Functional analysis of alpha-DOX2, an active alpha-dioxygenase critical for normal development in tomato plants

Transcriptome analysis of mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves to identify differentially expressed genes associated with post-harvest shelf-life elongation

Present study deals with molecular expression patterns responsible for post-harvest shelf-life extension of mulberry leaves. Quantitative profiling showed retention of primary metabolite and accumulation of stress markers in NS7 and CO7 respectively. The leaf mRNA profiles was sequenced using the Illumina platform to identify DEGs. A total of 3413 DEGs were identified between the treatments. Annotation with Arabidopsis database has identified 1022 DEGs unigenes. STRING generated protein-protein interaction, identified 1013 DEGs nodes with p < 1.0e-16. KEGG classifier has identified genes and their participating biological processes. MCODE and BiNGO detected sub-networking and ontological enrichment, respectively at p ≤ 0.05. Genes associated with chloroplast architecture, photosynthesis, detoxifying ROS and RCS, and innate-immune response were significantly up-regulated, responsible for extending shelf-life in NS7. Loss of storage sucrose, enhanced activity of senescence-related hormones, accumulation of xenobiotics, and development of osmotic stress inside tissue system was the probable reason for tissue deterioration in CO7. qPCR validation of DEGs was in good agreement with RNA sequencing results, indicating the reliability of the sequencing platform. Present outcome provides a molecular insight regarding involvement of genes in self-life extension, which might help the sericulture industry to overcome their pre-existing problems related to landless farmers and larval feeding during monsoon.

Integrated transcriptomics and miRNAomics provide insights into the complex multi-tiered regulatory networks associated with coleoptile senescence in rice

Coleoptile is the small conical, short-lived, sheath-like organ that safeguards the first leaf and shoot apex in cereals. It is also the first leaf-like organ to senesce that provides nutrition to the developing shoot and is, therefore, believed to play a crucial role in seedling establishment in rice and other grasses. Though histochemical studies have helped in understanding the pattern of cell death in senescing rice coleoptiles, genome-wide expression changes during coleoptile senescence have not yet been explored. With an aim to investigate the gene regulation underlying the coleoptile senescence (CS), we performed a combinatorial whole genome expression analysis by sequencing transcriptome and miRNAome of senescing coleoptiles. Transcriptome analysis revealed extensive reprogramming of 3439 genes belonging to several categories, the most prominent of which encoded for transporters, transcription factors (TFs), signaling components, cell wall organization enzymes, redox homeostasis, stress response and hormone metabolism. Small RNA sequencing identified 41 known and 21 novel miRNAs that were differentially expressed during CS. Comparison of gene expression and miRNA profiles generated for CS with publicly available leaf senescence (LS) datasets revealed that the two aging programs are remarkably distinct at molecular level in rice. Integration of expression data of transcriptome and miRNAome identified high confidence 140 miRNA-mRNA pairs forming 42 modules, thereby demonstrating multi-tiered regulation of CS. The present study has generated a comprehensive resource of the molecular networks that enrich our understanding of the fundamental pathways regulating coleoptile senescence in rice.

An enzymatic tandem reaction to produce odor-active fatty aldehydes

Abstract

Aldehydes represent a versatile and favored class of flavoring substances. A biocatalytic access to odor-active aldehydes was developed by conversion of fatty acids with two enzymes of the α-dioxygenase pathway. The recombinant enzymes α-dioxygenase (α-DOX) originating from Crocosphaera subtropica and fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH) from Vibrio harveyi were heterologously expressed in E. coli, purified, and applied in a coupled (tandem) repetitive reaction. The concept was optimized in terms of number of reaction cycles and production yields. Up to five cycles and aldehyde yields of up to 26% were achieved. Afterward, the approach was applied to sea buckthorn pulp oil as raw material for the enzyme catalyzed production of flavoring/fragrance ingredients based on complex aldehyde mixtures. The most abundant fatty acids in sea buckthorn pulp oil, namely palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic, and linoleic acid, were used as substrates for further biotransformation experiments. Various aldehydes were identified, semi-quantified, and sensorially characterized by means of headspace–solid phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–olfactometry (HS–SPME–GC–MS–O). Structural validation of unsaturated aldehydes in terms of double-bond positions was performed by multidimensional high-resolution mass spectrometry experiments of their Paternò–Büchi (PB) photoproducts. Retention indices and odor impressions of inter alia (Z,Z)-5,8-tetradecadienal (Z,Z)-6,9-pentadecadienal, (Z)-8-pentadecenal, (Z)-4-tridecenal, (Z)-6-pentadecenal, and (Z)-8-heptadecenal were determined for the first time.

Key points

• Coupled reaction of Csα-DOX and VhFALDH yields chain-shortened fatty aldehydes.

• Odors of several Z-unsaturated fatty aldehydes are described for the first time.

• Potential for industrial production of aldehyde-based odorants from natural sources.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-022-12134-3.

Sphingolipids with 2-hydroxy fatty acids aid in plasma membrane nanodomain organization and oxidative burst

Plant sphingolipids mostly possess 2-hydroxy fatty acids (HFA), the synthesis of which is catalyzed by FA 2-hydroxylases (FAHs). In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), two FAHs (FAH1 and FAH2) have been identified. However, the functions of FAHs and sphingolipids with HFAs (2-hydroxy sphingolipids) are still unknown because of the lack of Arabidopsis lines with the complete deletion of FAH1. In this study, we generated a FAH1 mutant (fah1c) using CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing. Sphingolipid analysis of fah1c, fah2, and fah1cfah2 mutants revealed that FAH1 hydroxylates very long-chain FAs (VLCFAs), whereas the substrates of FAH2 are VLCFAs and palmitic acid. However, 2-hydroxy sphingolipids are not completely lost in the fah1cfah2 double mutant, suggesting the existence of other enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of sphingolipid FAs. Plasma membrane (PM) analysis and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that hydroxyl groups of sphingolipid acyl chains play a crucial role in the organization of nanodomains, which are nanoscale liquid-ordered domains mainly formed by sphingolipids and sterols in the PM, through hydrogen bonds. In the PM of the fah1cfah2 mutant, the expression levels of 26.7% of the proteins, including defense-related proteins such as the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) brassinosteroid insensitive 1-associated receptor kinase 1 and chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1, NADPH oxidase respiratory burst oxidase homolog D (RBOHD), and heterotrimeric G proteins, were lower than that in the wild-type. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst was suppressed in the fah1cfah2 mutant after treatment with the pathogen-associated molecular patterns flg22 and chitin. These results indicated that 2-hydroxy sphingolipids are necessary for the organization of PM nanodomains and ROS burst through RBOHD and PRRs during pattern-triggered immunity.

