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Mellidou I, Kanellis AK. Revisiting the role of ascorbate oxidase in plant systems. J Exp Bot 2024; 75:2740-2753. [PMID: 38366668 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Ascorbic acid (AsA) plays an indispensable role in plants, serving as both an antioxidant and a master regulator of the cellular redox balance. Ascorbate oxidase (AO) is a blue copper oxidase that is responsible for the oxidation of AsA with the concomitant production of water. For many decades, AO was erroneously postulated as an enzyme without any obvious advantage, as it decreases the AsA pool size and thus is expected to weaken plant stress resistance. It was only a decade ago that this perspective shifted towards the fundamental role of AO in orchestrating both AsA and oxygen levels by influencing the overall redox balance in the extracellular matrix. Consistent with its localization in the apoplast, AO is involved in cell expansion, division, resource allocation, and overall plant yield. An increasing number of transgenic studies has demonstrated that AO can also facilitate communication between the surrounding environment and the cell, as its gene expression is highly responsive to factors such as hormonal signaling, oxidative stress, and mechanical injury. This review aims to describe the multiple functions of AO in plant growth, development, and stress resilience, and explore any additional roles the enzyme might have in fruits during the course of ripening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization ELGO-DIMITRA, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Papanikolaou AS, Papaefthimiou D, Matekalo D, Karakousi CV, Makris AM, Kanellis AK. Chemical and transcriptomic analysis of leaf trichomes from Cistus creticus subsp. creticus reveal the biosynthetic pathways of certain labdane-type diterpenoids and their acetylated forms. J Exp Bot 2024:erae098. [PMID: 38520311 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Labdane-related diterpenoids (LRDs), a subgroup of terpenoids, exhibit structural diversity and significant commercial and pharmacological potential. LRDs share the characteristic decalin-labdanic core structure that derives from the cycloisomerization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). Labdanes derive their name from the oleoresin known as "Labdanum," "Ladano" or "Aladano, used since ancient Greek times. Acetylated labdanes, rarely identified in plants, are associated with enhanced biological activities. Chemical analysis of C. creticus subsp. creticus revealed labda-7,13(Ε)-dien-15-yl acetate and labda-7,13(Ε)-dien-15-ol as major constituents. In addition, novel labdanes such as cis-abienol, neoabienol, ent-copalol, and one yet unidentified labdane-type diterpenoid were detected for the first time. These compounds exhibit developmental regulation, with higher accumulation observed in young leaves. Using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of young leaf trichomes, it was possible to identify, clone, and eventually functionally characterize labdane-type diterpenoid synthase (diTPS) genes, encoding proteins responsible for the production of labda-7,13(Ε)-dien-15-yl diphosphate (endo-7,13-CPP), labda-7,13(Ε)-dien-15-yl acetate, and labda-13(Ε)-ene-8α-ol-15-yl acetate. Moreover, the reconstitution of labda-7,13(Ε)-dien-15-yl acetate and labda-13(Ε)-ene-8α-ol-15-yl acetate production in yeast is presented. Finally, the accumulation of LRDs in different plant tissues showed correlation with the expression profiles of the corresponding genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antigoni S Papanikolaou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Dragana Matekalo
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Christina-Vasiliki Karakousi
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Antonios M Makris
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology, Hellas (CERTH), 57001 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
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Mellidou I, Koukounaras A, Frusciante S, Rambla JL, Patelou E, Ntoanidou S, Pons C, Kostas S, Nikoloudis K, Granell A, Diretto G, Kanellis AK. A metabolome and transcriptome survey to tap the dynamics of fruit prolonged shelf-life and improved quality within Greek tomato germplasm. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1267340. [PMID: 37818313 PMCID: PMC10560995 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1267340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Tomato is a high economic value crop worldwide with recognized nutritional properties and diverse postharvest potential. Nowadays, there is an emerging awareness about the exploitation and utilization of underutilized traditional germplasm in modern breeding programs. In this context, the existing diversity among Greek accessions in terms of their postharvest life and nutritional value remains largely unexplored. Methods Herein, a detailed evaluation of 130 tomato Greek accessions for postharvest and nutritional characteristics was performed, using metabolomics and transcriptomics, leading to the selection of accessions with these interesting traits. Results The results showed remarkable differences among tomato Greek accessions for overall ripening parameters (color, firmness) and weight loss. On the basis of their postharvest performance, a balance between short shelf life (SSL) and long shelf life (LSL) accessions was revealed. Metabolome analysis performed on 14 selected accessions with contrasting shelf-life potential identified a total of 206 phytonutrients and volatile compounds. In turn, transcriptome analysis in fruits from the best SSL and the best LSL accessions revealed remarkable differences in the expression profiles of transcripts involved in key metabolic pathways related to fruit quality and postharvest potential. Discussion The pathways towards cell wall synthesis, polyamine synthesis, ABA catabolism, and steroidal alkaloids synthesis were mostly induced in the LSL accession, whereas those related to ethylene biosynthesis, cell wall degradation, isoprenoids, phenylpropanoids, ascorbic acid and aroma (TomloxC) were stimulated in the SSL accession. Overall, these data would provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanism towards enhancing shelf-life and improving flavor and aroma of modern tomato cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DEMETER, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Athanasios Koukounaras
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sarah Frusciante
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Development (ENEA), Biotechnology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - José L. Rambla
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Natural Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Efstathia Patelou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Symela Ntoanidou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Clara Pons
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Antonio Granell
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Gianfranco Diretto
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Development (ENEA), Biotechnology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelos K. Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Li H, Wu S, Lin R, Xiao Y, Malaco Morotti AL, Wang Y, Galilee M, Qin H, Huang T, Zhao Y, Zhou X, Yang J, Zhao Q, Kanellis AK, Martin C, Tatsis EC. The genomes of medicinal skullcaps reveal the polyphyletic origins of clerodane diterpene biosynthesis in the family Lamiaceae. Mol Plant 2023; 16:549-570. [PMID: 36639870 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The presence of anticancer clerodane diterpenoids is a chemotaxonomic marker for the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Scutellaria barbata, although the molecular mechanisms behind clerodane biosynthesis are unknown. Here, we report a high-quality assembly of the 414.98 Mb genome of S. barbata into 13 pseudochromosomes. Using phylogenomic and biochemical data, we mapped the plastidial metabolism of kaurene (gibberellins), abietane, and clerodane diterpenes in three species of the family Lamiaceae (Scutellaria barbata, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Salvia splendens), facilitating the identification of genes involved in the biosynthesis of the clerodanes, kolavenol, and isokolavenol. We show that clerodane biosynthesis evolved through recruitment and neofunctionalization of genes from gibberellin and abietane metabolism. Despite the assumed monophyletic origin of clerodane biosynthesis, which is widespread in species of the Lamiaceae, our data show distinct evolutionary lineages and suggest polyphyletic origins of clerodane biosynthesis in the family Lamiaceae. Our study not only provides significant insights into the evolution of clerodane biosynthetic pathways in the mint family, Lamiaceae, but also will facilitate the production of anticancer clerodanes through future metabolic engineering efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixiu Li
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Song Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ruoxi Lin
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yiren Xiao
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ana Luisa Malaco Morotti
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ya Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Meytal Galilee
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Haowen Qin
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xun Zhou
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Qing Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Lab. of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Evangelos C Tatsis
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; CEPAMS - CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Koukounaras A, Mellidou I, Patelou E, Kostas S, Shukla V, Engineer C, Papaefthimiou D, Amari F, Chatzopoulos D, Mattoo AK, Kanellis AK. Over-expression of GGP1 and GPP genes enhances ascorbate content and nutritional quality of tomato. Plant Physiol Biochem 2022; 193:124-138. [PMID: 36356544 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
L-Ascorbic acid (AsA), a strong antioxidant, serves as an enzyme cofactor and redox status marker, modulating a plethora of biological processes. As tomato commercial varieties and hybrids possess relatively low amounts of AsA, the improvement of fruit AsA represents a strategic goal for enhanced human health. Previously, we have suggested that GDP-L-Galactose phosphorylase (GGP) and L-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase (GPP) can serve as possible targets for AsA manipulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) fruit. To this end, we produced and evaluated T3 transgenic tomato plants carrying these two genes under the control of CaMV-35S and two fruit specific promoters, PPC2 and PG-GGPI. The transgenic lines had elevated levels of AsA, with the PG-GGP1 line containing 3-fold more AsA than WT, without affecting fruit characteristics. Following RNA-Seq analysis, 164 and 13 DEGs were up- or down-regulated, respectively, between PG-GGP1 and WT pink fruits. PG-GGP1 fruit had a distinct number of up-regulated transcripts associated with cell wall modification, ethylene biosynthesis and signaling, pollen fertility and carotenoid metabolism. The elevated AsA accumulation resulted in the up regulation of AsA associated transcripts and alternative biosynthetic pathways suggesting that the entire metabolic pathway was influenced, probably via master regulation. We show here that AsA-fortification of tomato ripe fruit via GGP1 overexpression under the action of a fruit specific promoter PG affects fruit development and ripening, reduces ethylene production, and increased the levels of sugars, and carotenoids, supporting a robust database to further explore the role of AsA induced genes for agronomically important traits, breeding programs and precision gene editing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Koukounaras
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, HAO ELGO-Demeter, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efstathia Patelou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vijaya Shukla
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Cawas Engineer
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; University of California San Diego, Division of Biological Sciences - Cell and Developmental Biology, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biological Sciences and Applications, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Foued Amari
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Wexner Medical Center/GEMMC, Comprehensive Cancer Center, 970 BRT, 460 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Dimitris Chatzopoulos
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Autar K Mattoo
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Alatzas A, Theocharis S, Miliordos DE, Leontaridou K, Kanellis AK, Kotseridis Y, Hatzopoulos P, Koundouras S. The Effect of Water Deficit on Two Greek Vitis vinifera L. Cultivars: Physiology, Grape Composition and Gene Expression during Berry Development. Plants (Basel) 2021; 10:plants10091947. [PMID: 34579479 PMCID: PMC8470430 DOI: 10.3390/plants10091947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plants are exposed to numerous abiotic stresses. Drought is probably the most important of them and determines crop distribution around the world. Grapevine is considered to be a drought-resilient species, traditionally covering semiarid areas. Moreover, in the case of grapevine, moderate water deficit is known to improve the quality traits of grape berries and subsequently wine composition. However, against the backdrop of climate change, vines are expected to experience sustained water deficits which could be detrimental to both grape quality and yield. The influence of water deficit on two Greek Vitis vinifera L. cultivars, 'Agiorgitiko' and 'Assyrtiko', was investigated during the 2019 and 2020 vintages. Vine physiology measurements in irrigated and non-irrigated plants were performed at three time-points throughout berry development (green berry, veraison and harvest). Berry growth and composition were examined during ripening. According to the results, water deficit resulted in reduced berry size and increased levels of soluble sugars, total phenols and anthocyanins. The expression profile of specific genes, known to control grape color, aroma and flavor was altered by water availability during maturation in a cultivar-specific manner. In agreement with the increased concentration of phenolic compounds due to water deficit, genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway in the red-skinned Agiorgitiko exhibited higher expression levels and earlier up-regulation than in the white Assyrtiko. The expression profile of the other genes during maturation or in response to water deficit was depended on the vintage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Alatzas
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece;
| | - Serafeim Theocharis
- Laboratory of Viticulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Dimitrios-Evangelos Miliordos
- Laboratory of Enology and Alcoholic Drinks, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece; (D.-E.M.); (Y.K.)
