understood. When we applied 14C-labeled benzoic acid (a precursor of SA in the pathway via phenylalanine) to O3-exposed tobacco leaves, it was effectively metabolized to SA. However, the activity and mRNA level of isochorismate synthase (ICS) were not increased. In contrast, ICS activity was increased in O3-exposed Arabidopsis thaliana L. These results suggest that SA is synthesized via benzoic acid from phenylalanine in O3-exposed tobacco leaves but via isochorismate in Arabidopsis. Ethylene is a plant hormone that promotes leaf damage in O3-exposed plants. During O3 exposure, transgenic plants with a phenotype of reduced O3-induced ethylene production accumulated less SA than did wild-type plants. O3 increased the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and the transcript levels of the chorismate mutase (CM) and PAL genes in wild-type tobacco, but their induction was suppressed in the transgenic plants. These results indicate that ethylene promotes SA accumulation by regulating the expression of the CM and PAL genes in O3-exposed tobacco.

Expression profiling reveals COI1 to be a key regulator of genes involved in wound- and methyl jasmonate-induced secondary metabolism, defence, and hormone interactions

The Arabidopsis gene COI1 is required for jasmonic acid (JA)-induced growth inhibition, resistance to insect herbivory, and resistance to pathogens. In addition, COI1 is also required for transcription of several genes induced by wounding or by JA. Here, we use microarray gene transcription profiling of wild type and coi1 mutant plants to examine the extent of the requirement of COI1 for JA-induced and wound-induced gene transcription. We show that COI1 is required for expression of approximately 84% of 212 genes induced by JA, and for expression of approximately 44% of 153 genes induced by wounding. Surprisingly, COI1 was also required for repression of 53% of 104 genes whose expression was suppressed by JA, and for repression of approximately 46% of 83 genes whose expression was suppressed by wounding. These results indicate that COI1 plays a pivotal role in wound- and JA signalling.

An expression and bioinformatics analysis of the Arabidopsis serine carboxypeptidase-like gene family

The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome encodes a family of 51 proteins that are homologous to known serine carboxypeptidases. Based on their sequences, these serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) proteins can be divided into several major clades. The first group consists of 21 proteins which, despite the function implied by their annotation, includes two that have been shown to function as acyltransferases in plant secondary metabolism: sinapoylglucose:malate sinapoyltransferase and sinapoylglucose:choline sinapoyltransferase. A second group comprises 25 SCPL proteins whose biochemical functions have not been clearly defined. Genes encoding representatives from both of these clades can be found in many plants, but have not yet been identified in other phyla. In contrast, the remaining SCPL proteins include five members that are similar to serine carboxypeptidases from a variety of organisms, including fungi and animals. Reverse transcription PCR results suggest that some SCPL genes are expressed in a highly tissue-specific fashion, whereas others are transcribed in a wide range of tissue types. Taken together, these data suggest that the Arabidopsis SCPL gene family encodes a diverse group of enzymes whose functions are likely to extend beyond protein degradation and processing to include activities such as the production of secondary metabolites.

Chloroplasts as source and target of cellular redox regulation: a discussion on chloroplast redox signals in the context of plant physiology

During the evolution of plants, chloroplasts have lost the exclusive genetic control over redox regulation and antioxidant gene expression. Together with many other genes, all genes encoding antioxidant enzymes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of low molecular weight antioxidants were transferred to the nucleus. On the other hand, photosynthesis bears a high risk for photo-oxidative damage. Concomitantly, an intricate network for mutual regulation by anthero- and retrograde signals has emerged to co-ordinate the activities of the different genetic and metabolic compartments. A major focus of recent research in chloroplast regulation addressed the mechanisms of redox sensing and signal transmission, the identification of regulatory targets, and the understanding of adaptation mechanisms. In addition to redox signals communicated through signalling cascades also used in pathogen and wounding responses, specific chloroplast signals control nuclear gene expression. Signalling pathways are triggered by the redox state of the plastoquinone pool, the thioredoxin system, and the acceptor availability at photosystem I, in addition to control by oxolipins, tetrapyrroles, carbohydrates, and abscisic acid. The signalling function is discussed in the context of regulatory circuitries that control the expression of antioxidant enzymes and redox modulators, demonstrating the principal role of chloroplasts as the source and target of redox regulation.

