Activation of the oxidative burst by yeast elicitor in Catharanthus roseus cells occurs independently of the activation of genes involved in alkaloid biosynthesis

• Published in: Plant molecular biology 2004-08, Vol.55 (6), p.797-805
• Main Authors: Pauw, B, Duijn, B. van, Kijne, J.W, Memelink, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-Disulfonic Acid Disodium Salt - pharmacology; Acetylcysteine - pharmacology; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; biosynthesis; Blotting, Northern; calcium; Calcium - metabolism; Catharanthus - cytology; Catharanthus - genetics; Catharanthus - metabolism; Catharanthus roseus; cell suspension culture; Cells, Cultured; Culture Media - chemistry; Culture Media - pharmacology; defense mechanisms; disease resistance; fungal diseases of plants; Gadolinium - pharmacology; gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - drug effects; gene induction; indole alkaloids; ion transport; Lanthanum - pharmacology; Models, Biological; Nifedipine - pharmacology; Phosphorylation - drug effects; protein phosphorylation; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; RNA, Plant - genetics; RNA, Plant - metabolism; Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids - metabolism; second messengers; signal transduction; transcription (genetics); yeast extract; Yeasts - chemistry
• ISSN: 0167-4412; 1573-5028
• DOI: 10.1007/s11103-005-1968-x

In Catharanthus roseus cell suspensions, expression of several terpenoid indole alkaloid (TIA) biosynthetic genes, including those encoding strictosidine synthase and tryptophan decarboxylase, is coordinately induced by fungal elicitors such as yeast extract (YE). This induction is mediated by several signaling steps including the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid, and the activation of the jasmonic acid-responsive ORCA transcription factors. We investigated a possible role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a second messenger in this system. YE was shown to activate the production of ROS, which was dependent on protein phosphorylation and calcium influx. However, ROS generation was neither necessary for the induction of genes involved in TIA biosynthesis by YE nor by itself sufficient to induce these genes. Therefore, we conclude that activation of the oxidative burst by YE occurs independently of the activation of genes involved in TIA biosynthesis.