| | - Konstantina Leontaridou
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.L.); (A.K.K.)
| | - Angelos K. Kanellis
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.L.); (A.K.K.)
| | - Yorgos Kotseridis
- Laboratory of Enology and Alcoholic Drinks, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece; (D.-E.M.); (Y.K.)
| | - Polydefkis Hatzopoulos
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece;
| | - Stefanos Koundouras
- Laboratory of Viticulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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Mellidou I, Koukounaras A, Kostas S, Patelou E, Kanellis AK. Regulation of Vitamin C Accumulation for Improved Tomato Fruit Quality and Alleviation of Abiotic Stress. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050694. [PMID: 34066421 PMCID: PMC8148108 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascorbic acid (AsA) is an essential multifaceted phytonutrient for both the human diet and plant growth. Optimum levels of AsA accumulation combined with balanced redox homeostasis are required for normal plant development and defense response to adverse environmental stimuli. Notwithstanding its moderate AsA levels, tomatoes constitute a good source of vitamin C in the human diet. Therefore, the enhancement of AsA levels in tomato fruit attracts considerable attention, not only to improve its nutritional value but also to stimulate stress tolerance. Genetic regulation of AsA concentrations in plants can be achieved through the fine-tuning of biosynthetic, recycling, and transport mechanisms; it is also linked to changes in the whole fruit metabolism. Emerging evidence suggests that tomato synthesizes AsA mainly through the l-galactose pathway, but alternative pathways through d-galacturonate or myo-inositol, or seemingly unrelated transcription and regulatory factors, can be also relevant in certain developmental stages or in response to abiotic factors. Considering the recent advances in our understanding of AsA regulation in model and other non-model species, this review attempts to link the current consensus with novel technologies to provide a comprehensive strategy for AsA enhancement in tomatoes, without any detrimental effect on plant growth or fruit development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hao Elgo-Demeter, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Correspondence: (I.M.); (A.K.K.)
| | - Athanasios Koukounaras
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Efstathia Patelou
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Angelos K. Kanellis
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Correspondence: (I.M.); (A.K.K.)
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8
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Chatzopoulou F, Sanmartin M, Mellidou I, Pateraki I, Koukounaras A, Tanou G, Kalamaki MS, Veljović-Jovanović S, Antić TC, Kostas S, Tsouvaltzis P, Grumet R, Kanellis AK. Silencing of ascorbate oxidase results in reduced growth, altered ascorbic acid levels and ripening pattern in melon fruit. Plant Physiol Biochem 2020; 156:291-303. [PMID: 32987259 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ascorbate oxidase (AO, EC 1.10.3.3) is a copper-containing enzyme localized at the apoplast, where it catalyzes the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) to dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) via monodehydroascorbic acid (MDHA) intermediate. Despite it has been extensively studied, no biological roles have been definitively ascribed. To understand the role of AO in plant metabolism, fruit growth and physiology, we suppressed AO expression in melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit. Reduction of AO activity increased AA content in melon fruit, which is the result of repression of AA oxidation and simultaneous induction of certain biosynthetic and recycling genes. As a consequence, ascorbate redox state was altered in the apoplast. Interestingly, transgenic melon fruit displayed increased ethylene production rate coincided with elevated levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase (ACO, EC 1.14.17.4) activity and gene expression, which might contribute to earlier ripening. Moreover, AO suppressed transgenic melon fruit exhibited a dramatic arrest in fruit growth, due to a simultaneous decrease in fruit cell size and in plasmalemma (PM) ATPase activity. All the above, support for the first time, the in vivo AO participation in the rapid fruit growth of Cucurbitaceae and further suggest an alternative route for AA increase in ripening fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fani Chatzopoulou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maite Sanmartin
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Ed. 8E, Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, HAO ELGO-DEMETER. Thermi, Thessaloniki, 57 001, Greece
| | - Irini Pateraki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Athanasios Koukounaras
- School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgia Tanou
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources, HAO ELGO-DEMETER. Thermi, Thessaloniki, 57 001, Greece
| | - Mary S Kalamaki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Division of Science & Technology, American College of Thessaloniki, 17 Sevenidi Street, 55510, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sonja Veljović-Jovanović
- University of Belgrade -Department of Life Sciences, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tijana Cvetić Antić
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Studenski Trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Pavlos Tsouvaltzis
- School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Rebecca Grumet
- Department of Horticulture, Plant and Soil Sciences Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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9
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Papaefthimiou D, Diretto G, Demurtas OC, Mini P, Ferrante P, Giuliano G, Kanellis AK. Heterologous production of labdane-type diterpenes in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Phytochemistry 2019; 167:112082. [PMID: 31421542 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.112082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Labdane diterpenes (LDs), and especially sclareol, are important feedstocks for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and therefore several lines of research have led to their heterologous production in non-photosynthetic microbes and higher plants. The potential of microalgae as bioreactors of natural products has been established for a variety of bioactive metabolites, including terpenes. In this work, a codon optimized sequence encoding a key plant labdane-type diterpene (LD) cyclase, copal-8-ol diphosphate synthase from Cistus creticus (CcCLS), was introduced into the chloroplast genome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Of 49 transplastomic algal lines, 12 produced variable amounts of four LD compounds, namely ent-manoyl oxide, sclareol, labda-13-ene-8α,15-diol and ent-13-epi-manoyl oxide. The total LD concentrations measured in the transplastomic lines reached 1.172 ± 0.05 μg/mg cell DW for the highest overall producer, while the highest yield for sclareol was 0.038 ± 0.001 μg/mg cell DW. Thus, transplastomic expression of a key plant labdane diterpene cyclase in the C. reinhardtii chloroplast genome enabled the production of important plant-specific LD compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Gianfranco Diretto
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123, Rome, Italy.
| | - Olivia Costantina Demurtas
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Mini
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Ferrante
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Giuliano
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123, Rome, Italy.
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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10
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Abstract
Ascorbic acid (AsA) is an essential compound present in almost all living organisms that has important functions in several aspects of plant growth and development, hormone signaling, as well as stress defense networks. In recent years, the genetic regulation of AsA metabolic pathways has received much attention due to its beneficial role in human diet. Despite the great variability within species, genotypes, tissues and developmental stages, AsA accumulation is considered to be controlled by the fine orchestration of net biosynthesis, recycling, degradation/oxidation, and/or intercellular and intracellular transport. To date, several structural genes from the AsA metabolic pathways and transcription factors are considered to significantly affect AsA in plant tissues, either at the level of activity, transcription or translation via feedback inhibition. Yet, all the emerging studies support the notion that the steps proceeding through GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase and to a lesser extent through GDP-D-mannose-3,5-epimerase are control points in governing AsA pool size in several species. In this mini review, we discuss the current consensus of the genetic regulation of AsA biosynthesis and recycling, with a focus on horticultural crops. The aspects of AsA degradation and transport are not discussed herein. Novel insights of how this multifaceted trait is regulated are critical to prioritize candidate genes for follow-up studies toward improving the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece.,Laboratory of Agricultural Chemistry, Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
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11
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Ioannidi E, Rigas S, Tsitsekian D, Daras G, Alatzas A, Makris A, Tanou G, Argiriou A, Alexandrou D, Poethig S, Hatzopoulos P, Kanellis AK. Trichome patterning control involves TTG1 interaction with SPL transcription factors. Plant Mol Biol 2016; 92:675-687. [PMID: 27631431 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-016-0538-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Epidermal cell differentiation is a paramount and conserved process among plants. In Arabidopsis, a ternary complex formed by MYB, bHLH transcription factors and TTG1 modulates unicellular trichome morphogenesis. The formation of multicellular glandular trichomes of the xerophytic shrub Cistus creticus that accumulate labdane-type diterpenes, has attained much attention renowned for its medicinal properties. Here, we show that C. creticus TTG1 (CcTTG1) interacts with the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPLA/B) proteins, putative homologs of AtSPL4/5 that in turn interact with AtTTG1. These interactions occur between proteins from evolutionarily distant species supporting the conserved function of TTG1-SPL complex. Overexpression of AtSPL4 and AtSPL5 decreased the expression of GLABRA2 (AtGL2), the major regulator of trichome morphogenesis, resulting in trichome reduction on the adaxial surface of cauline leaves, thereby illuminating the significance of TTG1-SPLs interactions in trichome formation control. AtGL2 and AtSPL4 have opposite expression patterns during early stages of leaf development. We postulate an antagonistic effect between SPLs and the heterogeneous MYB-bHLH factors binding to TTG1. Hence, the SPLs potentially rearrange the complex, attenuating its transcriptional activity to control trichome distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Ioannidi
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stamatis Rigas
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55, Athens, Greece
| | - Dikran Tsitsekian
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55, Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Daras
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasios Alatzas
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Makris
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, CERTH, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgia Tanou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Dimitrios Alexandrou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Scott Poethig
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6313, USA
| | - Polydefkis Hatzopoulos
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55, Athens, Greece.