(Z)-3-Hexenol induces defense genes and downstream metabolites in maize

In response to insect feeding, corn plants (Zea mays cv. Delprim) release elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including the C(6)-volatile (Z)-3-hexenol. The level of mRNA accumulation for a series of defense genes was monitored in response to application of (Z)-3-hexenol (50 nmol) to undamaged plants. The induction of transcripts for hpl (hydroperoxide lyase), fps (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase), pal (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase), lox (lipoxygenase), igl (indole-3-glycerol phosphate lyase) and mpi (maize proteinase inhibitor) were compared with metabolites generated from the respective pathways. While headspace VOC analysis showed an increase in (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and methyl salicylate with lox and pal induction, respectively, MPI accumulation was not observed with an increase in mpi transcripts. Moreover, (Z)-3-hexenol treatment did not elevate sesquiterpene emissions or activate fps transcription. Chemical labeling and bioassay experiments established that exogenous (Z)-3-hexenol can be taken up and converted to a less active acetylated form. These data indicate that (Z)-3-hexenol can serve as a signaling molecule that triggers defense responses in maize and can rapidly be turned over in planta.

Different signaling and cell death roles of heterotrimeric G protein alpha and beta subunits in the Arabidopsis oxidative stress response to ozone

Arabidopsis thaliana plants with null mutations in the genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of the single heterotrimeric G protein are less and more sensitive, respectively, to O3 damage than wild-type Columbia-0 plants. The first peak of the bimodal oxidative burst elicited by O3 in wild-type plants is almost entirely missing in both mutants. The late peak is normal in plants lacking the Gbeta protein but missing in plants lacking the Galpha protein. Endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) are first detectable in chloroplasts of leaf epidermal guard cells. ROS production in adjacent cells is triggered by extracellular ROS signals produced by guard cell membrane-associated NADPH oxidases encoded by the AtrbohD and AtrbohF genes. The late, tissue damage-associated component of the oxidative burst requires only the Galpha protein and arises from multiple cellular sources. The early component of the oxidative burst, arising primarily from chloroplasts, requires signaling through the heterotrimer (or the Gbetagamma complex) and is separable from Galpha-mediated activation of membrane-bound NADPH oxidases necessary for both intercellular signaling and cell death.

Temporal evolution of the Arabidopsis oxidative stress response

We have carried out a detailed analysis of the changes in gene expression levels in Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia (Col-0) plants during and for 6 h after exposure to ozone (O3) at 350 parts per billion (ppb) for 6 h. This O3 exposure is sufficient to induce a marked transcriptional response and an oxidative burst, but not to cause substantial tissue damage in Col-0 wild-type plants and is within the range encountered in some major metropolitan areas. We have developed analytical and visualization tools to automate the identification of expression profile groups with common gene ontology (GO) annotations based on the sub-cellular localization and function of the proteins encoded by the genes, as well as to automate promoter analysis for such gene groups. We describe application of these methods to identify stress-induced genes whose transcript abundance is likely to be controlled by common regulatory mechanisms and summarized our findings in a temporal model of the stress response.

Ozone-induced programmed cell death in the Arabidopsis radical-induced cell death1 mutant

Short, high-concentration peaks of the atmospheric pollutant ozone (O(3)) cause the formation of cell death lesions on the leaves of sensitive plants. Numerous similarities between the plant responses to O(3) and pathogens suggest that O(3) triggers hypersensitive response-like programmed cell death (PCD). We examined O(3) and superoxide-induced cell death in the O(3)-sensitive radical-induced cell death1 (rcd1) mutant. Dying cells in O(3)-exposed rcd1 exhibited several of the typical morphological characteristics of the hypersensitive response and PCD. Double-mutant analyses indicated a requirement for salicylic acid and the function of the cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel AtCNGC2 in cell death. Furthermore, a requirement for ATPases, kinases, transcription, Ca(2+) flux, caspase-like proteolytic activity, and also one or more phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride-sensitive protease activities was shown for the development of cell death lesions in rcd1. Furthermore, mitogen-activated protein kinases showed differential activation patterns in rcd1 and Columbia. Taken together, these results directly demonstrate the induction of PCD by O(3).