Atlas of phenotypic, genotypic and geographical diversity present in the European traditional tomato

The Mediterranean basin countries are considered secondary centres of tomato diversification. However, information on phenotypic and allelic variation of local tomato materials is still limited. Here we report on the evaluation of the largest traditional tomato collection, which includes 1499 accessions from Southern Europe. Analyses of 70 traits revealed a broad range of phenotypic variability with different distributions among countries, with the culinary end use within each country being the main driver of tomato diversification. Furthermore, eight main tomato types (phenoclusters) were defined by integrating phenotypic data, country of origin, and end use. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analyses identified associations in 211 loci, 159 of which were novel. The multidimensional integration of phenoclusters and the GWAS meta-analysis identified the molecular signatures for each traditional tomato type and indicated that signatures originated from differential combinations of loci, which in some cases converged in the same tomato phenotype. Our results provide a roadmap for studying and exploiting this untapped tomato diversity.

2-Hydroxy-phytanoyl-CoA lyase (AtHPCL) is involved in phytol metabolism in Arabidopsis

During chlorophyll degradation, large amounts of the isoprenoid alcohol phytol are released. The pathway of phytol catabolism has been studied in humans, because chlorophyll is part of the human diet, but little is known for plants. In humans, phytanoyl-CoA derived from phytol is degraded via α-oxidation by phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase (PAHX) and 2-hydroxy-phytanoyl-CoA lyase (HPCL). Arabidopsis contains two sequences homologous to the human proteins AtPAHX and AtHPCL. Insertional mutants of Arabidopsis (pahx, hpcl) were grown under N deprivation to stimulate chlorophyll breakdown or supplemented with phytol to increase the endogenous amount of phytol. During N deprivation, chlorophyll, phytol, phytenal, upstream metabolites of phytol breakdown, and tocopherol and fatty acid phytyl esters, alternative phytol-derived lipids, accumulated in pahx and hpcl mutants, in line with the scenario that the mutations interfere with phytol degradation. AtHPCL was localized to the peroxisomes. Expression analysis of the AtHPCL sequence in the yeast Δpxp1 or Δmpo1 mutants followed by supplementation with 2-hydroxy-palmitic acid and enzyme assays of peroxisomal proteins from Col-0 and hpcl plants with 2-hydroxy-stearoyl-CoA revealed that AtHPCL harbors 2-hydroxy-acyl-CoA lyase activity. The α-dioxygenases αDOX1 and αDOX2 are involved in α-oxidation of fatty acids and could be involved in an alternative pathway of phytol degradation. However, phytol-related lipids in the αdox1, αdox2, or αdox1 αdox2 mutants were not altered compared with Col-0, indicating that αDOX1 and αDOX2 are not involved in phytol degradation. These results demonstrate that phytol degradation in Arabidopsis involves α-oxidation by AtPAHX and AtHPCL, but that it is independent of αDOX1/αDOX2.

α-Dioxygenases (α-DOXs): Promising biocatalysts for the environmentally friendly production of aroma compounds

Fatty aldehydes (FALs) can be derived from fatty acids (FAs) and related compounds and are frequently used as flavors and fragrances. Although chemical methods have been conventionally used, their selective biotechnological production aiming at more efficient and eco‐friendly synthetic routes is in demand. α‐Dioxygenases (α‐DOXs) are heme‐dependent oxidative enzymes biologically involved in the initial step of plant FA α‐oxidation during which molecular oxygen is incorporated into the C_α‐position of a FA (C_n) to generate the intermediate FA hydroperoxide, which is subsequently converted into the shortened corresponding FAL (C_n‐1). α‐DOXs are promising biocatalysts for the flavor and fragrance industries, they do not require NAD(P)H as cofactors or redox partner proteins, and they have a broad substrate scope. Here, we highlight recent advances in the biocatalytic utilization of α‐DOXs with emphasis on newly discovered cyanobacterial α‐DOXs as well as analytical methods to measure α‐DOX activity in vitro and in vivo.

Two novel cyanobacterial α-dioxygenases for the biosynthesis of fatty aldehydes

α-Dioxygenases (α-DOXs) are known as plant enzymes involved in the α-oxidation of fatty acids through which fatty aldehydes, with a high commercial value as flavor and fragrance compounds, are synthesized as products. Currently, little is known about α-DOXs from non-plant organisms. The phylogenic analysis reported here identified a substantial number of α-DOX enzymes across various taxa. Here, we report the functional characterization and Escherichia coli whole-cell application of two novel α-DOXs identified from cyanobacteria: CalDOX from Calothrix parietina and LepDOX from Leptolyngbya sp. The catalytic behavior of the recombinantly expressed CalDOX and LepDOX revealed that they are heme-dependent like plant α-DOXs but exhibit activities toward medium carbon fatty acids ranging from C10 to C14 unlike plant α-DOXs. The in-depth molecular investigation of cyanobacterial α-DOXs and their application in an E. coli whole system employed in this study is useful not only for the understanding of the molecular function of α-DOXs, but also for their industrial utilization in fatty aldehyde biosynthesis.