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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12
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Scheler U, Brandt W, Porzel A, Rothe K, Manzano D, Božić D, Papaefthimiou D, Balcke GU, Henning A, Lohse S, Marillonnet S, Kanellis AK, Ferrer A, Tissier A. Elucidation of the biosynthesis of carnosic acid and its reconstitution in yeast. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12942. [PMID: 27703160 PMCID: PMC5059481 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Rosemary extracts containing the phenolic diterpenes carnosic acid and its derivative carnosol are approved food additives used in an increasingly wide range of products to enhance shelf-life, thanks to their high anti-oxidant activity. We describe here the elucidation of the complete biosynthetic pathway of carnosic acid and its reconstitution in yeast cells. Cytochrome P450 oxygenases (CYP76AH22-24) from Rosmarinus officinalis and Salvia fruticosa already characterized as ferruginol synthases are also able to produce 11-hydroxyferruginol. Modelling-based mutagenesis of three amino acids in the related ferruginol synthase (CYP76AH1) from S. miltiorrhiza is sufficient to convert it to a 11-hydroxyferruginol synthase (HFS). The three sequential C20 oxidations for the conversion of 11-hydroxyferruginol to carnosic acid are catalysed by the related CYP76AK6-8. The availability of the genes for the biosynthesis of carnosic acid opens opportunities for the metabolic engineering of phenolic diterpenes, a class of compounds with potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour activities. Diterpenes are plant products with high antioxidant properties and potential application as food additives and therapeutics. Here, the authors describe the complete biosynthetic pathway of carnosic acid and reconstruct it in yeast, opening the way to metabolic engineering of phenolic diterpenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulschan Scheler
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Brandt
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Andrea Porzel
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Kathleen Rothe
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - David Manzano
- Program of Plant Metabolism and Metabolic Engineering, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dragana Božić
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Gerd Ulrich Balcke
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Anja Henning
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Swanhild Lohse
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Sylvestre Marillonnet
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Albert Ferrer
- Program of Plant Metabolism and Metabolic Engineering, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alain Tissier
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle 06120, Germany
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13
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Trikka FA, Nikolaidis A, Ignea C, Tsaballa A, Tziveleka LA, Ioannou E, Roussis V, Stea EA, Božić D, Argiriou A, Kanellis AK, Kampranis SC, Makris AM. Combined metabolome and transcriptome profiling provides new insights into diterpene biosynthesis in S. pomifera glandular trichomes. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:935. [PMID: 26572682 PMCID: PMC4647624 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2147-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Salvia diterpenes have been found to have health promoting properties. Among them, carnosic acid and carnosol, tanshinones and sclareol are well known for their cardiovascular, antitumor, antiinflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, many of these compounds are not available at a constant supply and developing biotechnological methods for their production could provide a sustainable alternative. The transcriptome of S.pomifera glandular trichomes was analysed aiming to identify genes that could be used in the engineering of synthetic microbial systems. Results In the present study, a thorough metabolite analysis of S. pomifera leaves led to the isolation and structure elucidation of carnosic acid-family metabolites including one new natural product. These labdane diterpenes seem to be synthesized through miltiradiene and ferruginol. Transcriptomic analysis of the glandular trichomes from the S. pomifera leaves revealed two genes likely involved in miltiradiene synthesis. Their products were identified and the corresponding enzymes were characterized as copalyl diphosphate synthase (SpCDS) and miltiradiene synthase (SpMilS). In addition, several CYP-encoding transcripts were identified providing a valuable resource for the identification of the biosynthetic mechanism responsible for the production of carnosic acid-family metabolites in S. pomifera. Conclusions Our work has uncovered the key enzymes involved in miltiradiene biosynthesis in S. pomifera leaf glandular trichomes. The transcriptomic dataset obtained provides a valuable tool for the identification of the CYPs involved in the synthesis of carnosic acid-family metabolites. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2147-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fotini A Trikka
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, , Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Alexandros Nikolaidis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, , Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Codruta Ignea
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Heraklion, 71003, Greece.
| | - Aphrodite Tsaballa
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, , Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Leto-Aikaterini Tziveleka
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, 15771, Greece.
| | - Efstathia Ioannou
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, 15771, Greece.
| | - Vassilios Roussis
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, 15771, Greece.
| | - Eleni A Stea
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, , Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Dragana Božić
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece. .,Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Anagnostis Argiriou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, , Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Sotirios C Kampranis
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Heraklion, 71003, Greece.
| | - Antonios M Makris
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, , Thessaloniki, Greece.
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14
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Božić D, Papaefthimiou D, Brückner K, de Vos RCH, Tsoleridis CA, Katsarou D, Papanikolaou A, Pateraki I, Chatzopoulou FM, Dimitriadou E, Kostas S, Manzano D, Scheler U, Ferrer A, Tissier A, Makris AM, Kampranis SC, Kanellis AK. Towards Elucidating Carnosic Acid Biosynthesis in Lamiaceae: Functional Characterization of the Three First Steps of the Pathway in Salvia fruticosa and Rosmarinus officinalis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124106. [PMID: 26020634 PMCID: PMC4447455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Carnosic acid (CA) is a phenolic diterpene with anti-tumour, anti-diabetic, antibacterial and neuroprotective properties that is produced by a number of species from several genera of the Lamiaceae family, including Salvia fruticosa (Cretan sage) and Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary). To elucidate CA biosynthesis, glandular trichome transcriptome data of S. fruticosa were mined for terpene synthase genes. Two putative diterpene synthase genes, namely SfCPS and SfKSL, showing similarities to copalyl diphosphate synthase and kaurene synthase-like genes, respectively, were isolated and functionally characterized. Recombinant expression in Escherichia coli followed by in vitro enzyme activity assays confirmed that SfCPS is a copalyl diphosphate synthase. Coupling of SfCPS with SfKSL, both in vitro and in yeast, resulted in the synthesis miltiradiene, as confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR analyses (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY H-H, HMQC and HMBC). Coupled transient in vivo assays of SfCPS and SfKSL in Nicotiana benthamiana further confirmed production of miltiradiene in planta. To elucidate the subsequent biosynthetic step, RNA-Seq data of S. fruticosa and R. officinalis were searched for cytochrome P450 (CYP) encoding genes potentially involved in the synthesis of the first phenolic compound in the CA pathway, ferruginol. Three candidate genes were selected, SfFS, RoFS1 and RoFS2. Using yeast and N. benthamiana expression systems, all three where confirmed to be coding for ferruginol synthases, thus revealing the enzymatic activities responsible for the first three steps leading to CA in two Lamiaceae genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragana Božić
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kathleen Brückner
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ric C. H. de Vos
- Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Metabolomics Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Constantinos A. Tsoleridis
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitra Katsarou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antigoni Papanikolaou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Irini Pateraki
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fani M. Chatzopoulou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Dimitriadou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - David Manzano
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ulschan Scheler
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Albert Ferrer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alain Tissier
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Antonios M. Makris
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sotirios C. Kampranis
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 710 03 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Angelos K. Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
- * E-mail:
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15
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Ignea C, Ioannou E, Georgantea P, Loupassaki S, Trikka FA, Kanellis AK, Makris AM, Roussis V, Kampranis SC. Reconstructing the chemical diversity of labdane-type diterpene biosynthesis in yeast. Metab Eng 2015; 28:91-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2014.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 11/09/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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16
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Ignea C, Trikka FA, Nikolaidis AK, Georgantea P, Ioannou E, Loupassaki S, Kefalas P, Kanellis AK, Roussis V, Makris AM, Kampranis SC. Efficient diterpene production in yeast by engineering Erg20p into a geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase. Metab Eng 2015; 27:65-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2014.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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17
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Kostopoulou Z, Therios I, Roumeliotis E, Kanellis AK, Molassiotis A. Melatonin combined with ascorbic acid provides salt adaptation in Citrus aurantium L. seedlings. Plant Physiol Biochem 2015; 86:155-165. [PMID: 25500452 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2014.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Ascorbic acid (AsA) and melatonin (Mel) are known molecules participating in stress resistance, however, their combined role in counteracting the impact of salinity in plants is still unknown. In this work the effect of exogenous application of 0.50 mΜ AsA, 1 μΜ Mel and their combination (AsA + Mel) on various stress responses in leaves and roots of Citrus aurantium L. seedlings grown under 100 mΜ NaCl for 30 days was investigated. Application of AsA, Mel or AsA + Mel to saline solution decreased NaCl-induced electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation and prevented NaCl-associated toxicity symptoms and pigments degradation. Also, leaves exposed to combined AsA + Mel treatment displayed lower Cl(-) accumulation. Treatments with AsA and/or Mel modulated differently carbohydrates, proline, phenols, glutathione and the total antioxidant power of tissues as well as the activities of SOD, APX, POD, GR and PPO compared to NaCl alone treatment. Exposure of leaves and roots to chemical treatments and especially to combined AsA and Mel application was able to regulate CaMIPS, CaSLAH1 and CaMYB73 expression, indicating that sugar metabolism, ion homeostasis and transcription regulation were triggered by AsA and Mel. These results provide evidence that the activation of the metabolic pathways associated with combined AsA and Mel application are linked with salt adaptation in citrus plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zacharoula Kostopoulou
- Laboratory of Pomology, Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Ioannis Therios
- Laboratory of Pomology, Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efstathios Roumeliotis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Athanassios Molassiotis