Signal crosstalk and induced resistance: straddling the line between cost and benefit

This review discusses recent progress in our understanding of signaling in induced plant resistance and susceptibility to pathogens and insect herbivores, with a focus on the connections and crosstalk among phytohormone signaling networks that regulate responses to these and other stresses. Multiple stresses, often simultaneous, reduce growth and yield in plants. However, prior challenge by a pathogen or insect herbivore also can induce resistance to subsequent challenge. This resistance, or failure of susceptibility, must be orchestrated within a larger physiological context that is strongly influenced by other biotic agents and by abiotic stresses such as inadequate light, temperature extremes, drought, nutrient limitation, and soil salinity. Continued research in this area is predicated on the notion that effective utilization of induced resistance in crop protection will require a functional understanding of the physiological consequences of the "induced" state of the plant, coupled with the knowledge of the specificity and compatibility of the signaling systems leading to this state. This information may guide related strategies to improve crop performance in suboptimal environments, and define the limits of induced resistance in certain agricultural contexts.

The role of [Delta]1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase in proline degradation

In response to stress, plants accumulate Pro, requiring degradation after release from adverse conditions. Delta1-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH), the second enzyme for Pro degradation, is encoded by a single gene expressed ubiquitously. To study the physiological function of P5CDH, T-DNA insertion mutants in AtP5CDH were isolated and characterized. Although Pro degradation was undetectable in p5cdh mutants, neither increased Pro levels nor an altered growth phenotype were observed under normal conditions. Thus AtP5CDH is essential for Pro degradation but not required for vegetative plant growth. External Pro application caused programmed cell death, with callose deposition, reactive oxygen species production, and DNA laddering, involving a salicylic acid signal transduction pathway. p5cdh mutants were hypersensitive toward Pro and other molecules producing P5C, such as Arg and Orn. Pro levels were the same in the wild type and mutants, but P5C was detectable only in p5cdh mutants, indicating that P5C accumulation may be the cause for Pro hypersensitivity. Accordingly, overexpression of AtP5CDH resulted in decreased sensitivity to externally supplied Pro. Thus, Pro and P5C/Glu semialdehyde may serve as a link between stress responses and cell death.

Role of chloroplast trienoic fatty acids in plant disease defense responses

Trienoic fatty acids (TAs) are the major polyunsaturated fatty acid species in the membrane lipids in plant cells. TAs are crucial for the adaptation to abiotic stresses, especially low- or high-temperature stress. We show that TAs in chloroplast membrane lipids are involved in defense responses against avirulent bacterial pathogens. Avirulent pathogen invasion of plants induces a transient production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), programmed cell death and subsequent disease resistance. The Arabidopsis fad7fad8 mutation, which prevents the synthesis of TAs in chloroplast lipids, caused the reduction in ROI accumulation in leaves inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (avrRpm1). Linolenic acid, the most abundant TA, activated the NADPH oxidase that is responsible for ROI generation. TAs were transferred from chloroplast lipids to extrachloroplast lipids coincident with ROI accumulation after inoculation with Pst DC3000 (avrRpm1). Furthermore, the fad7fad8 mutant exhibited reduced cell death and was compromised in its resistance to several avirulent P. syringae strains. These results suggest that TAs derived from chloroplast lipids play an important role in the regulation of plant defense responses.