Key points

• Two novel α-dioxygenases from Cyanobacteria are reported

• Both enzymes prefer medium-chain fatty acids

• Both enzymes are useful for fatty aldehyde biosynthesis

Physiological and Proteomic Analyses of Different Ecotypes of Reed (Phragmites communis) in Adaption to Natural Drought and Salinity

Drought and salinity are the two major abiotic stresses constraining the crop yield worldwide. Both of them trigger cellular dehydration and cause osmotic stress which leads to cytosolic and vacuolar volume reduction. However, whether plants share a similar tolerance mechanism in response to these two stresses under natural conditions has seldom been comparatively reported. There are three different ecotypes of reed within a 5 km2 region in the Badanjilin desert of Northwest China. Taking the typical swamp reed (SR) as a control, we performed a comparative study on the adaption mechanisms of the two terrestrial ecotypes: dune reed (DR) and heavy salt meadow reed (HSMR) by physiological and proteomic approaches coupled with bioinformatic analysis. The results showed that HSMR and DR have evolved C4-like photosynthetic and anatomical characteristics, such as the increased bundle sheath cells (BSCs) and chloroplasts in BSCs, higher density of veins, and lower density and aperture of stomata. In addition, the thylakoid membrane fluidity also plays an important role in their higher drought and salinity tolerance capability. The proteomic results further demonstrated that HSMR and DR facilitated the regulation of proteins associated with photosynthesis and energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, transcription and translation, and stress responses to well-adapt to the drought and salinity conditions. Overall, our results demonstrated that HSMR and DR shaped a similar adaption strategy from the structural and physiological levels to the molecular scale to ensure functionality in a harsh environment.

Metabolism, signaling, and transport of jasmonates

Biosynthesis/metabolism, perception/signaling, and transport are three essential aspects of the actions of phytohormones. Jasmonates (JAs), including jasmonic acid (JA) and related oxylipins, are implicated in the regulation of a range of ecological interactions, as well as developmental programs to integrate these interactions. Jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) is the most bioactive JAs, and perception of JA-Ile by its coreceptor, the Skp1-Cullin1-F-box-type (SCF) protein ubiquitin ligase complex SCF^COI1-JAZ, in the nucleus derepresses the transcriptional repression of target genes. The biosynthesis and metabolism of JAs occur in the plastid, peroxisome, cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and vacuole, whereas sensing of JA-Ile levels occurs in the nucleus. It is increasingly apparent that a number of transporters, particularly members of the jasmonates transporter (JAT) family, located at endomembranes as well as the plasma membrane, constitute a network for modulating and coordinating the metabolic flux and signaling of JAs. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the metabolism, signaling, and especially the transport of JAs, focusing on intracellular compartmentation of these processes. The roles of transporter-mediated cell-cell transport in driving long-distance transport and signaling of JAs are also discussed.

Protein Profiles of Lipid Droplets during the Hypersensitive Defense Response of Arabidopsis against Pseudomonas Infection

Lipid droplets (LDs) have classically been viewed as seed storage particles, yet they are now emerging as dynamic organelles associated with developmental and stress responses. Nevertheless, their involvement in plant immunity has still been little studied. Here, we found LD accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves that induced a hypersensitive response (HR) after Pseudomonas infection. We established a protocol to reproducibly isolate LDs and to analyze their protein content. The expression of GFP fusion proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana and in transgenic Arabidopsis lines validated the LD localization of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 4 (GPAT4) and 8 (GPAT8), required for cutin biosynthesis. Similarly, we showed LD localization of α-dioxygenase1 (α-DOX1) and caleosin3 (CLO3), involved in the synthesis of fatty acid derivatives, and that of phytoalexin-deficient 3 (PAD3), which is involved in camalexin synthesis. We found evidence suggesting the existence of different populations of LDs, with varying protein contents and distributions. GPAT4 and GPAT8 were associated with LDs inside stomata and surrounding cells of untreated leaves, yet they were mainly confined to LDs in guard cells after bacterial inoculation. By contrast, α-DOX1 and PAD3 were associated with LDs in the epidermal cells of HR-responding leaves, with PAD3 mostly restricted to cells near dead tissue, while CLO3 had a more ubiquitous distribution. As such, the nature of the proteins identified, together with the phenotypic examination of selected mutants, suggests that LDs participate in lipid changes and in the production and transport of defense components affecting the interaction of plants with invading pathogens.

Comparative Proteomic and Physiological Analyses of Two Divergent Maize Inbred Lines Provide More Insights into Drought-Stress Tolerance Mechanisms

Drought stress is the major abiotic factor threatening maize (Zea mays L.) yield globally. Therefore, revealing the molecular mechanisms fundamental to drought tolerance in maize becomes imperative. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of two maize inbred lines contrasting in drought stress tolerance based on their physiological and proteomic responses at the seedling stage. Our observations showed that divergent stress tolerance mechanisms exist between the two inbred-lines at physiological and proteomic levels, with YE8112 being comparatively more tolerant than MO17 owing to its maintenance of higher relative leaf water and proline contents, greater increase in peroxidase (POD) activity, along with decreased level of lipid peroxidation under stressed conditions. Using an iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification)-based method, we identified a total of 721 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs). Amongst these, we fished out five essential sets of drought responsive DAPs, including 13 DAPs specific to YE8112, 107 specific DAPs shared between drought-sensitive and drought-tolerant lines after drought treatment (SD_TD), three DAPs of YE8112 also regulated in SD_TD, 84 DAPs unique to MO17, and five overlapping DAPs between the two inbred lines. The most significantly enriched DAPs in YE8112 were associated with the photosynthesis antenna proteins pathway, whilst those in MO17 were related to C5-branched dibasic acid metabolism and RNA transport pathways. The changes in protein abundance were consistent with the observed physiological characterizations of the two inbred lines. Further, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis results confirmed the iTRAQ sequencing data. The higher drought tolerance of YE8112 was attributed to: activation of photosynthesis proteins involved in balancing light capture and utilization; enhanced lipid-metabolism; development of abiotic and biotic cross-tolerance mechanisms; increased cellular detoxification capacity; activation of chaperones that stabilize other proteins against drought-induced denaturation; and reduced synthesis of redundant proteins to help save energy to battle drought stress. These findings provide further insights into the molecular signatures underpinning maize drought stress tolerance.

Membrane Dynamics and Multiple Functions of Oil Bodies in Seeds and Leaves

Oil bodies have multiple functions: oleosin-mediated freezing tolerance of seeds, direct interaction with glyoxysomes for lipid degradation in seedlings, and antifungal compound production in leaves.