- Laboratory of Pomology, Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Papaefthimiou D, Papanikolaou A, Falara V, Givanoudi S, Kostas S, Kanellis AK. Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes' biosynthesis and a natural source of high value products with biological, aromatic, and pharmacological properties. Front Chem 2014; 2:35. [PMID: 24967222 PMCID: PMC4052220 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2014.00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Cistaceae (Angiosperm, Malvales) consists of 8 genera and 180 species, with 5 genera native to the Mediterranean area (Cistus, Fumara, Halimium, Helianthemum, and Tuberaria). Traditionally, a number of Cistus species have been used in Mediterranean folk medicine as herbal tea infusions for healing digestive problems and colds, as extracts for the treatment of diseases, and as fragrances. The resin, ladano, secreted by the glandular trichomes of certain Cistus species contains a number of phytochemicals with antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, total leaf aqueous extracts possess anti-influenza virus activity. All these properties have been attributed to phytochemicals such as terpenoids, including diterpenes, labdane-type diterpenes and clerodanes, phenylpropanoids, including flavonoids and ellagitannins, several groups of alkaloids and other types of secondary metabolites. In the past 20 years, research on Cistus involved chemical, biological and phylogenetic analyses but recent investigations have involved genomic and molecular approaches. Our lab is exploring the biosynthetic machinery that generates terpenoids and phenylpropanoids, with a goal to harness their numerous properties that have applications in the pharmaceutical, chemical and aromatic industries. This review focuses on the systematics, botanical characteristics, geographic distribution, chemical analyses, biological function and biosynthesis of major compounds, as well as genomic analyses and biotechnological approaches of the main Cistus species found in the Mediterranean basin, namely C. albidus, C. creticus, C. crispus, C. parviflorus, C. monspeliensis, C. populifolius, C. salviifolius, C. ladanifer, C. laurifolius, and C. clusii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antigoni Papanikolaou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Falara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of DelawareNewark, DE, USA
| | - Stella Givanoudi
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- Department of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angelos K. Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
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Brückner K, Božić D, Manzano D, Papaefthimiou D, Pateraki I, Scheler U, Ferrer A, de Vos RCH, Kanellis AK, Tissier A. Characterization of two genes for the biosynthesis of abietane-type diterpenes in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) glandular trichomes. Phytochemistry 2014; 101:52-64. [PMID: 24569175 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) produces the phenolic diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol, which, in addition to their general antioxidant activities, have recently been suggested as potential ingredients for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Little is known about the biosynthesis of these diterpenes. Here we show that the biosynthesis of phenolic diterpenes in rosemary predominantly takes place in the glandular trichomes of young leaves, and used this feature to identify the first committed steps. Thus, a copalyl diphosphate synthase (RoCPS1) and two kaurene synthase-like (RoKSL1 and RoKSL2) encoding genes were identified and characterized. Expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and Nicotiana benthamiana demonstrate that RoCPS1 converts geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP) to copalyl diphosphate (CDP) of normal stereochemistry and that both RoKSL1 and RoKSL2 use normal CDP to produce an abietane diterpene. Comparison to the already characterized diterpene synthase from Salvia miltiorrhiza (SmKSL) demonstrates that the product of RoKSL1 and RoKSL2 is miltiradiene. Expression analysis supports a major contributing role for RoKSL2. Like SmKSL and the sclareol synthase from Salvia sclarea, RoKSL1/2 are diterpene synthases of the TPS-e group which have lost the internal gamma-domain. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis indicates that RoKSL1 and RoKSL2 belong to a distinct group of KSL enzymes involved in specialized metabolism which most likely emerged before the dicot-monocot split.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Brückner
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle-Saale, Germany
| | - Dragana Božić
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - David Manzano
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Irini Pateraki
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ulschan Scheler
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle-Saale, Germany
| | - Albert Ferrer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ric C H de Vos
- Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands; Netherlands Metabolomics Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alain Tissier
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle-Saale, Germany.
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Fotopoulos V, Kanellis AK. Altered apoplastic ascorbate redox state in tobacco plants via ascorbate oxidase overexpression results in delayed dark-induced senescence in detached leaves. Plant Physiol Biochem 2013; 73:154-60. [PMID: 24100076 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2013.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Ascorbate oxidase (AO) is an apoplastic enzyme that uses oxygen to catalyse the oxidation of ascorbate (AA) to dehydroascorbate (DHA) via the unstable radical monodehydroascorbate (MDHA). Here, we report that transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) with an in vivo lowered apoplastic AA redox state through increased AO expression demonstrate signs of delayed dark-induced senescence compared with wild-type plants, as shown by chlorophyll loss assay. In situ localization of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) suggests that, although transgenic plants have higher constitutive levels of H2O2 under normal growth conditions, imposed dark-induced senescence results in smaller induction levels of H2O2, an observation which correlates with increased antioxidant enzyme activities and an induction in the expression of AA recycling genes compared with that in wild-type plants. Our current findings, combined with previous studies which showed the contribution of AO in the regulation of AA redox state, suggest that the reduction in AA redox state in the leaf apoplast of these transgenic plants results in an increase in the endogenous levels of H2O2, which provides a form of 'acquired tolerance' to oxidative stress imposed by dark-induced senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Fotopoulos
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognocy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Ignea C, Trikka FA, Kourtzelis I, Argiriou A, Kanellis AK, Kampranis SC, Makris AM. Positive genetic interactors of HMG2 identify a new set of genetic perturbations for improving sesquiterpene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microb Cell Fact 2012; 11:162. [PMID: 23259547 PMCID: PMC3541075 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-11-162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 12/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Terpenoids and isoprenoids are an important class of natural products, which includes currently used drugs, high value bioactive and industrial compounds, and fuel candidates. Due to their industrial application, there is increasing interest in the development of S. cerevisiae strains capable of producing high levels of terpenoids. Results Aiming to identify new gene targets which can be manipulated to increase sesquiterpene production, a set of HMG2 positive genetic interactors were assessed as single and digenic heterozygous deletions in the presence or absence of stable HMG2(K6R) overexpression. Upon single allele deletion, most genes examined led to increased sesquiterpene production in yeast cells. Tandem heterozygous deletion of a set of three genes, the ubiquitin ligases ubc7 and ssm4/doa10, and the ER resident protein pho86, led to an 11-fold increase in caryophyllene yields (125 mg/L in shake flasks) compared to cells lacking these modifications. The effect of the heterozygous deletions appears to be due to Hmg1p and Hmg2p stabilization. Conclusion Heterozygous deletions cause significant reductions in protein levels but do not lead to growth impediments frequently seen in haploid strains. By exploiting desirable haploinsufficiencies in yeast, we identified a new set of genes that can be disrupted in tandem and cause significant stabilization of Hmgp and a substantial increase in sesquiterpene production. The approach presented here allows new genetic perturbations to be compiled on yeast cell factory strains without negatively impacting cell growth and viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Codruta Ignea
- Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Chania 73100, Greece
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Mellidou I, Keulemans J, Kanellis AK, Davey MW. Regulation of fruit ascorbic acid concentrations during ripening in high and low vitamin C tomato cultivars. BMC Plant Biol 2012; 12:239. [PMID: 23245200 PMCID: PMC3548725 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-12-239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To gain insight into the regulation of fruit ascorbic acid (AsA) pool in tomatoes, a combination of metabolite analyses, non-labelled and radiolabelled substrate feeding experiments, enzyme activity measurements and gene expression studies were carried out in fruits of the 'low-' and 'high-AsA' tomato cultivars 'Ailsa Craig' and 'Santorini' respectively. RESULTS The two cultivars exhibited different profiles of total AsA (totAsA, AsA + dehydroascorbate) and AsA accumulation during ripening, but both displayed a characteristic peak in concentrations at the breaker stage. Substrate feeding experiments demonstrated that the L-galactose pathway is the main AsA biosynthetic route in tomato fruits, but that substrates from alternative pathways can increase the AsA pool at specific developmental stages. In addition, we show that young fruits display a higher AsA biosynthetic capacity than mature ones, but this does not lead to higher AsA concentrations due to either enhanced rates of AsA breakdown ('Ailsa Craig') or decreased rates of AsA recycling ('Santorini'), depending on the cultivar. In the later stages of ripening, differences in fruit totAsA-AsA concentrations of the two cultivars can be explained by differences in the rate of AsA recycling activities. Analysis of the expression of AsA metabolic genes showed that only the expression of one orthologue of GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (SlGGP1), and of two monodehydroascorbate reductases (SlMDHAR1 and SlMDHAR3) correlated with the changes in fruit totAsA-AsA concentrations during fruit ripening in 'Ailsa Craig', and that only the expression of SlGGP1 was linked to the high AsA concentrations found in red ripe 'Santorini' fruits. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that 'Ailsa Craig' and 'Santorini' use complementary mechanisms to maintain the fruit AsA pool. In the low-AsA cultivar ('Ailsa Craig'), alternative routes of AsA biosynthesis may supplement biosynthesis via L-galactose, while in the high-AsA cultivar ('Santorini'), enhanced AsA recycling activities appear to be responsible for AsA accumulation in the later stages of ripening. Gene expression studies indicate that expression of SlGGP1 and two orthologues of SlMDHAR are closely correlated with totAsA-AsA concentrations during ripening and are potentially good candidates for marker development for breeding and selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Laboratory for Fruit Breeding and Biotechnology, Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Johan Keulemans
- Laboratory for Fruit Breeding and Biotechnology, Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants. Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Mark W Davey
- Laboratory for Fruit Breeding and Biotechnology, Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium
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Falara V, Manganaris GA, Ziliotto F, Manganaris A, Bonghi C, Ramina A, Kanellis AK. A ß-D: -xylosidase and a PR-4B precursor identified as genes accounting for differences in peach cold storage tolerance. Funct Integr Genomics 2011; 11:357-68. [PMID: 21221699 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-010-0204-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2010] [Revised: 11/19/2010] [Accepted: 12/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A transcriptome analysis was applied on two peach (Prunus persica L.) cultivars with different sensitivity to low temperature regimes to identify genes that might be involved in tolerance to extended low temperature storage. Peach fruit from 'Morettini No2' to 'Royal Glory', cultivars sensitive and tolerant to chilling injury (CI), respectively, were harvested at commercial maturity stage and allowed to ripen at room temperature (shelf-life, 25°C) or subjected to 4 and 6 weeks of cold storage (0°C, 95% R.H.) followed by ripening at room temperature. The use of μPEACH 1.0 microarray platform identified a number of genes that were differentially expressed in 'Morettini No2' and 'Royal Glory' fruit after the extended storage period. Based on their possible involvement in physiological processes related to cold storage and on their differential expression pattern, two heat shock proteins, a β-D-xylosidase, an expansin, a dehydrin and a pathogenesis-related (PR) protein were further selected for detailed analysis via RNA blot analysis. It is suggested that β-D: -xylosidase and PR-4B precursor genes could be related to the different tolerance to CI observed in the two peach cultivars since generally higher expression levels were observed in cv. 'Royal Glory', the tolerant one. These two genes could play a role in peach tolerance to chilling injury.