Stress hormone-independent activation and nuclear translocation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in Arabidopsis thaliana during ozone exposure

Changing environmental conditions, atmospheric pollutants and resistance reactions to pathogens cause production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. ROS in turn trigger the activation of signaling cascades such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade and accumulation of plant hormones, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid (SA), and ethylene (ET). We have used ozone (O3) to generate ROS in the apoplast of wild-type Col-0 and hormonal signaling mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana and show that this treatment caused a transient activation of 43 and 45 kDa MAPKs. These were identified as AtMPK3 and AtMPK6. We also demonstrate that initial AtMPK3 and AtMPK6 activation in response to O3 was not dependent on ET signaling, but that ET is likely to have secondary effects on AtMPK3 and AtMPK6 function, whereas functional SA signaling was needed for full-level AtMPK3 activation by O3. In addition, we show that AtMPK3, but not AtMPK6, responded to O3 transcriptionally and translationally during O3 exposure. Finally, we show in planta that activated AtMPK3 and AtMPK6 are translocated to the nucleus during the early stages of O3 treatment. The use of O3 to induce apoplastic ROS formation offers a non-invasive in planta system amenable to reverse genetics that can be used for the study of stress-responsive MAPK signaling in plants.

Downstream divergence of the ethylene signaling pathway for harpin-stimulated Arabidopsis growth and insect defense

Ethylene (ET) signal transduction may regulate plant growth and defense, depending on which components are recruited into the pathway in response to different stimuli. We report here that the ET pathway controls both insect resistance (IR) and plant growth enhancement (PGE) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants responding to harpin, a protein produced by a plant pathogenic bacterium. PGE may result from spraying plant tops with harpin or by soaking seeds in harpin solution; the latter especially enhances root growth. Plants treated similarly develop resistance to the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae). The salicylic acid pathway, although activated by harpin, does not lead to PGE and IR. By contrast, PGE and IR are induced in both wild-type plants and genotypes that have defects in salicylic acid signaling. In response to harpin, levels of jasmonic acid (JA) decrease, and the COI1 gene, which is indispensable for JA signal transduction, is not expressed in wild-type plants. However, PGE and IR are stimulated in the JA-resistant mutant jar1-1. In the wild type, PGE and IR develop coincidently with increases in ET levels and the expression of several genes essential for ET signaling. The ET receptor gene ETR1 is required because both phenotypes are arrested in the etr1-1 mutant. Consistently, inhibition of ET perception nullifies the induction of both PGE and IR. The signal transducer EIN2 is required for IR, and EIN5 is required for PGE because IR and PGE are impaired correspondingly in the ein2-1 and ein5-1 mutants. Therefore, harpin activates ET signaling while conscribing EIN2 and EIN5 to confer IR and PGE, respectively.

The use of vapor phase extraction in metabolic profiling of phytohormones and other metabolites

Through complex networks of signaling interactions, phytohormones regulate growth, development, reproduction and responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Comprehensive metabolomic approaches, seeking to quantify changes in vast numbers of plant metabolites, may ultimately clarify these complex signaling interactions and consequently explain pleiotropic effects on plant metabolism. Synergistic and antagonistic phytohormone signaling interactions, referred to as crosstalk, are often considered at the level of transduction without proper consideration of synthesis or accumulation of phytohormones because of the limitation and difficulty in quantifying numerous signals. Significant progress has recently been made in the expansion of metabolic profiling and analysis of multiple phytohormones [Birkemeyer et al. (J. Chromatogr. A, 2003, 993, 89); Chiwocha et al. (Plant J., 2003, 35, 405); Müller et al. (Planta, 2002, 216, 44); Schmelz et al. (Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 2003, 100, 10552)]. We recently presented a novel metabolic profiling approach to the analysis of acidic phytohormones and other metabolites based on a simplistic preparation scheme and analysis by chemical ionization-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We now provide a detailed description of this vapor phase extraction technique and use pathogen infection of Arabidopsis with Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 to illustrate metabolic changes in salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, jasmonic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, unsaturated C(18) fatty acids, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid, and phytotoxin coronatine. Directions for further method expansion are provided and include issues of recovery, derivatization, range of accessible analytes, optimization, reproducibility and future directions.

