Supplementary ultraviolet-B irradiation reveals differences in stress responses between Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes

Irradiation of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes C24, Wassilewskija (Ws) and Columbia-0 (Col-0) with supplementary ultraviolet-A+B (UV-A+B) radiation revealed ecotype-specific differences in expression of the gene for the pathogenesis-related protein PR-5. C24 showed an increased expression level of PR-5 (5- and 20-fold higher compared with Col-0 and Ws, respectively). Expression of other molecular markers such as CHS (encoding chalcone synthase), MEB5.2 [encoding a gene strongly up-regulated by ultraviolet-B (UV-B)] and PYROA [encoding a pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) biosynthesis enzyme] only showed slight differences between ecotypes. Oxidative stress during UVA+B exposure was monitored by staining for H2O2. This analysis also revealed important ecotype-specific differences. 'H2O2 hot spots' were found in C24, whereas an even distribution of H2O2 was found in Ws and Col-0. Necrotic lesions also appeared on C24 leaves after prolonged UV-B exposure. There was a reverse correlation between the H2O2 steady-state concentration and the PR-5 gene expression; Ws showed the highest level of H2O2 accumulation but the lowest expression level of the PR-5 gene. Furthermore, application of paraquat on the rosettes led to similar PR-5 expression and H2O2 accumulation patterns as were found after UV-A+B irradiation. The observed ecotypic differences were also reflected in a statistically significant UV-B-dependent decrease in biomass, rosette size and leaf area for Ws, but not for C24 and Col-0. Our results show that a significant ecotype-specific genetic variability in general UV-B responses in Arabidopsis exists. Moreover, the signal transduction or gene regulation pathway for PR-5 differs from the other molecular markers used in this study.

Over-expression of phenol-oxidising peroxidases alters the UV-susceptibility of transgenic Nicotiana tabacum

•  Class III peroxidases catalyse the oxidative crosslinking of UV-absorbing phenolics. The effect of changes in the activity of phenol oxidising peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.7) on UV-tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum plants has been determined. •  The UV-sensitivity of transgenic N. tabacum lines, altered in their peroxidase expression pattern, was studied by measuring radiation effects on photosynthetic efficiency. •  Analysis of the effect of UV-radiation on the relative variable chlorophyll fluorescence showed that the SPI-2 line, which over-expresses a defence-related cationic peroxidase, is markedly UV-tolerant. By contrast, the ROPN3-line, which overexpresses a synthetic horseradish peroxidase-C gene, was found to be UV-sensitive. The increased activity of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) inducible peroxidases in homozygous IAA-overproducing transgenic plants was also found to correlate with UV-sensitivity. •  It is concluded that only specific peroxidase isozymes, through their effects on phenolic metabolism, contribute to the UV protection response. Thus, the analysis of the role of isozymes in UV-protection addresses fundamental questions of isozyme diversity and/or redundancy in relation to phenolic substrates.

Gene expression profiling in response to ultraviolet radiation in maize genotypes with varying flavonoid content

Microarray hybridization was used to assess acclimation responses to four UV regimes by near isogenic maize (Zea mays) lines varying in flavonoid content. We found that 355 of the 2,500 cDNAs tested were regulated by UV radiation in at least one genotype. Among these, 232 transcripts are assigned putative functions, whereas 123 encode unknown proteins. UV-B increased expression of stress response and ribosomal protein genes, whereas photosynthesis-associated genes were down-regulated; lines lacking UV-absorbing pigments had more dramatic responses than did lines with these pigments, confirming the shielding role of these compounds. Sunlight filtered to remove UV-B or UV-B plus UV-A resulted in significant expression changes in many genes not previously associated with UV responses. Some pathways regulated by UV radiation are shared with defense, salt, and oxidative stresses; however, UV-B radiation can activate additional pathways not shared with other stresses.