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Falara V, Pichersky E, Kanellis AK. A copal-8-ol diphosphate synthase from the angiosperm Cistus creticus subsp. creticus is a putative key enzyme for the formation of pharmacologically active, oxygen-containing labdane-type diterpenes. Plant Physiol 2010; 154:301-10. [PMID: 20595348 PMCID: PMC2938158 DOI: 10.1104/pp.110.159566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The resin of Cistus creticus subsp. creticus, a plant native to Crete, is rich in labdane-type diterpenes with significant antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. The full-length cDNA of a putative diterpene synthase was isolated from a C. creticus trichome cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence of this protein is highly similar (59%-70% identical) to type B diterpene synthases from other angiosperm species that catalyze a protonation-initiated cyclization. The affinity-purified recombinant Escherichia coli-expressed protein used geranylgeranyl diphosphate as substrate and catalyzed the formation of copal-8-ol diphosphate. This diterpene synthase, therefore, was named CcCLS (for C. creticus copal-8-ol diphosphate synthase). Copal-8-ol diphosphate is likely to be an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the oxygen-containing labdane-type diterpenes that are abundant in the resin of this plant. RNA gel-blot analysis revealed that CcCLS is preferentially expressed in the trichomes, with higher transcript levels found in glands on young leaves than on fully expanded leaves, while CcCLS transcript levels increased after mechanical wounding. Chemical analyses revealed that labdane-type diterpene production followed a similar pattern, with higher concentrations in trichomes of young leaves and increased accumulation upon wounding.
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Pateraki I, Kanellis AK. Stress and developmental responses of terpenoid biosynthetic genes in Cistus creticus subsp. creticus. Plant Cell Rep 2010; 29:629-41. [PMID: 20364257 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-010-0849-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2010] [Revised: 03/05/2010] [Accepted: 03/19/2010] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plants, and specially species adapted in non-friendly environments, produce secondary metabolites that help them to cope with biotic or abiotic stresses. These metabolites could be of great pharmaceutical interest because several of those show cytotoxic, antibacterial or antioxidant activities. Leaves' trichomes of Cistus creticus ssp. creticus, a Mediterranean xerophytic shrub, excrete a resin rich in several labdane-type diterpenes with verified in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic and cytostatic activity against human cancer cell lines. Bearing in mind the properties and possible future exploitation of these natural products, it seemed interesting to study their biosynthesis and its regulation, initially at the molecular level. For this purpose, genes encoding enzymes participating in the early steps of the terpenoids biosynthetic pathways were isolated and their gene expression patterns were investigated in different organs and in response to various stresses and defence signals. The genes studied were the CcHMGR from the mevalonate pathway, CcDXS and CcDXR from the methylerythritol 4-phosphate pathway and the two geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases (CcGGDPS1 and 2) previously characterized from this species. The present work indicates that the leaf trichomes are very active biosynthetically as far as it concerns terpenoids biosynthesis, and the terpenoid production from this tissue seems to be transcriptionally regulated. Moreover, the CcHMGR and CcDXS genes (the rate-limiting steps of the isoprenoids' pathways) showed an increase during mechanical wounding and application of defence signals (like meJA and SA), which is possible to reflect an increased need of the plant tissues for the corresponding metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Pateraki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
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26
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Chatzopoulou FM, Makris AM, Argiriou A, Degenhardt J, Kanellis AK. EST analysis and annotation of transcripts derived from a trichome-specific cDNA library from Salvia fruticosa. Plant Cell Rep 2010; 29:523-534. [PMID: 20333525 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-010-0841-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2010] [Revised: 02/24/2010] [Accepted: 03/02/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Greek sage (Salvia fruticosa Mill., Syn. Salvia triloba L.) is appreciated for its essential oil which is used as an aromatic spice and active against a wide range of microorganisms and viruses. The essential oil is dominated by terpenoids and flavonoids which are produced and stored in glandular trichomes on the plant surface. The present study aims to give insights into the metabolic activities of S. fruticosa trichomes on a transcriptome level. A total of 2,304 clones were sequenced from a cDNA library from leaves' trichomes of S. fruticosa. Exclusion of sequences shorter than 100 bp resulted in 1,615 high-quality ESTs with a mean length of 592 bp. Cluster analysis indicated the presence of 197 contigs (908 clones) and 707 singletons, generating a total of 904 unique sequences. Of the 904 unique ESTs, 628 (69.5%) had significant hits in the non-redundant protein database and were annotated. A total of 517 (82.3%) sequences were functionally classified using the gene ontologies (GO) and established pathway associations to 220 (24.3%) sequences in Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG). In addition, 52 (5.8%) of the unique ESTs revealed a GO biological term with relation to terpenoid (78 ESTs), phenylpropanoid (43 ESTs), flavonoid (18 ESTs) or alkaloid (10 ESTs) biosynthesis or to P450s (26 ESTs). Expression analysis of a selected set of genes known to be involved in the pathways of secondary metabolite synthesis showed higher expression levels in trichomes, validating the tissue specificity of the analyzed glandular trichome library.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fani M Chatzopoulou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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27
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Kalamaki MS, Merkouropoulos G, Kanellis AK. Can ornithine accumulation modulate abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis? Plant Signal Behav 2009; 4:1099-101. [PMID: 19901538 PMCID: PMC2819526 DOI: 10.4161/psb.4.11.9873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2009] [Accepted: 08/18/2009] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The arginine biosynthetic pathway represents an area of plant biochemistry that has been poorly investigated. Recently, the first enzyme of the arginine pathway, encoded by the N-acetyl-L-glutamate synthase gene (SlNAGS1), was isolated and characterized in tomato, and was found to be structurally similar to other predicted NAGS. SlNAGS1 accumulation patterns suggest a possible role of this gene in hypoxia-induced responses. The 35S::SlNAGS1 Arabidopsis plants accumulated ornithine at high levels and exhibited increased tolerance to salt and drought stresses. Ornithine is the intermediate compound in the arginine biosynthesis where the pathway divaricates to the production of compounds, such as proline and polyamines that are known to serve osmoprotective functions. It is therefore likely that the elevated ornithine accumulation in the SlNAGS1-overexpressing plants be coupled with the production of a pool of osmoprotectants that end up to the improved stress tolerance. The possible implications of ornithine accumulation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary S Kalamaki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Division of Pharmacognosy-Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Munné-Bosch S, Falara V, Pateraki I, López-Carbonell M, Cela J, Kanellis AK. Physiological and molecular responses of the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway in a drought-resistant Mediterranean shrub, Cistus creticus exposed to water deficit. J Plant Physiol 2009; 166:136-45. [PMID: 18455260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2008.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2008] [Revised: 02/26/2008] [Accepted: 02/27/2008] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The goal of the present research was to obtain new insights into the mechanisms underlying drought stress resistance in plants. Specifically, we evaluated changes in the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis, together with the levels of the corresponding metabolites (chlorophylls, carotenoids, tocopherols and abscisic acid), in a drought-resistant Mediterranean shrub, Cistus creticus grown under Mediterranean field conditions. Summer drought led to reductions in the relative leaf water content (RWC) by 25%, but did not alter the maximum efficiency of PSII, indicating the absence of damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. While the expression of genes encoding C. creticus chlorophyll a oxygenase/chlorophyll b synthase (CAO) and phytoene synthase (PSY) were not affected by water deficit, the genes encoding homogentisate phytyl-transferase (HPT) and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) were induced in water-stressed (WS) plants. Drought-induced changes in gene expression were observed at early stages of drought and were strongly correlated with levels of the corresponding metabolites, with simultaneous increases in abscisic acid and alpha-tocopherol levels of up to 4-fold and 62%, respectively. Furthermore, alpha-tocopherol levels were strongly positively correlated with abscisic acid contents, but not with the levels of jasmonic acid and salicylic acid. We conclude that the abscisic acid and tocopherol biosynthetic pathway may be regulated at the transcript level in WS C. creticus plants, and that the genes encoding HPT and NCED may play a key role in the drought stress resistance of this Mediterranean shrub by modulating abscisic acid and tocopherol biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Munné-Bosch
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Biologia Vegetal, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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29
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Ioannidi E, Kalamaki MS, Engineer C, Pateraki I, Alexandrou D, Mellidou I, Giovannonni J, Kanellis AK. Expression profiling of ascorbic acid-related genes during tomato fruit development and ripening and in response to stress conditions. J Exp Bot 2009; 60:663-78. [PMID: 19129160 PMCID: PMC2651456 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ern322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2008] [Accepted: 11/12/2008] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
L-ascorbate (the reduced form of vitamin C) participates in diverse biological processes including pathogen defence mechanisms, and the modulation of plant growth and morphology, and also acts as an enzyme cofactor and redox status indicator. One of its chief biological functions is as an antioxidant. L-ascorbate intake has been implicated in the prevention/alleviation of varied human ailments and diseases including cancer. To study the regulation of accumulation of this important nutraceutical in fruit, the expression of 24 tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) genes involved in the biosynthesis, oxidation, and recycling of L-ascorbate during the development and ripening of fruit have been characterized. Taken together with L-ascorbate abundance data, the results show distinct changes in the expression profiles for these genes, implicating them in nodal regulatory roles during the process of L-ascorbate accumulation in tomato fruit. The expression of these genes was further studied in the context of abiotic and post-harvest stress, including the effects of heat, cold, wounding, oxygen supply, and ethylene. Important aspects of the hypoxic and post-anoxic response in tomato fruit are discussed. The data suggest that L-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase could play an important role in regulating ascorbic acid accumulation during tomato fruit development and ripening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Ioannidi