The jasmonate-insensitive mutant jin1 shows increased resistance to biotrophic as well as necrotrophic pathogens

SUMMARY Jasmonic acid and related oxylipin compounds are plant signalling molecules that are involved in the response to pathogens, insects, wounding and ozone. To explore further the role of jasmonates in stress signal transduction, the response of two jasmonate-signalling mutants, jin1 and jin4, to pathogens and ozone was analysed in this study. Upon treatment with the biotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, endogenous jasmonate levels increased in jin1 and jin4 similar to wild-type, demonstrating that these mutants are not defective in jasmonate biosynthesis. Jin1 but not jin4 is more resistant to P. syringae and this higher resistance is accompanied by higher levels of salicylic acid. Jin1 is also more resistant to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea and shows wild-type sensitivity to ozone whereas jin4 is more susceptible to B. cinerea and ozone. These results indicate that the mutations in jin1 and jin4 affect different branches of the jasmonate signalling pathway. Additionally, in this combination of phenotypes, jin1 is unique among all other jasmonate-related mutants described thus far. These data also provide support for a crosstalk between the jasmonate and salicylate pathways.

The oxylipin signal jasmonic acid is activated by an enzyme that conjugates it to isoleucine in Arabidopsis

Despite its importance in a variety of plant defense responses, our understanding of how jasmonic acid (JA) functions at the biochemical level is limited. Several amino acid conjugates of JA were tested for their ability to complement the JA-insensitive Arabidopsis thaliana mutant jar1-1. Unlike free JA, JA-Ile inhibited root growth in jar1-1 to the same extent as in the wild type, whereas JA-Val, JA-Leu, and JA-Phe were ineffective inhibitors in both genotypes. Thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of products produced in vitro by recombinant JAR1 demonstrated that this enzyme forms JA-amido conjugates with several amino acids, including JA-Ile. JA-Val, -Leu, -Ile, and -Phe were each quantified in Arabidopsis seedlings by GC-MS. JA-Ile was found at 29.6 pmole g(-1) fresh weight (FW) in the wild type but was more than sevenfold lower in two jar1 alleles. JA-Leu, -Val, and -Phe were present at only low levels in both genotypes. Expression of wild-type JAR1 in transgenic jar1-1 plants restored sensitivity to JA and elevated JA-Ile to the same level as in the wild type. The ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) conjugated to JA was also found in plant tissue at 18.4 pmole g(-1) FW. JA-ACC was determined not be an effective jasmonate root inhibitor, and surprisingly, was twofold higher in the mutants than in the wild type. This suggests that another JA-conjugating enzyme(s) is present in Arabidopsis. Synthesis of JA-ACC might provide a mechanism to coregulate the availability of JA and ACC for conversion to the active hormones JA-Ile and ethylene, respectively. We conclude that JAR1 is a JA-amino synthetase that is required to activate JA for optimal signaling in Arabidopsis. Plant hormone activation by conjugation to amino acids and the enzymes involved in their formation were previously unknown.

The oxylipin signal jasmonic acid is activated by an enzyme that conjugates it to isoleucine in Arabidopsis

Despite its importance in a variety of plant defense responses, our understanding of how jasmonic acid (JA) functions at the biochemical level is limited. Several amino acid conjugates of JA were tested for their ability to complement the JA-insensitive Arabidopsis thaliana mutant jar1-1. Unlike free JA, JA-Ile inhibited root growth in jar1-1 to the same extent as in the wild type, whereas JA-Val, JA-Leu, and JA-Phe were ineffective inhibitors in both genotypes. Thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of products produced in vitro by recombinant JAR1 demonstrated that this enzyme forms JA-amido conjugates with several amino acids, including JA-Ile. JA-Val, -Leu, -Ile, and -Phe were each quantified in Arabidopsis seedlings by GC-MS. JA-Ile was found at 29.6 pmole g(-1) fresh weight (FW) in the wild type but was more than sevenfold lower in two jar1 alleles. JA-Leu, -Val, and -Phe were present at only low levels in both genotypes. Expression of wild-type JAR1 in transgenic jar1-1 plants restored sensitivity to JA and elevated JA-Ile to the same level as in the wild type. The ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) conjugated to JA was also found in plant tissue at 18.4 pmole g(-1) FW. JA-ACC was determined not be an effective jasmonate root inhibitor, and surprisingly, was twofold higher in the mutants than in the wild type. This suggests that another JA-conjugating enzyme(s) is present in Arabidopsis. Synthesis of JA-ACC might provide a mechanism to coregulate the availability of JA and ACC for conversion to the active hormones JA-Ile and ethylene, respectively. We conclude that JAR1 is a JA-amino synthetase that is required to activate JA for optimal signaling in Arabidopsis. Plant hormone activation by conjugation to amino acids and the enzymes involved in their formation were previously unknown.