Silencing of an α-dioxygenase gene, Ca-DOX, retards growth and suppresses basal disease resistance responses in Capsicum annum

Alpha-dioxygenases (α-DOX) catalyzing the primary oxygenation of fatty acids to oxylipins were recently found in plants. Here, the biological roles of the pepper α-DOX (Ca-DOX) gene, which is strongly induced during non-host pathogen infection in chili pepper, were examined. Virus-induced gene silencing demonstrated that down-regulation of Ca-DOX enhanced susceptibility to bacterial pathogens and suppressed the hypersensitive response via the suppression of pathogenesis-related genes such as PR4, proteinase inhibitor II and lipid transfer protein (PR14). Ca-DOX-silenced pepper plants also exhibited more retarded growth with lower epidermal cell numbers and reduced cell wall thickness than control plants. To better understand regulation of Ca-DOX, transgenic Arabidopsis plants harboring the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene driven from a putative Ca-DOX promoter were generated. GUS expression was significantly induced upon avirulent pathogen infection in transgenic Arabidopsis leaves, whereas GUS induction was relatively weak upon virulent pathogen treatment. After treatment with plant hormones, early and strong GUS expression was seen after treatment of salicylic acid, whereas ethylene and methyl jasmonate treatments produced relatively weak and late GUS signals. These results will enable us to further understand the role of α-DOX, which is important in lipid metabolism, defense responses, and growth development in plants.

9-Lipoxygenase-Derived Oxylipins Activate Brassinosteroid Signaling to Promote Cell Wall-Based Defense and Limit Pathogen Infection

The oxylipins, a large family of oxygenated lipid derivatives, regulate plant development and immunity. Two members of the 9-lipoxygenase (9-LOX) oxylipin pathway, 9-hydroxyoctadecatrienoic acid and 9-ketooctadecatrienoic acid, control root development and plant defense. Studies in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) using a series of 9-hydroxyoctadecatrienoic acid- and 9-ketooctadecatrienoic acid-insensitive nonresponding to oxylipins (noxy) mutants showed the importance of the cell wall as a 9-LOX-induced defense component and the participation of NOXY proteins in signaling cell wall damage. Here, we examined 9-LOX signaling using the mutants lox1lox5, which lacks 9-LOX activity, and noxy2-2, which shows oxylipin insensitivity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mutants in brassinosteroids (BRs), a class of plant hormones necessary for normal plant growth and the control of cell wall integrity, were also analyzed. Several lines of evidence indicated that 9-LOX-derived oxylipins induce BR synthesis and signaling to activate cell wall-based responses such as callose deposition and that constitutive activation of BR signaling in bri1-EMS-suppressor 1-D (bes1-D) plants enhances this response. We found that constitutive BR signaling in bes1-D and brassinolide-resistant 1-1D (bzr1-1D) mutants conferred resistance to Pseudomonas syringae. bes1-D and bzr1-1D showed increased resistance to Golovinomyces cichoracearum, an obligate biotrophic fungus that penetrates the cell wall for successful infection, whereas susceptibility was enhanced in lox1lox5 and noxy2-2. Our results indicate a sequential action of 9-LOX and BR signaling in activating cell wall-based defense, and this response prevents pathogen infection. These results show interaction between the 9-LOX and BR pathways and help to clarify their role in modulating plant defense.

Differential tissue accumulation of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin in Arabidopsis thaliana affects plant chronology, lipid metabolism and seed yield

BACKGROUND

Dioxins are one of the most toxic groups of persistent organic pollutants. Their biotransmission through the food chain constitutes a potential risk for human health. Plants as principal actors in the food chain can play a determinant role in removing dioxins from the environment. Due to the lack of data on dioxin/plant research, this study sets out to determine few responsive reactions adopted by Arabidopsis plant towards 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most toxic congener of dioxins.

RESULTS

Using a high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that Arabidopsis plant uptakes TCDD by the roots and accumulates it in the vegetative parts in a tissue-specific manner. TCDD mainly accumulated in rosette leaves and mature seeds and less in stem, flowers and immature siliques. Moreover, we observed that plants exposed to high doses of TCDD exhibited a delay in flowering and yielded fewer seeds of a reduced oil content with a low vitality. A particular focus on the plant fatty acid metabolism showed that TCDD caused a significant reduction in C18-unsaturated fatty acid level in plant tissues. Simultaneously, TCDD induced the expression of 9-LOX and 13-LOX genes and the formation of their corresponding hydroperoxides, 9- and 13-HPOD as well as 9- or 13-HPOT, derived from linoleic and linolenic acids, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The current work highlights a side of toxicological effects resulting in the administration of 2,3,7,8-TCDD on the Arabidopsis plant. Similarly to animals, it seems that plants may accumulate TCDD in their lipids by involving few of the FA-metabolizing enzymes for sculpting a specific oxylipins "signature" typified to plant TCDD-tolerance. Together, our results uncover novel responses of Arabidopsis to dioxin, possibly emerging to overcome its toxicity.

Leaf oil bodies are subcellular factories producing antifungal oxylipins

Oil bodies act as lipid storage compartments in plant cells. In seeds they supply energy for germination and early seedling growth. Oil bodies are also present in the leaves of many vascular plants, but their function in leaves has been poorly understood. Recent studies with oil bodies from senescent Arabidopsis thaliana leaves identified two enzymes, peroxygenase (CLO3) and α-dioxygenase (α-DOX), which together catalyze a coupling reaction to produce an antifungal compound (2-hydroxy-octadecanoic acid) from α-linolenic acid. Leaf oil bodies also have other enzymes including lipoxygenases, phospholipases, and triacylglycerol lipases. Hence, leaf oil bodies might function as intracellular factories to efficiently produce stable compounds via unstable intermediates by concentrating the enzymes and hydrophobic substrates.

