Chalcone isomerase cDNA cloning and mRNA induction by fungal elicitor, wounding and infection

The environmentally regulated synthesis of phenylpropanoid natural products was studied by examining the expression of the gene encoding chalcone isomerase (CHI). This enzyme catalyzes a step common to the synthesis of flavonoid pigments and isoflavonoid phytoalexins. A λgt11 library was constructed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The EMBO journal 1987-06, Vol.6 (6), p.1527-1533
Main Authors: Mehdy, Mona C., Lamb, Christopher J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
chalcone isomerase
chalcone synthase
Colletotrichum lindemuthianum
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetic engineering
Genetic technics
infection
Methods. Procedures. Technologies
Molecular cloning
Phaseolus vulgaris
Phaseolus vulgaris L
phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase
wounding
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Summary:The environmentally regulated synthesis of phenylpropanoid natural products was studied by examining the expression of the gene encoding chalcone isomerase (CHI). This enzyme catalyzes a step common to the synthesis of flavonoid pigments and isoflavonoid phytoalexins. A λgt11 library was constructed using mRNA from cell cultures of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) treated with fungal elicitor. Two positive clones were obtained by screening 105 recombinants with an antiserum to purified bean CHI. The identity of the cloned sequences was confirmed by hybrid‐select translation and the production of antigenic polypeptides from transcripts synthesized in vitro. Addition of elicitor to cell cultures resulted in the rapid accumulation of CHI mRNA, with maximum levels achieved 3–4 h after elicitation. CHI mRNA also accumulated during the natural infection of hypocotyls with the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, and in mechanically wounded hypocotyls. The kinetics of accumulation of CHI mRNA in response to these environmental signals were strikingly similar to those of mRNAs encoding two other phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes, phenylalanine ammonialyase and chalcone synthase. In contrast to the multi‐gene families encoding these two enzymes, chalcone isomerase is encoded by a single gene which is regulated by several environmental stimuli.
ISSN:0261-4189
1460-2075
DOI:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1987.tb02396.x