The oxylipin signal jasmonic acid is activated by an enzyme that conjugates it to isoleucine in Arabidopsis

Despite its importance in a variety of plant defense responses, our understanding of how jasmonic acid (JA) functions at the biochemical level is limited. Several amino acid conjugates of JA were tested for their ability to complement the JA-insensitive Arabidopsis thaliana mutant jar1-1. Unlike free JA, JA-Ile inhibited root growth in jar1-1 to the same extent as in the wild type, whereas JA-Val, JA-Leu, and JA-Phe were ineffective inhibitors in both genotypes. Thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of products produced in vitro by recombinant JAR1 demonstrated that this enzyme forms JA-amido conjugates with several amino acids, including JA-Ile. JA-Val, -Leu, -Ile, and -Phe were each quantified in Arabidopsis seedlings by GC-MS. JA-Ile was found at 29.6 pmole g(-1) fresh weight (FW) in the wild type but was more than sevenfold lower in two jar1 alleles. JA-Leu, -Val, and -Phe were present at only low levels in both genotypes. Expression of wild-type JAR1 in transgenic jar1-1 plants restored sensitivity to JA and elevated JA-Ile to the same level as in the wild type. The ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) conjugated to JA was also found in plant tissue at 18.4 pmole g(-1) FW. JA-ACC was determined not be an effective jasmonate root inhibitor, and surprisingly, was twofold higher in the mutants than in the wild type. This suggests that another JA-conjugating enzyme(s) is present in Arabidopsis. Synthesis of JA-ACC might provide a mechanism to coregulate the availability of JA and ACC for conversion to the active hormones JA-Ile and ethylene, respectively. We conclude that JAR1 is a JA-amino synthetase that is required to activate JA for optimal signaling in Arabidopsis. Plant hormone activation by conjugation to amino acids and the enzymes involved in their formation were previously unknown.

Arabidopsis RADICAL-INDUCED CELL DEATH1 belongs to the WWE protein-protein interaction domain protein family and modulates abscisic acid, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate responses

Experiments with several Arabidopsis thaliana mutants have revealed a web of interactions between hormonal signaling. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis mutant radical-induced cell death1 (rcd1), although hypersensitive to apoplastic superoxide and ozone, is more resistant to chloroplastic superoxide formation, exhibits reduced sensitivity to abscisic acid, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate, and has altered expression of several hormonally regulated genes. Furthermore, rcd1 has higher stomatal conductance than the wild type. The rcd1-1 mutation was mapped to the gene At1g32230 where it disrupts an intron splice site resulting in a truncated protein. RCD1 belongs to the (ADP-ribosyl)transferase domain-containing subfamily of the WWE protein-protein interaction domain protein family. The results suggest that RCD1 could act as an integrative node in hormonal signaling and in the regulation of several stress-responsive genes.

RCH1, a locus in Arabidopsis that confers resistance to the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum

When challenged with the crucifer pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum, Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia (Col-0) was colonized by the fungus within 2 to 3 days, developing brown necrotic lesions surrounded by a yellow halo. Lesions spread from the inoculation site within 3 to 4 days, and subsequently continued to expand until they covered the entire leaf. Electron microscopy confirmed that C. higginsianum is a hemibiotroph on Arabidopsis, feeding initially on living cells as a biotroph before switching to a necrotrophic mode of growth. A collection of 37 ecotypes of Arabidopsis varied in their responses to infection by C. higginsianum. The ecotype Eil-0 was highly resistant, with symptoms limited to necrotic flecking and with only very limited fungal colonization. Analyses suggested that the hypersensitive response and reactive oxygen species may be important in this defense response. Expression analyses with cDNA microarrays indicated that the defense reaction depends primarily on the jasmonic acid- and ethylene-dependent signaling pathways and, to a lesser extent, on the salicylate-dependent pathway. Crosses between the Eil-0 and Col-0 ecotypes suggested that the resistance in Eil-0 was dominant and was conferred by a single locus, which we named RCH1. RCH1 is the first resistance locus to be identified from Arabidopsis against the hemibiotrophic fungus genus Colletotrichum.