Role of dioxygenase α-DOX2 and SA in basal response and in hexanoic acid-induced resistance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants against Botrytis cinerea

Resistance of tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) to the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea requires complex interplay between hormonal signalling. In this study, we explored the involvement of new oxylipins in the tomato basal and induced response to this necrotroph through the functional analysis of the tomato α-dioxygenase2 (α-DOX2)-deficient mutant divaricata. We also investigated the role of SA in the defence response against this necrotrophic fungus using SA-deficient tomato nahG plants. The plants lacking dioxigenase α-DOX2, which catalyses oxylipins production from fatty acids, were more susceptible to Botrytis, and hexanoic acid-induced resistance (Hx-IR) was impaired; hence α-DOX2 is required for both tomato defence and the enhanced protection conferred by natural inducer hexanoic acid (Hx) against B. cinerea. The divaricata plants accumulated less pathogen-induced callose and presented lower levels of jasmonic acid (JA) and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) upon infection if compared to the wild type. Glutathion-S-transferase (GST) gene expression decreased and ROS production significantly increased in Botrytis-infected divaricata plants. These results indicate that absence of α-DOX2 influences the hormonal changes, oxidative burst and callose deposition that occur upon Botrytis infection in tomato. The study of SA-deficient nahG tomato plants showed that the plants with low SA levels displayed increased resistance to Botrytis, but were unable to display Hx-IR. This supports the involvement of SA in Hx-IR. NaghG plants displayed reduced callose and ROS accumulation upon infection and an increased GST expression. This reflects a positive relationship between SA and these defensive mechanisms in tomato. Finally, Hx boosted the pathogen-induced callose in nahG plants, suggesting that this priming mechanism is SA-independent. Our results support the involvement of the oxylipins pathway and SA in tomato response to Botrytis, probably through complex crosstalk of the hormonal balance with callose and ROS accumulation, and reinforce the role of the oxidative stress in the outcome of the plant-Botrytis interaction.

The Physcomitrella patens unique alpha-dioxygenase participates in both developmental processes and defense responses

BACKGROUND

Plant α-dioxygenases catalyze the incorporation of molecular oxygen into polyunsaturated fatty acids leading to the formation of oxylipins. In flowering plants, two main groups of α-DOXs have been described. While the α-DOX1 isoforms are mainly involved in defense responses against microbial infection and herbivores, the α-DOX2 isoforms are mostly related to development. To gain insight into the roles played by these enzymes during land plant evolution, we performed biochemical, genetic and molecular analyses to examine the function of the single copy moss Physcomitrella patens α-DOX (Ppα-DOX) in development and defense against pathogens.

RESULTS

Recombinant Ppα-DOX protein catalyzed the conversion of fatty acids into 2-hydroperoxy derivatives with a substrate preference for α-linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acids. Ppα-DOX is expressed during development in tips of young protonemal filaments with maximum expression levels in mitotically active undifferentiated apical cells. In leafy gametophores, Ppα-DOX is expressed in auxin producing tissues, including rhizoid and axillary hairs. Ppα-DOX transcript levels and Ppα-DOX activity increased in moss tissues infected with Botrytis cinerea or treated with Pectobacterium carotovorum elicitors. In B. cinerea infected leaves, Ppα-DOX-GUS proteins accumulated in cells surrounding infected cells, suggesting a protective mechanism. Targeted disruption of Ppα-DOX did not cause a visible developmental alteration and did not compromise the defense response. However, overexpressing Ppα-DOX, or incubating wild-type tissues with Ppα-DOX-derived oxylipins, principally the aldehyde heptadecatrienal, resulted in smaller moss colonies with less protonemal tissues, due to a reduction of caulonemal filament growth and a reduction of chloronemal cell size compared with normal tissues. In addition, Ppα-DOX overexpression and treatments with Ppα-DOX-derived oxylipins reduced cellular damage caused by elicitors of P. carotovorum.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the unique α-DOX of the primitive land plant P. patens, although apparently not crucial, participates both in development and in the defense response against pathogens, suggesting that α-DOXs from flowering plants could have originated by duplication and successive functional diversification after the divergence from bryophytes.

Oxylipins in moss development and defense

Oxylipins are oxygenated fatty acids that participate in plant development and defense against pathogen infection, insects, and wounding. Initial oxygenation of substrate fatty acids is mainly catalyzed by lipoxygenases (LOXs) and α-dioxygenases but can also take place non-enzymatically by autoxidation or singlet oxygen-dependent reactions. The resulting hydroperoxides are further metabolized by secondary enzymes to produce a large variety of compounds, including the hormone jasmonic acid (JA) and short-chain green leaf volatiles. In flowering plants, which lack arachidonic acid, oxylipins are produced mainly from oxidation of polyunsaturated C18 fatty acids, notably linolenic and linoleic acids. Algae and mosses in addition possess polyunsaturated C20 fatty acids including arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids, which can also be oxidized by LOXs and transformed into bioactive compounds. Mosses are phylogenetically placed between unicellular green algae and flowering plants, allowing evolutionary studies of the different oxylipin pathways. During the last years the moss Physcomitrella patens has become an attractive model plant for understanding oxylipin biosynthesis and diversity. In addition to the advantageous evolutionary position, functional studies of the different oxylipin-forming enzymes can be performed in this moss by targeted gene disruption or single point mutations by means of homologous recombination. Biochemical characterization of several oxylipin-producing enzymes and oxylipin profiling in P. patens reveal the presence of a wider range of oxylipins compared to flowering plants, including C18 as well as C20-derived oxylipins. Surprisingly, one of the most active oxylipins in plants, JA, is not synthesized in this moss. In this review, we present an overview of oxylipins produced in mosses and discuss the current knowledge related to the involvement of oxylipin-producing enzymes and their products in moss development and defense.