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Division of Pharmacognosy–Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Mary S. Kalamaki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Division of Pharmacognosy–Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Cawas Engineer
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Division of Pharmacognosy–Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Irene Pateraki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Division of Pharmacognosy–Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitris Alexandrou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Division of Pharmacognosy–Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Division of Pharmacognosy–Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - James Giovannonni
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Tower Road, Cornell Campus, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- USDA Plant, Soil, and Nutrition Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Tower Road, Cornell Campus, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Angelos K. Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Division of Pharmacognosy–Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Kalamaki MS, Alexandrou D, Lazari D, Merkouropoulos G, Fotopoulos V, Pateraki I, Aggelis A, Carrillo-López A, Rubio-Cabetas MJ, Kanellis AK. Over-expression of a tomato N-acetyl-L-glutamate synthase gene (SlNAGS1) in Arabidopsis thaliana results in high ornithine levels and increased tolerance in salt and drought stresses. J Exp Bot 2009; 60:1859-71. [PMID: 19357433 PMCID: PMC2671631 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erp072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2008] [Revised: 02/11/2009] [Accepted: 02/19/2009] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
A single copy of the N-acetyl-L-glutamate synthase gene (SlNAGS1) has been isolated from tomato. The deduced amino acid sequence consists of 604 amino acids and shows a high level of similarity to the predicted Arabidopsis NAGS1 and NAGS2 proteins. Furthermore, the N-terminus ArgB domain and the C-terminus ArgA domain found in SlNAGS1 are similar to the structural arrangements that have been reported for other predicted NAGS proteins. SlNAGS1 was expressed at high levels in all aerial organs, and at basic levels in seeds, whereas it was not detected at all in roots. SlNAGS1 transcript accumulation was noticed transiently in tomato fruit at the red-fruit stage. In addition, an increase of SlNAGS1 transcripts was detected in mature green tomato fruit within the first hour of exposure to low oxygen concentrations. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants have been generated expressing the SlNAGS1 gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. Three homozygous transgenic lines expressing the transgene (lines 1-7, 3-8, and 6-5) were evaluated further. All three transgenic lines showed a significant accumulation of ornithine in the leaves with line 3-8 exhibiting the highest concentration. The same lines demonstrated higher germination ability compared to wild-type (WT) plants when subjected to 250 mM NaCl. Similarly, mature plants of all three transgenic lines displayed a higher tolerance to salt and drought stress compared to WT plants. Under most experimental conditions, transgenic line 3-8 performed best, while the responses obtained from lines 1-7 and 6-5 depended on the applied stimulus. To our knowledge, this is the first plant NAGS gene to be isolated, characterized, and genetically modified.
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Falara V, Fotopoulos V, Margaritis T, Anastasaki T, Pateraki I, Bosabalidis AM, Kafetzopoulos D, Demetzos C, Pichersky E, Kanellis AK. Transcriptome analysis approaches for the isolation of trichome-specific genes from the medicinal plant Cistus creticus subsp. creticus. Plant Mol Biol 2008; 68:633-51. [PMID: 18819010 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-008-9399-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2008] [Accepted: 08/31/2008] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Cistus creticus subsp. creticus is a plant of intrinsic scientific interest due to the distinctive pharmaceutical properties of its resin. Labdane-type diterpenes, the main constituents of the resin, exhibit considerable antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. In this study chemical analysis of isolated trichomes from different developmental stages revealed that young leaves of 1-2 cm length displayed the highest content of labdane-type diterpenes (80 mg/g fresh weight) whereas trichomes from older leaves (2-3 or 3-4 cm) exhibited gradual decreased concentrations. A cDNA library was constructed enriched in transcripts from trichomes isolated from young leaves, which are characterized by high levels of labdane-type diterpenes. Functional annotation of 2,022 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the trichome cDNA library based on homology to A. thaliana genes suggested that 8% of the putative identified sequences were secondary metabolism-related and involved primarily in flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthesis. A significant proportion of the ESTs (38%) displayed no significant similarity to any other DNA deposited in databases, indicating a yet unknown function. Custom DNA microarrays constructed with 1,248 individual clones from the cDNA library facilitated transcriptome comparisons between trichomes and trichome-free tissues. In addition, gene expression studies in various Cistus tissues and organs for one of the genes highlighted as the most differentially expressed by the microarray experiments revealed a putative sesquiterpene synthase with a trichome-specific expression pattern. Full length cDNA isolation and heterologous expression in E. coli followed by biochemical analysis, led to the characterization of the produced protein as germacrene B synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Falara
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Barbehenn RV, Jaros A, Yip L, Tran L, Kanellis AK, Constabel CP. Evaluating Ascorbate Oxidase as a Plant Defense Against Leaf-Chewing Insects Using Transgenic Poplar. J Chem Ecol 2008; 34:1331-40. [DOI: 10.1007/s10886-008-9539-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2008] [Revised: 07/31/2008] [Accepted: 08/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Pateraki I, Kanellis AK. Isolation and functional analysis of two Cistus creticus cDNAs encoding geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase. Phytochemistry 2008; 69:1641-1652. [PMID: 18402992 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2007] [Revised: 02/04/2008] [Accepted: 02/05/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cistus creticus ssp. creticus is an indigenous shrub of the Mediterranean area. The glandular trichomes covering its leaf surfaces secrete a resin called "ladanum", which among others contains a number of specific labdane-type diterpenes that exhibit antibacterial and antifungal action as well as in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic and cytostatic activity against human cancer cell lines. In view of the properties and possible future exploitation of these metabolites, it was deemed necessary to study the geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase enzyme (GGDPS, EC 2.5.1.30), a short chain prenyltransferase responsible for the synthesis of the precursor molecule of all diterpenes. In this work, we present the cloning, functional characterisation and expression profile at the gene and protein levels of two differentially expressed C. creticus full-length cDNAs, CcGGDPS1 and CcGGDPS2. Heterologous yeast cell expression system showed that these cDNAs exhibited GGDPS enzyme activity. Gene and protein expression analyses suggest that this enzyme is developmentally and tissue-regulated showing maximum expression in trichomes and smallest leaves (0.5-1.0cm). This work is the first attempt to study the terpenoid biosynthesis at the molecular level in C. creticus ssp. creticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Pateraki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Fotopoulos V, De Tullio MC, Barnes J, Kanellis AK. Altered stomatal dynamics in ascorbate oxidase over-expressing tobacco plants suggest a role for dehydroascorbate signalling. J Exp Bot 2008; 59:729-37. [PMID: 18349048 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erm359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Control of stomatal aperture is of paramount importance for plant adaptation to the surrounding environment. Here, we report on several parameters related to stomatal dynamics and performance in transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Xanthi) over-expressing cucumber ascorbate oxidase (AO), a cell wall-localized enzyme of uncertain biological function that oxidizes ascorbic acid (AA) to monodehydroascorbic acid which dismutates yielding AA and dehydroascorbic acid (DHA). In comparison to WT plants, leaves of AO over-expressing plants exhibited reduced stomatal conductance (due to partial stomatal closure), higher water content, and reduced rates of water loss on detachment. Transgenic plants also exhibited elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide and a decline in hydrogen peroxide-scavenging enzyme activity. Leaf ABA content was also higher in AO over-expressing plants. Treatment of epidermal strips with either 1 mM DHA or 100 microM hydrogen peroxide resulted in rapid stomatal closure in WT plants, but not in AO-over-expressing plants. This suggests that signal perception and/or transduction associated with stomatal closure is altered by AO over-expression. These data support a specific role for cell wall-localized AA in the perception of environmental cues, and suggest that DHA acts as a regulator of stomatal dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Fotopoulos
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognocy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Sanmartin M, Pateraki I, Chatzopoulou F, Kanellis AK. Differential expression of the ascorbate oxidase multigene family during fruit development and in response to stress. Planta 2007; 225:873-85. [PMID: 17021803 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-006-0399-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2006] [Accepted: 08/29/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Ascorbate oxidase (AO, EC 1.10.3.3) is a member of the multicopper oxidases family. It catalyzes the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) to dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) via monodehydroascorbate (MDHA), with the concomitant reduction of molecular oxygen to water. In melon (Cucumis melo), ascorbate oxidase is encoded by a multigene family comprising at least four genes. Here, we present the detailed characterization of two melon AO genes, CmAO1 and CmAO4. Gene-specific expression studies of the AO gene family in melon revealed that only CmAO1 and CmAO4 are transcriptionally active and differentially regulated dependent on tissue, developmental stage and external stimuli. Transcripts of the CmAO1 gene are present in floral and fruit tissues, whereas CmAO4 mRNA preferentially accumulates in vegetative tissues. CmAO genes were not detected in melon seeds, but CmAO4 expression is activated upon germination. CmAO4 mRNA steady-state levels are also regulated in response to wounding and heat stress, by hormones (abscisic acid, salicylic acid and jasmonates), AA and copper. These findings suggest that AO gene expression is transcriptionally regulated during fruit development and in response to hormonal cues associated with the control of cell growth and the stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Sanmartin