Arabidopsis RADICAL-INDUCED CELL DEATH1 belongs to the WWE protein-protein interaction domain protein family and modulates abscisic acid, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate responses

Experiments with several Arabidopsis thaliana mutants have revealed a web of interactions between hormonal signaling. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis mutant radical-induced cell death1 (rcd1), although hypersensitive to apoplastic superoxide and ozone, is more resistant to chloroplastic superoxide formation, exhibits reduced sensitivity to abscisic acid, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate, and has altered expression of several hormonally regulated genes. Furthermore, rcd1 has higher stomatal conductance than the wild type. The rcd1-1 mutation was mapped to the gene At1g32230 where it disrupts an intron splice site resulting in a truncated protein. RCD1 belongs to the (ADP-ribosyl)transferase domain-containing subfamily of the WWE protein-protein interaction domain protein family. The results suggest that RCD1 could act as an integrative node in hormonal signaling and in the regulation of several stress-responsive genes.

Mutual antagonism of ethylene and jasmonic acid regulates ozone-induced spreading cell death in Arabidopsis

Ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA) have opposite effects on ozone (O(3))-induced spreading cell death; ET stimulates, and is required for the spreading cell death, whereas JA protects tissues. We studied the underlying molecular mechanisms with the O(3)-sensitive, JA-insensitive jasmonate resistant 1 (jar1), and the O(3)-tolerant, ET-insensitive ethylene insensitive 2 (ein2) mutants. Blocking ET perception pharmacologically with norbornadiene (NBD) in jar1, or ET signaling genetically in the jar1 ein2 double mutant prevented the spread of cell death. This suggests that EIN2 function is epistatic to JAR1, and that the JAR1-dependent JA pathway halts oxidative cell death by directly inhibiting ET signaling. JAR1-dependent suppression of the ET pathway was apparent also as increased EIN2-dependent gene expression and ET hypersensitivity of jar1. Physiological experiments suggested that the target of JA is upstream of Constitutive Triple Response 1 (CTR1), but downstream of ET biosynthesis. Gene expression analysis of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)-treated and O(3)-exposed ein2 and jar1 revealed reciprocal antagonism: the EIN2-mediated suppression of the JA pathway. The results imply that the O(3)-induced spreading cell death is stimulated by early, rapid accumulation of ET, which can suppress the protecting function of JA thereby allowing cell death to proceed. Extended spreading cell death induces late accumulation of JA, which inhibits the propagation of cell death through inhibition of the ET pathway.

Differential responses of G-protein Arabidopsis thaliana mutants to ozone

•  Ground-level ozone (O₃ ) curtails agricultural production in many regions worldwide. However, the etiology of O₃ toxicity remains unclear. Activated oxygen species appear to inflict biochemical lesions and propagate defense responses that compound plant injury. Because some plant defense responses involve membrane-delimited GTPases (G proteins), we evaluated the O₃ sensitivity of Arabidopsis mutants altered in the heterotrimeric G-protein pathway. •  Eight genotypes were treated with a range of O₃ concentrations (0, 100, 175 and 250 nmol mol^-1 ) for 13 d in controlled environment chambers. •  After treatment with O₃ , the epinasty typically observed for wild type leaves did not occur in mutant plants lacking the alpha subunit of the G-protein complex (gpa1). O₃ -induced suppression of leaf chlorophyll levels and leaf mass per unit leaf area were less for gpa1 mutants and were not due to differences in O₃ flux. •  There was a positive correlation between the lack of a G-protein alpha subunit and decreased O₃ sensitivity. Our results suggest that a heterotrimeric G-protein is critically involved in the expression of O₃ effects in plants.