N-Acylethanolamines: lipid metabolites with functions in plant growth and development

Twenty years ago, N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) were considered by many lipid chemists to be biological 'artifacts' of tissue damage, and were, at best, thought to be minor lipohilic constituents of various organisms. However, that changed dramatically in 1993, when anandamide, an NAE of arachidonic acid (N-arachidonylethanolamine), was shown to bind to the human cannabinoid receptor (CB1) and activate intracellular signal cascades in mammalian neurons. Now NAEs of various types have been identified in diverse multicellular organisms, in which they display profound biological effects. Although targets of NAEs are still being uncovered, and probably vary among eukaryotic species, there appears to be remarkable conservation of the machinery that metabolizes these bioactive fatty acid conjugates of ethanolamine. This review focuses on the metabolism and functions of NAEs in higher plants, with specific reference to the formation, hydrolysis and oxidation of these potent lipid mediators. The discussion centers mostly on early seedling growth and development, for which NAE metabolism has received the most attention, but also considers other areas of plant development in which NAE metabolism has been implicated. Where appropriate, we indicate cross-kingdom conservation in NAE metabolic pathways and metabolites, and suggest areas where opportunities for further investigation appear most pressing.

Leaf oil body functions as a subcellular factory for the production of a phytoalexin in Arabidopsis

Oil bodies are intracellular structures present in the seed and leaf cells of many land plants. Seed oil bodies are known to function as storage compartments for lipids. However, the physiological function of leaf oil bodies is unknown. Here, we show that leaf oil bodies function as subcellular factories for the production of a stable phytoalexin in response to fungal infection and senescence. Proteomic analysis of oil bodies prepared from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves identified caleosin (CLO3) and α-dioxygenase (α-DOX1). Both CLO3 and α-DOX1 were localized on the surface of oil bodies. Infection with the pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum higginsianum promoted the formation of CLO3- and α-DOX1-positive oil bodies in perilesional areas surrounding the site of infection. α-DOX1 catalyzes the reaction from α-linolenic acid (a major fatty acid component of oil bodies) to an unstable compound, 2-hydroperoxy-octadecatrienoic acid (2-HPOT). Intriguingly, a combination of α-DOX1 and CLO3 produced a stable compound, 2-hydroxy-octadecatrienoic acid (2-HOT), from α-linolenic acid. This suggests that the colocalization of α-DOX1 and CLO3 on oil bodies might prevent the degradation of unstable 2-HPOT by efficiently converting 2-HPOT into the stable compound 2-HOT. We found that 2-HOT had antifungal activity against members of the genus Colletotrichum and that infection with C. higginsianum induced 2-HOT production. These results defined 2-HOT as an Arabidopsis phytoalexin. This study provides, to our knowledge, the first evidence that leaf oil bodies produce a phytoalexin under a pathological condition, which suggests a new mechanism of plant defense.

Expression of α-DIOXYGENASE 1 in tomato and Arabidopsis contributes to plant defenses against aphids

Plant α-dioxygenases (α-DOX) are fatty acid-hydroperoxidases that contribute to the synthesis of oxylipins, a diverse group of compounds primarily generated through oxidation of linoleic (LA) and linolenic acid (LNA). Oxylipins are implicated in plant signaling against biotic and abiotic stresses. We report here that the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) induces Slα-DOX1 but not Slα-DOX2 expression in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Slα-DOX1 upregulation by aphids does not require either jasmonic acid (JA) or salicylic acid (SA) accumulation, since tomato mutants deficient in JA (spr2, acx1) or SA accumulation (NahG) still show Slα-DOX1 induction. Virus-induced gene silencing of Slα-DOX1 enhanced aphid population growth in wild-type (WT) plants, revealing that Slα-DOX1 contributes to basal resistance to aphids. Moreover, an even higher percent increase in aphid numbers occurred when Slα-DOX1 was silenced in spr2, a mutant line characterized by elevated LA levels, decreased LNA, and enhanced aphid resistance as compared with WT. These results suggest that aphid reproduction is influenced by oxylipins synthesized from LA by Slα-DOX1. In agreement with our experiments in tomato, two independent α-dox1 T-DNA insertion mutant lines in Arabidopsis thaliana also showed increased susceptibility to the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), indicating that the role α-DOX is conserved in other plant-aphid interactions.

Genotyping by RAD sequencing enables mapping of fatty acid composition traits in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne (L.))

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the most important forage crop in temperate livestock agriculture. Its nutritional quality has significant impact on the quality of meat and milk for human consumption. Evidence suggests that higher energy content in forage can assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants. Increasing the fatty acid content (especially α-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) may thus contribute to better forage, but little is known about the genetic basis of variation for this trait. To this end, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified associated with major fatty acid content in perennial ryegrass using a population derived from a cross between the heterozygous and outbreeding high-sugar grass variety AberMagic and an older variety, Aurora. A genetic map with 434 restriction-associated DNA (RAD) and SSR markers was generated. Significant QTLs for the content of palmitic (C16:0) on linkage groups (LGs) 2 and 7; stearic (C18:0) on LGs 3, 4 and 7; linoleic (C18:2n-6) on LGs 2 and 5; and α-linolenic acids (C18:3n-3) on LG 1 were identified. Two candidate genes (a lipase and a beta-ketoacyl CoA synthase), both associated with C16:0, and separately with C18:2n-6 and C18:0 contents, were identified. The physical positions of these genes in rice and their genetic positions in perennial ryegrass were consistent with established syntenic relationships between these two species. Validation of these associations is required, but the utility of RAD markers for rapid generation of genetic maps and QTL analysis has been demonstrated for fatty acid composition in a global forage crop.

Fatty acid-and retinol-binding protein, Mj-FAR-1 induces tomato host susceptibility to root-knot nematodes

Plant-parasitic nematodes produce at least one structurally unique class of small helix-rich retinol- and fatty-acid-binding proteins that have no counterparts in their plant hosts. Herein we describe a protein of the plant-parasitic root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica, which is a member of the nematode-specific fatty-acid- and retinol-binding (Mj-FAR-1) family of proteins. The mj-far-1 mRNA was detected through M. javanica pre-parasitic J2s, migratory and sedentary parasitic stages by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Immunolocalization assays demonstrate that the FAR protein of Meloidogyne is secreted during sedentary stages, as evidenced by the accumulation of FAR at the nematode cuticle surface and along the adjacent host root tissues. Tomato roots constitutively expressing mj-far-1 demonstrated an increased susceptibility to root-knot nematodes infection as observed by accelerated gall induction and expansion, accompanied by a higher percentage of nematodes developing into mature females compared to control roots. RNA interference assays that expressed double-stranded RNA complementary to mj-far-1 in transgenic tomato lines specifically reduced nematode infection levels. Histological analysis of nematode-infested roots indicated that in roots overexpressing mj-far-1, galls contained larger feeding cells and might support a faster nematode development and maturation. Roots overexpressing mj-far-1 suppressed jasmonic acid responsive genes such as the proteinase inhibitor (Pin2) and γ-thionin, illustrating the possible role of Mj-FAR-1 in manipulating the lipid based signaling in planta. This data, suggests that Meloidogyne FAR might have a strategic function during the interaction of the nematode with its plant host. Our study present the first demonstration of an in planta functional characterization and localization of FAR proteins secreted by plant-parasitic nematodes. It provides evidence that Mj-FAR-1 facilitates infection most likely via the manipulation of host lipid-based defenses, as critical components for a successful parasitism by plant-parasitic nematodes.