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognocy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Pasentsis K, Falara V, Pateraki I, Gerasopoulos D, Kanellis AK. Identification and expression profiling of low oxygen regulated genes from Citrus flavedo tissues using RT-PCR differential display. J Exp Bot 2007; 58:2203-16. [PMID: 17525081 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erm078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The molecular basis for the adaptation of fruit tissues to low oxygen treatments remains largely unknown. RT-PCR differential display (DD) was employed to isolate anoxic and/or hypoxic genes whose expression responded to short, low-oxygen regimes. This approach led to the isolation, cloning, successful sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis of 98 transcripts from Citrus flavedo tissues that were differentially expressed in DD gels in response to 0, 0.5, 3, and 21% O(2) for 24 h. RNA blot analysis of 25 DD clones revealed that 11 genes were induced under hypoxia and/or anoxia, 11 exhibited constitutive expression and three transcripts were suppressed by low oxygen levels. Almost half of the DD cDNAs were either of unknown function or shared no apparent homology to any expressed sequences in the GenBank/EMBL databases. Six DD genes were similar to molecules of the following functions: C-compound and carbohydrate utilization, plant development, amino acid metabolism, and biosynthesis of brasinosteroids. Time-course and stress-related experiments of low O(2)-regulated genes indicated that these genes responded differently in terms of their earliness, band intensity, and their specificity to stresses, showing that some of them can be termed hypoxia- or anoxia-induced genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Pasentsis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Fotopoulos V, Sanmartin M, Kanellis AK. Effect of ascorbate oxidase over-expression on ascorbate recycling gene expression in response to agents imposing oxidative stress. J Exp Bot 2006; 57:3933-43. [PMID: 16997902 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erl147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Ascorbate oxidase (AO) is a cell wall-localized enzyme that uses oxygen to catalyse the oxidation of ascorbate (AA) to the unstable radical monodehydroascorbate (MDHA) which rapidly disproportionates to yield dehydroascorbate (DHA) and AA, and thus contributes to the regulation of the AA redox state. Here, it is reported that in vivo lowering of the apoplast AA redox state, through increased AO expression in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi), exerts no effects on the expression levels of genes involved in AA recycling under normal growth conditions, but plants display enhanced sensitivity to various oxidative stress-promoting agents. RNA blot analyses suggest that this response correlates with a general suppression of the plant's antioxidative metabolism as demonstrated by lower expression levels of AA recycling genes. Furthermore, studies using Botrytis cinerea reveal that transgenic plants exhibit increased sensitivity to fungal infection, although the response is not accompanied by a similar suppression of AA recycling gene expression. Our current findings, combined with previous studies which showed the contribution of AO in the regulation of AA redox state, suggest that the reduction in the AA redox state in the leaf apoplast of these transgenic plants results in shifts in their capacity to withstand oxidative stress imposed by agents imposing oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Fotopoulos
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Li ZG, Gao X, Fan J, Yang YW, Li DG, Kanellis AK. [The relationship between activity and gene expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peel pitting in 'Fengjie' navel orange fruits]. Zhi Wu Sheng Li Yu Fen Zi Sheng Wu Xue Xue Bao 2006; 32:381-6. [PMID: 16775409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Citrus fruit is prone to develop peel pitting during development and storage, which greatly decreases its fresh market value because of the deterioration of the peel. In the present study, we have examined the effect of different temperatures (15 degrees C and 4 degrees C), waxing and mechanical damage on the changes in the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and the incidence of peel pitting in 'Fengjie' navel orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) fruits. The expression levels of PAL2, PAL6 genes in the peel during the development of peel pitting have been investigated through semi-quantitative PCR method. The incidence of peel pitting was greatly enhanced by waxing and mechanical damage and was decreased in lower temperature storage (4 degrees C) (Fig.1). Waxing and mechanical damage might be the important factors inducing peel pitting and suitable low temperature could decrease the incidence of this disease. The PAL activity increased during the whole storage period in accordance with the development of this pitting (Fig.2). The expression levels of PAL2 and PAL6 genes in damaged peel were higher than those in healthy peel and the expression of PAL2 is much more higher than that of PAL6 (Figs.4 and 5). The results suggested that the enzyme activity of PAL, along with the expression of PAL2 gene is highly related to this peel pitting occurred on 'Fengjie' navel orange fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Guo Li
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, Bio-Engineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
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Pateraki I, Kanellis AK. Isolation of high-quality nucleic acids from Cistus creticus ssp. creticus and other medicinal plants. Anal Biochem 2004; 328:90-2. [PMID: 15081914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2004.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Pateraki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Pateraki I, Sanmartin M, Kalamaki MS, Gerasopoulos D, Kanellis AK. Molecular characterization and expression studies during melon fruit development and ripening of L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase. J Exp Bot 2004; 55:1623-33. [PMID: 15234991 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erh186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The last step of ascorbic acid (AA) biosynthesis is catalysed by the enzyme L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH, EC 1.3.2.3), located on the inner mitochondrial membrane. The enzyme converts L-galactono-1,4-lactone to ascorbic acid (AA). In this work, the cloning and characterization of a GalLDH full-length cDNA from melon (Cucumis melo L.) are described. Melon genomic DNA Southern analysis indicated that CmGalLDH was encoded by a single gene. CmGalLDH mRNA accumulation was detected in all tissues studied, but differentially expressed during fruit development and seed germination. It is hypothesized that induction of CmGalLDH gene expression in ripening melon fruit contributes to parallel increases in the AA content and so playing a role in the oxidative ripening process. Higher CmGalLDH message abundance in light-grown seedlings compared with those raised in the dark suggests that CmGalLDH expression is regulated by light. Finally, various stresses and growth regulators resulted in no significant change in steady state levels of CmGalLDH mRNA in 20-d-old melon seedlings. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of GalLDH transcript induction in seed germination and differential gene expression during fruit ripening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Pateraki
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognocy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Porat R, Pasentsis K, Rozentzvieg D, Gerasopoulos D, Falara V, Samach A, Lurie S, Kanellis AK. Isolation of a dehydrin cDNA from orange and grapefruit citrus fruit that is specifically induced by the combination of heat followed by chilling temperatures. Physiol Plant 2004; 120:256-264. [PMID: 15032860 DOI: 10.1111/j.0031-9317.2004.0242.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Dehydrins (DHNs; late embryogenesis abundant D-11) are a family of plant proteins induced in response to environmental stresses such as water stress, salinity and freezing or which occur during the late stages of embryogenesis. Previously, it was reported that citrus contains a small gene family encoding a unique class of dehydrins that differs from most other plant dehydrins in various respects, such as having an unusual K-segment similar to that of gymnosperms. In the present study, we identified by cDNA differential display analysis a 'Navel' orange 202-bp polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragment, which encoded the typical plant angiosperm-type K-segment consensus sequence, and of which the expression was down-regulated by exposure to low oxygen levels. The full-length cDNA sequence of the orange DHN, designated csDHN (for Citrus sinensis DHN), was further isolated by 5'-and 3'-RACE; it had a total length of 933 bp and encoded a predicted polypeptide of 235 amino acids. In addition, the same 202-bp 'Navel' dehydrin PCR fragment was used to screen a 'Star Ruby' grapefruit flavedo cDNA library, and its full-length grapefruit homologue, designated cpDHN (for C. paradisi DHN) was isolated and found to have a total length of 1024 bp and to encode a predicted polypeptide of 234 amino acids. The defined orange and grapefruit DHN proteins were completely identical in the 196 amino acids of their N-terminus but differed in their C-terminus region. Overall, the csDHN and cpDHN proteins share 84% identity and contain the conserved dehydrin serine cluster (S-segment) and a putative nuclear localization signal, but csDHN has one conserved dehydrin K-segment consensus sequence, whereas cpDHN contains two dehydrin K-segments. Both csDHN and cpDHN represent single copy genes, in 'Navel' orange and 'Star Ruby' grapefruit genomes, respectively. We found that the cpDHN gene was consistently expressed in the fruit peel tissue at harvest, but that its message levels dramatically decreased during storage at either ambient or low temperatures. However, a pre-storage hot water treatment, given to enhance fruit-chilling tolerance, increased cpDHN mRNA levels during the first 3 weeks of cold storage at 2 degrees C, and enabled the message levels to be retained for up to a further 8 weeks of cold storage at 2 degrees C. The hot water treatment by itself had no inductive effect on cpDHN gene expression when the fruits were held at non-chilling temperatures. Other stresses applied to the fruit, such as wounding, UV irradiation, water stress, low oxygen and exposure to the stress hormone ethylene decreased DHN mRNA levels, whereas abscisic acid had no effect at all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Porat
- Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
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Sanmartin M, Drogoudi PAMD, Lyons T, Pateraki I, Barnes J, Kanellis AK. Over-expression of ascorbate oxidase in the apoplast of transgenic tobacco results in altered ascorbate and glutathione redox states and increased sensitivity to ozone. Planta 2003; 216:918-28. [PMID: 12687359 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-002-0944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2002] [Accepted: 10/21/2002] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) plants expressing cucumber ascorbate oxidase (EC.1.10.3.3) were used to examine the role of extracellular ascorbic acid in mediating tolerance to the ubiquitous air pollutant, ozone (O(3)). Three homozygous transgenic lines, chosen on the basis of a preliminary screen of AO activity in the leaves of 29 lines, revealed up to a 380-fold increase in AO activity, with expression predominantly associated with leaf cell walls. Over-expression of AO resulted in no change in the total ascorbate content recovered in apoplast washing fluid, but the redox state of ascorbate was reduced from 30% in wild-type leaves to below the threshold for detection in transgenic plants. Levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione in the symplast were not affected by AO over-expression, but the redox state of ascorbate was reduced, while that of glutathione was increased. AO over-expressing plants exposed to 100 nmol mol(-1) ozone for 7 h day(-1) exhibited a substantial increase in foliar injury, and a greater pollutant-induced reduction in both the light-saturated rate of CO(2) assimilation and the maximum in vivo rate of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase carboxylation, compared with wild-type plants. Transgenic plants also exhibited a greater decline in CO(2) assimilation rate when exposed to a brief ozone episode (300 nmol mol(-1) for 8 h). Stomatal conductance, hence O(3) uptake, was unaffected by AO over-expression. Our findings illustrate the important role played by ascorbate redox state and sub-cellular compartmentation in mediating the tolerance of plants to ozone-induced oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Sanmartin