Identification of Botrytis cinerea susceptibility loci in Arabidopsis thaliana

Botrytis cinerea is a major pathogen of fruit and vegetable crops causing both pre- and post-harvest grey mould. We have analysed 16 Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes for natural variation in B. cinerea susceptibility. Susceptibility was associated with lower camalexin accumulation, and three ecotypes (Cape Verdi Islands (Cvi-0), Slavice (Sav-0) and Kindalville (Kin-0)) showed differential susceptibility to the two B. cinerea isolates used. Subsequently, to better understand the genetic control of grey mould disease, we assayed the Arabidopsis Landsberg erecta (Ler) x Columbia (Col-0) recombinant inbred population with the two isolates, and identified multiple small-to-medium-effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) governing susceptibility. Interestingly, the QTL for each isolate are distinct, suggesting that different mechanisms govern defence against these two isolates. Two QTL for each isolate exhibited epistatic interactions with specific allele combinations generating heightened B. cinerea susceptibility.

Crosstalk in the responses to abiotic and biotic stresses in Arabidopsis: analysis of gene expression in cytochrome P450 gene superfamily by cDNA microarray

From Arabidopsis full-length cDNA libraries, we collected ca. 7000 (7K) independent full-length cDNAs to prepare a cDNA microarray. The 7K cDNA collection contains 49 cytochrome P450 genes. In this study, expression patterns of these cytochrome P450 genes were analyzed by a full-length cDNA microarray under various treatments, such as hormones (salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, abscisic acid), pathogen-inoculation ( Alternaria brassicicola , Alternaria alternata ), paraquat, rose bengal, UV stress (UV-C), heavy metal stress (CuSO4), mechanical wounding, drought, high salinity and low temperature. Expression of 29 cytochrome P450 genes among them was induced by various treatments. Inoculation with A. brassicicola and A. alternata as biotic stresses increased transcript levels of 12 and 5 genes in Arabidopsis plants, respectively. In addition, some of the genes were also expressed by abiotic stresses. This suggests crosstalk between abiotic and biotic stresses. The promoter sequences and cis -acting elements of each gene were studied on the basis of full-length cDNA sequences. Most cytochrome P450 genes induced by both abiotic and biotic stresses contained the recognition sites of MYB and MYC, ACGT-core sequence, TGA-box and W-box for WRKY transcription factors in their promoters. These cis -acting elements are known to participate in the regulation of plant defense. The response of each gene to multiple stresses is strictly regulated.

Capsicum annuum tobacco mosaic virus-induced clone 1 expression perturbation alters the plant's response to ethylene and interferes with the redox homeostasis

Capsicum annuum tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-induced clone 1 (CaTin1) gene was expressed early during incompatible interaction of hot pepper (Caspsicum annuum) plants with TMV and Xanthomonas campestris. RNA-blot analysis showed that CaTin1 gene was expressed only in roots in untreated plants and induced mainly in leaf in response to ethylene, NaCl, and methyl viologen but not by salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate. The ethylene dependence of CaTin1 induction upon TMV inoculation was demonstrated by the decrease of CaTin1 expression in response to several inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis or its action. Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants expressing CaTin1 gene in sense- or antisense-orientation showed interesting characteristics such as the accelerated growth and the enhanced resistance to biotic as well as abiotic stresses. Such characteristics appear to be caused by the elevated level of ethylene and H2O2. Moreover, in transgenic plants expressing antisense CaTin1 gene, the expression of some pathogenesis-related genes was enhanced constitutively, which may be mainly due to the increased ethylene level. The promoter of CaTin1 has four GCC-boxes, two AT-rich regions, and an elicitor-inducible W-box. The induction of the promoter activity by ethylene depends on GCC-boxes and by TMV on W-box. Taken together, we propose that the CaTin1 up-regulation or down-regulation interferes with the redox balance of plants leading to the altered response to ethylene and biotic as well as abiotic stresses.