Arabidopsis mutants of sphingolipid fatty acid α-hydroxylases accumulate ceramides and salicylates

In Arabidopsis, the fatty acid moiety of sphingolipids is mainly α-hydroxylated. The consequences of a reduction in this modification were analysed. Mutants of both Fatty Acid Hydroxylase genes (AtFAH1 and AtFAH2) were analysed for sphingolipid profiles. To elucidate further consequences of the mutations, metabolic analyses were performed and the influence on pathogen defence was determined. Ceramide and glucosylceramide profiles of double-mutant plants showed a reduction in sphingolipids with α-hydroxylated fatty acid moieties, and an accumulation of sphingolipids without these moieties. In addition, the free trihydroxylated long-chain bases and ceramides were increased by five- and ten-fold, respectively, whereas the amount of glucosylceramides was decreased by 25%. Metabolite analysis of the double mutant revealed salicylates as enriched metabolites. Infection experiments supported the metabolic changes, as the double mutant showed an enhanced disease-resistant phenotype for infection with the obligate biotrophic pathogen Golovinomyces cichoracearum. In summary, these results suggest that fatty acid hydroxylation of ceramides is important for the biosynthesis of complex sphingolipids. Its absence leads to the accumulation of long-chain bases and ceramides as their precursors. This increases salicylate levels and resistance towards obligate biotrophic fungal pathogens, confirming a role of sphingolipids in salicylic acid-dependent defence reactions.

Nicotiana attenuata α-DIOXYGENASE1 through its production of 2-hydroxylinolenic acid is required for intact plant defense expression against attack from Manduca sexta larvae

Nicotiana attenuata α-DIOXYGENASE1 (α-DOX1) is an oxylipin-forming gene elicited during herbivory by fatty acid amino acid conjugates (FACs) contained in oral secretions of Manduca sexta. To understand the roles of Naα-DOX1 and its major product, 2-hydroxylinolenic acid (2-hydroxylinolenic acid), in N. attenuata's anti-herbivore defenses, we used a transgenic line specifically silenced in Naα-DOX1 expression (ir-α-dox1) and monitored 2-HOT production in M. sexta-damaged tissues and its role in influencing the production of direct defense compounds and resistance to this insect. Attack by M. sexta larvae amplified 2-HOT formation at the feeding sites; a reaction probably facilitated by Naα-DOX1's high pH optimum which allows 2-HOT formation to occur in the more alkaline conditions at the feeding sites or potentially in the insect mouth parts after the leaf tissue is ingested. Manduca sexta larvae performed better on ir-α-dox1 plants than on wild-type (WT) plants as a result of attenuated herbivory-specific JA and 2-HOT bursts as well as JA-inducible well-established defenses (nicotine, caffeoylputrescine and trypsin proteinase inhibitors). Repeated applications of 2-HOT to wounds before insect feeding partly amplified JA-controlled defenses and restored the resistance of ir-α-dox1 plants. We conclude that 2-HOT, produced by attack-activated α-DOX1 activity, participates in defense activation during insect feeding.

Role of 9-lipoxygenase and α-dioxygenase oxylipin pathways as modulators of local and systemic defense

Plant 9-lipoxygenases (9-LOX) and α-dioxygenases (α-DOX) initiate the synthesis of oxylipins after bacterial infection. Here, the role of these enzymes in plants' defense was investigated using individual Arabidopsis thaliana lox1 and dox1 mutants and a double lox1 dox1 mutant. Studies with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) revealed the enhanced susceptibility of lox1 to the virulent strain Pst DC3000 and the partial impairment of lox1 and dox1 mutants to activate systemic acquired resistance. Notably, both defects were enhanced in the lox1 dox1 plants as compared with individual mutants. We found that pre-treatment with 9-LOX- and α-DOX-generated oxylipins protected plant tissues against bacterial infection. The strongest effect in this respect was exerted by 9-ketooctadecatrienoic acid (9-KOT), which is produced from linolenic acid by 9-LOX. Quantification of 9-KOT revealed its accumulation after bacterial infection. The levels were reduced in lox1 and lox1 dox1 plants but strongly increased in the dox1 mutant due to metabolic interaction of the two pathways. Transcriptional analyses indicated that 9-KOT pre-treatment modifies hormone homeostasis during bacterial infection. The nature of the changes detected suggested that 9-KOT interferes with the hormonal changes caused by bacterial effectors. This notion was substantiated by the finding that 9-KOT failed to reduce the growth of PstDC3000hrpA, a mutant compromised in effector secretion, and of the avirulent strain Pst DC3000 avrRpm1. Further support for the action of the 9-LOX- and α-DOX-oxylipin pathways as modulators of hormone homeostasis was the observation that lox1 dox1 seedlings are hypersensitive to the growth-inhibitory effect of ABA and showed enhanced activation of ABA-inducible marker genes as compared with wild-type plants.

