Expression of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase or coproporphyrinogen oxidase antisense RNA in tobacco induces pathogen defense responses conferring increased resistance to tobacco mosaic virus

Transgenic tobacco plants with reduced activity of either uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase or coproporphyrinogen oxidase, two enzymes of the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway, are characterized by the accumulation of photosensitizing tetrapyrrole intermediates, antioxidative responses, and necrotic le...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of biological chemistry 1999-02, Vol.274 (7), p.4231-4238
Main Authors: Mock, H.P, Heller, W, Molina, A, Neubohn, B, Sandermann, H. Jr, Grimm, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
antisense RNA
Arabidopsis Proteins
carboxy-lyases
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase - genetics
coumarins
defense mechanisms
disease resistance
experimental infections
gene expression
genetic transformation
Mass Spectrometry
messenger RNA
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Nicotiana
Nicotiana - enzymology
Nicotiana - virology
Nicotiana tabacum
oxidoreductases
pathogenesis-related proteins
Plant Diseases - virology
Plant Proteins - genetics
Plants, Toxic
RNA, Antisense - metabolism
salicylic acid
Scopoletin - analysis
scopolin
Spectrometry, Fluorescence
Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
Tobacco mosaic virus
Tobacco Mosaic Virus - pathogenicity
transgenic plants
Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase - genetics
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Summary:Transgenic tobacco plants with reduced activity of either uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase or coproporphyrinogen oxidase, two enzymes of the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway, are characterized by the accumulation of photosensitizing tetrapyrrole intermediates, antioxidative responses, and necrotic leaf lesions. In this study we report on cellular responses in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase and coproporphyrinogen oxidase antisense plants, normally associated with pathogen defense. These plants accumulate the highly fluorescent coumarin scopolin in their leaves. They also display increased pathogenesis-related protein expression and higher levels of free and conjugated salicylic acid. Upon tobacco mosaic virus inoculation, the plants with leaf lesions and high levels of PR-1 mRNA expression show reduced accumulation of virus RNA relative to wild-type controls. This result is indicative of an increased resistance to tobacco mosaic virus. We conclude that porphyrinogenesis as a result of deregulated tetrapyrrole synthesis induces a set of defense responses that resemble the hypersensitive reaction observed after pathogen attack.
ISSN:0021-9258
1083-351X
DOI:10.1074/jbc.274.7.4231