The ratio of campesterol to sitosterol that modulates growth in Arabidopsis is controlled by STEROL METHYLTRANSFERASE 2;1

• Published in: The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology 2001-03, Vol.25 (6), p.605-615
• Main Authors: Schaeffer, Aurélie, Bronner, Roberte, Benveniste, Pierre, Schaller, Hubert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1 gene; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Amino Acid Sequence; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - enzymology; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; brassinosteriod; Brassinosteroids; campesterol; Cholestanols - antagonists & inhibitors; Cholestanols - metabolism; Cholesterol - analogs & derivatives; Cholesterol - biosynthesis; development; Economic plant physiology; Fruit - growth & development; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; growth; Growth and development; Methyltransferases - genetics; Methyltransferases - physiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Morphogenesis, differentiation, rhizogenesis, tuberization. Senescence; Phenotype; Phytosterols; Plant Growth Regulators - antagonists & inhibitors; Plant Growth Regulators - metabolism; Plant growth. Development of the storage organs; Plant physiology and development; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Stems - growth & development; Plants, Genetically Modified - enzymology; Plants, Genetically Modified - growth & development; sitosterol; Sitosterols - metabolism; Steroids, Heterocyclic - antagonists & inhibitors; Steroids, Heterocyclic - metabolism; STEROL METHYLTRANSFERASE 2; sterol-C24-methyltransferases; sterols; Sterols - biosynthesis; Transgenes; Vegetative apparatus, growth and morphogenesis. Senescence
• ISSN: 0960-7412; 1365-313X
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-313x.2001.00994.x

Summary The Arabidopsis genome contains three distinct genes encoding sterol‐C24‐methyltransferases (SMTs) involved in sterol biosynthesis. The expression of one of them, STEROL METHYLTRANSFERASE 2;1, was modulated in 35S::SMT2;1 Arabidopsis in order to study its physiological function. Plants overexpressing the transgene accumulate sitosterol, a 24‐ethylsterol which is thought to be the typical plant membrane reinforcer, at the expense of campesterol. These plants displayed a reduced stature and growth that could be restored by brassinosteroid treatment. Plants showing co‐suppression of SMT2;1 were characterized by a predominant 24‐methylsterol biosynthetic pathway leading to a high campesterol content and a depletion in sitosterol. Pleiotropic effects on development such as reduced growth, increased branching, and low fertility of high‐campesterol plants were not modified by exogenous brassinosteroids, indicating specific sterol requirements to promote normal development. Thus SMT2;1 has a crucial role in balancing the ratio of campesterol to sitosterol in order to fit both growth requirements and membrane integrity.