Antagonistic role of 9-lipoxygenase-derived oxylipins and ethylene in the control of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and plant defence

9-lipoxygenases (9-LOXs) initiate fatty acid oxygenation in plant tissues, with formation of 9-hydroxy-10,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (9-HOT) from linolenic acid. A lox1 lox5 mutant, which is deficient in 9-LOX activity, and two mutants noxy6 and noxy22 (non-responding to oxylipins), which are insensitive to 9-HOT, have been used to investigate 9-HOT signalling. Map-based cloning indicated that the noxy6 and noxy22 mutations are located at the CTR1 (CONSTITUTIVE ETHYLENE RESPONSE1) and ETO1 (ETHYLENE-OVERPRODUCER1) loci, respectively. In agreement, the noxy6 and noxy22 mutants, renamed as ctr1-15 and eto1-14, respectively, showed enhanced ethylene (ET) production. The correlation between increased ET production and reduced 9-HOT sensitivity indicated by these results was supported by experiments in which exogenously added ethylene precursor ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) impaired the responses to 9-HOT. Moreover, a reciprocal interaction between ET and 9-HOT signalling was indicated by results showing that the effect of ACC was reduced in the presence of 9-HOT. We found that the 9-LOX and ET pathways regulate the response to the lipid peroxidation-inducer singlet oxygen. Thus, the massive transcriptional changes seen in wild-type plants in response to singlet oxygen were greatly affected in the lox1 lox5 and eto1-14 mutants. Furthermore, these mutants displayed enhanced susceptibility to both singlet oxygen and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, in the latter case leading to increased accumulation of the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde. These findings demonstrate an antagonistic relationship between products of the 9-LOX and ET pathways, and suggest a role for the 9-LOX pathway in modulating oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and plant defence.

Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of maize embryos exposed to camptothecin

BACKGROUND

Camptothecin is a plant alkaloid that specifically binds topoisomerase I, inhibiting its activity and inducing double stranded breaks in DNA, activating the cell responses to DNA damage and, in response to severe treatments, triggering cell death.

RESULTS

Comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of maize embryos that had been exposed to camptothecin were conducted. Under the conditions used in this study, camptothecin did not induce extensive degradation in the genomic DNA but induced the transcription of genes involved in DNA repair and repressed genes involved in cell division. Camptothecin also affected the accumulation of several proteins involved in the stress response and induced the activity of certain calcium-dependent nucleases. We also detected changes in the expression and accumulation of different genes and proteins involved in post-translational regulatory processes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified several genes and proteins that participate in DNA damage responses in plants. Some of them may be involved in general responses to stress, but others are candidate genes for specific involvement in DNA repair. Our results open a number of new avenues for researching and improving plant resistance to DNA injury.

Identification of defense-related genes newly-associated with tomato flower abscission

The current abscission model suggests the formation of a post-abscission trans-differentiation of a protective layer as the last step of the process. The present report expands the repertoire of genes activated in the tomato flower abscission zone (AZ), which are likely to be involved in defense responses. We identified four different defense-related genes, including: Cysteine-type endopeptidase, α-Dioxygenase 1 (α-DOX1), HopW-1-1-Interacting protein2 (WIN2), and Stomatal-derived factor-2 (SDF2), that are newly-associated with the late stage of the abscission process. The late expression of these genes, induced at 8-14 h after flower removal when pedicel abscission was already in progress, was AZ-specific, and was inhibited by treatments that prevented pedicel abscission, including 1-methylcyclopropene pretreatment or IAA application. This information supports the activation of different defense responses and strategies at the late abscission stages, which may enable efficient protection of the exposed tissue toward different environmental stresses.

The two alpha-dox genes of Nicotiana attenuata: overlapping but distinct functions in development and stress responses

BACKGROUND

Plant fatty acid alpha-dioxygenases (alpha-DOX) are oxylipin-forming enzymes induced by biotic and abiotic stresses, which also participate in developmental processes. In Nicotiana attenuata, herbivory strongly induces the expression of an alpha-dox1 gene. To determine its role, we silenced its expression using Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation with an inverted repeat construct. More than half of the transformed lines showed a severe dwarf growth phenotype that was very similar to the phenotype of tomato plants mutated at a second alpha-dox isoform. This led us to identify the corresponding alpha-dox2 gene in N. attenuata and examine the regulation of both alpha-dox genes as well as the consequences of their silencing in plant development and anti-herbivore defense.

RESULTS

The transformed lines exhibiting a dwarf growth phenotype are co-silenced for both alpha-dox genes resulting in a nearly complete suppression of alpha-DOX activity, which is associated with increases in ABA, JA and anthocyanin levels, all metabolic signatures of oxidative stress. The other lines, only silenced for alpha-dox1, developed similarly to wild-type plants, exhibited a 40% reduction of alpha-DOX activity resulting in a 50% reduction of its main product in planta (2-HOT) and showed no signs of oxidative stress. In contrast to alpha-dox1, the expression of alpha-dox2 gene is not induced by wounding or elicitors in the oral secretions of Manduca sexta. Instead, alpha-dox2 is expressed in roots and flowers which lack alpha-dox1 expression, but both genes are equally regulated during leaf maturation. We transiently silenced alpha-dox gene copies with gene-specific constructs using virus induced gene silencing and determined the consequences for plant development and phytohormone and 2-HOT levels. While individual silencing of alpha-dox1 or alpha-dox2 had no effects on plant growth, the co-suppression of both alpha-dox genes decreased plant growth. Plants transiently silenced for both alpha-dox genes had increased constitutive levels of JA and ABA but silencing alpha-dox1 alone resulted in lower M. sexta-induced levels of JA, 2-HOT and ABA.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, both alpha-dox isoforms function in the development of N. attenuata. In leaf maturation, the two alpha-dox genes have overlapping functions, but only alpha-dox2 is involved in root and flower development and only alpha-dox1 functions in anti-herbivore defense.

Jasmonates

ARABIDOPSIS IS A SUPERB MODEL FOR THE STUDY OF AN IMPORTANT SUBGROUP OF OXYLIPINS: the jasmonates. Jasmonates control many responses to cell damage and invasion and are essential for reproduction. Jasmonic acid (JA) is a prohormone and is conjugated to hydrophobic amino acids to produce regulatory ligands. The major receptor for active jasmonate ligands is closely related to auxin receptors and, as in auxin signaling, jasmonate signaling requires the destruction of repressor proteins. This chapter uses a frequently asked question (FAQ) approach and concludes with a practical section.