- Institute of Viticulture and Vegetable Crops, National Agriculture Research Foundation, PO Box 2229, Heraklion 713 09, Crete, Greece
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Ververidis P, Davrazou F, Diallinas G, Georgakopoulos D, Kanellis AK, Panopoulos N. A novel putative reductase (Cpd1p) and the multidrug exporter Snq2p are involved in resistance to cercosporin and other singlet oxygen-generating photosensitizers in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Curr Genet 2001; 39:127-36. [PMID: 11409174 DOI: 10.1007/s002940100189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Phytopathogenic Cercospora species produce cercosporin, a photoactivated perylenequinone toxin that belongs to a family of photosensitizers which absorb light energy and produce extremely cytotoxic, reactive oxygen species. In this work, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system for the identification and cloning of genes whose products mediate cercosporin detoxification. Two genesexpressed in high-copy number vectors conferred cercosporin resistance to an otherwise sensitive strain. One gene codes for Snq2p, a well-characterized multidrug, ABC-type, efflux protein. The other, designated CPD1 (Cercosporin Photosensitizer Detoxification), encodes a novel protein with significant similarity to the FAD-dependent pyridine nucleotide reductases. We showed that over-expression of either of these proteins can also mediate resistance to other singlet oxygen-generating compounds. The involvement of Snq2p and Cpd1p in photosensitizer detoxification reinforces previous observations which suggested that singlet oxygen acts on membrane lipids and that cellular resistance to cercosporin is mediated by a mechanism involving toxin efflux and/or toxin reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ververidis
- Department of Crop Science, Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Agricultural Technology, Technological Educational Institute, P.O. Box 140, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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Diallinas G, Pateraki I, Sanmartin M, Scossa A, Stilianou E, Panopoulos NJ, Kanellis AK. Melon ascorbate oxidase: cloning of a multigene family, induction during fruit development and repression by wounding. Plant Mol Biol 1997; 34:759-770. [PMID: 9278166 DOI: 10.1023/a:1005851527227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
A small family of at least four genes encoding melon ascorbate oxidase (AO) has been identified and three members of it have been cloned. Preliminary DNA sequence determination suggested that melon AO genes code for enzymes homologous to ascorbate oxidases from other plants and similar to other multicopper oxidases. We describe detailed molecular studies addressing melon AO expression during organ specific differentiation, fruit development and ripening, and in response to wounding. In particular, AO transcript accumulation was induced in ovaries and the outer mesocarp of mature preclimacteric melon fruits, before the expression of genes encoding the necessary enzymatic activities for ethylene biosynthesis. On the other hand, AO was not expressed in late stages of fruit ripening and was repressed in wounded fruits. The role of ethylene in transcriptional regulation of AO is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Diallinas
- Institute of Viticulture, Vegetable Crops & Floriculture, National Agriculture Research Foundation, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Diallinas G, Kanellis AK. A phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene from melon fruit: cDNA cloning, sequence and expression in response to development and wounding. Plant Mol Biol 1994; 26:473-9. [PMID: 7948894 DOI: 10.1007/bf00039557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the first enzyme of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis involved in the synthesis of a multiplicity of plant natural products. We have isolated and characterized a nearly full-length cDNA clone (pmPAL-1) corresponding to a melon fruit (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus) gene coding for a protein which is highly similar to PAL from other plants. Melon fruit PAL is transcriptionally induced both in response to fruit ripening and wounding. PAL gene expression follows the kinetics of expression of the ethylene biosynthetic genes during fruit development. In contrast, ethylene biosynthetic genes show different induction kinetics compared to PAL expression in response to wounding. Similar results have been found for two other genes coding for enzymes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis (chalcone synthase, CHS; chalcone isomerase, CHI). Our results imply that regulation of defense gene expression in melon is a co-ordinated process in response to both ethylene and an ethylene-independent wound signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Diallinas
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Crete, Greece
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Abstract
The existence of multiple forms of avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv Hass) cellulase in crude protein extracts of ripe avocado fruit is reported. Cellulase was separated into at least 11 multiple forms by native isoelectric focusing in the pH range between 4 and 7 and visualized by both activity staining using Congo red and immunostaining. The enzyme components were acidic proteins with isoelectric points in the range of pH 5.10 to 6.80, the predominant forms having isoelectric points of 5.60, 5.80, 5.95, and 6.20. All 11 forms were immunologically related with molecular masses of 54 kilodaltons.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Kanellis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FO.R.T.H., P.O. Box 1527, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Kanellis AK, Solomos T, Roubelakis-Angelakis KA. Suppression of cellulase and polygalacturonase and induction of alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes in avocado fruit mesocarp subjected to low oxygen stress. Plant Physiol 1991; 96:269-74. [PMID: 16668163 PMCID: PMC1080744 DOI: 10.1104/pp.96.1.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Expression of polygalacturonase and cellulase, two hydrolytic enzymes of avocado (Persea americana, cv Hass) fruit which are synthesized de novo during ripening, and alcohol dehydrogenase, a known anaerobic protein, were studied under different O(2) regimes. Low O(2) concentrations (2.5-5.5%) diminished the accumulation of polygalacturonase and cellulase proteins and the expression of their isoenzymes. This pattern of change in cellulase protein was also reflected in the steady-state amount of its mRNA. In contrast, 7.5 and 10% O(2) did not alter the changes observed in fruits ripened in air. On the other hand, alcohol dehydrogenase was induced in 2.5, 3.5, and 5.5% O(2) but not in 7.5 or 10% O(2). The recovery from the hypoxic stress upon returning the fruits back to air for 24 hours, was also a function of O(2) tensions under which the fruits were kept. Thus, the synthesis of polygalacturonase and cellulase was directly related to O(2) levels, while the activity of the isoenzymes of alcohol dehydrogenase was inversely related to O(2) levels. The results indicate that hypoxia exerts both negative and positive effects on the expression of certain genes and that these effects are initiated at the same levels of O(2).
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Kanellis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, P. O. Box 1527, 711 10 Heraklion, FO.R.T.H., Greece
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Kanellis AK, Solomos T, Mattoo AK. Visualization of acid phosphatase activity on nitrocellulose filters following electroblotting of polyacrylamide gels. Anal Biochem 1989; 179:194-7. [PMID: 2474259 DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(89)90224-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A method for visualizing acid phosphatase isoenzymes by activity staining on nitrocellulose filters after electroblotting of proteins fractionated on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels is described. Reproducible results were obtained when 25 mM Tris-192 mM glycine was used as the transfer buffer instead of 0.7% acetic acid, 50 mM sodium acetate, pH 4, or 0.14 M acetic acid--0.35 M beta-alanine, pH 4.3. Dot-blot analysis of banana fruit extracts on nitrocellulose filters revealed that a minimum of 5 x 10(-3) units (nmol p-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolyzed g-1.h-1) of acid phosphatase activity can be detected. This method can be suitable for screening a large number of biological samples for monitoring acid phosphatase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Kanellis
- Department of Horticulture, University of Maryland, College Park 20742
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Kanellis AK, Solomos T, Mattoo AK. Changes in Sugars, Enzymic Activities and Acid Phosphatase Isoenzyme Profiles of Bananas Ripened in Air or Stored in 2.5% O(2) with and without Ethylene. Plant Physiol 1989; 90:251-8. [PMID: 16666745 PMCID: PMC1061706 DOI: 10.1104/pp.90.1.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of 2.5% O(2), both alone and in combination with ethylene, on respiration, sugar accumulation and activities of pectin methylesterase and acid phosphatase during ripening of bananas (Musa paradisiaca sapientum). In addition, the changes in the phosphatase isoenzyme profiles are also analyzed. Low oxygen diminished respiration and slowed down the accumulation of sugars and development of the yellow color. Furthermore, low O(2) prevented the rise in acid phosphatase activities and this suppression was not reversed by the inclusion of 100 microliters per liter ethylene in 2.5% O(2) atmosphere. Gel electrophoresis of both the soluble and particulate cell-free fractions under nondenaturing conditions revealed the presence of 8 and 9 isoenzymes in the soluble and particulate fractions, respectively. Low O(2) suppressed the appearance of all isoenzymes, and the addition of 500 microliters per liter ethylene to the low oxygen atmosphere did not reverse this effect. Similarly, the decline in pectin methylesterase that was observed in air-ripened fruits was prevented by 2.5% O(2) alone and in combination with 500 microliters per liter ethylene.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Kanellis
- Department of Horticulture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
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Kanellis AK, Solomos T, Mattoo AK. Hydrolytic Enzyme Activities and Protein Pattern of Avocado Fruit Ripened in Air and in Low Oxygen, with and without Ethylene. Plant Physiol 1989; 90:259-66. [PMID: 16666746 PMCID: PMC1061707 DOI: 10.1104/pp.90.1.259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The effect of 2.5% O(2) atmosphere with and without ethylene on the activities of hydrolytic enzymes associated with cell walls, and total protein profile during ripening of avocado fruits (Persea americana Mill., cv Hass) were investigated. The low 2.5% O(2) atmosphere prevented the rise in the activities of cellulase, polygalacturonase, and acid phosphatase in avocado fruits whose ripening was initiated with ethylene. Addition of 100 microliters per liter ethylene to low O(2) atmosphere did not alter these suppressive effects of 2.5% O(2). Furthermore, 2.5% O(2) atmosphere delayed the development of a number of polypeptides that appear during ripening of avocado fruits while at the same time new polypeptides accumulated. The composition of the extraction buffer and its pH greatly affected the recovery of cellulase activity and its total immunoreactive protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Kanellis
- Department of Horticulture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
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