Regulating the regulators: responses of four plant growth regulators during clonal propagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lachenalia montana</Emphasis>

Geraniol, the precursor of terpenoid indole alkaloids can be converted to the 10-hydroxy geraniol by the function of geraniol 10-hydroxylase. In our study, for the first time, a full-length cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) geraniol 10-hydroxylase (PgCYP76C9) cDNA was isolated and characterized from Panax ginseng Meyer. The gene has an open reading frame (ORF) of 1503 base pairs and encodes a precursor protein of 501 amino acids residues. The calculated molecular mass of the protein is approximately 56.3 kDa with a predicated isoelectric point of 8.45. Amino acid identities between PgG10H and other P450s of the CYP76 family in the database had revealed that the deduced amino acid of PgG10H sharing a higher sequence homology with geraniol 10-hydroxylase-like proteins encoded by Cinchona calisaya and Lonicera japonica. We implemented a molecular modeling method to evaluate the possible interaction of geraniol with PgG10H active site. Our finding showed that the geraniol was the potential ligand for PgG10H in P. ginseng. Expression of PgG10H gene was tissue-regulated and showed high expression in 3-year-old ginseng flowers and roots. Expression of PgG10H was differentially induced in ginseng, not only during Pseudomonas syringae infection and wounding but also after exposure to methyl jasmonate and salt stress. Furthermore, overexpression of the newly identified ginseng geraniol 10-hydroxylase P450 gene in Arabidopsis caused terpenoid indole alkaloid dihydrositsirikine production and also conferred enhanced resistance to P. syringae.     

Geraniol 10-hydroxylase, a cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis.

Geraniol 10-hydroxylase (G10H) is a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase involved in the biosynthesis of iridoid monoterpenoids and several classes of monoterpenoid alkaloids found in a diverse range of plant species. Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) contains monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, several of which are pharmaceutically important. Vinblastine and vincristine, for example, find widespread use as anti-cancer drugs. G10H is thought to play a key regulatory role in terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis. We purified G10H from C. roseus cells. Using degenerate PCR primers based on amino acid sequence information we cloned the corresponding cDNA. The encoded CYP76B6 protein has G10H activity when expressed in C. roseus and yeast cells. The stress hormone methyljasmonate strongly induced G10h gene expression coordinately with other terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis genes in a C. roseus cell culture.     

Focus on Weed Control: Dual Function of the Cytochrome P450 CYP76 Family from Arabidopsis thaliana in the Metabolism of Monoterpenols and Phenylurea Herbicides

Comparative genomics analysis unravels lineage-specific bursts of gene duplications related to the emergence of specialized pathways. The CYP76C subfamily of cytochrome P450 enzymes is specific to Brassicaceae. Two of its members were recently associated with monoterpenol metabolism. This prompted us to investigate the CYP76C subfamily genetic and functional diversification. Our study revealed high rates of CYP76C gene duplication and loss in Brassicaceae, suggesting the association of the CYP76C subfamily with species-specific adaptive functions. Gene differential expression and enzyme functional specialization in Arabidopsis thaliana, including metabolism of different monoterpenols and formation of different products, support this hypothesis. In addition to linalool metabolism, CYP76C1, CYP76C2, and CYP76C4 metabolized herbicides belonging to the class of phenylurea. Their ectopic expression in the whole plant conferred herbicide tolerance. CYP76Cs from A. thaliana. thus provide a first example of promiscuous cytochrome P450 enzymes endowing effective metabolism of both natural and xenobiotic compounds. Our data also suggest that the CYP76C gene family provides a suitable genetic background for a quick evolution of herbicide resistance.Although extensive monoterpenol (especially linalool) oxidative metabolism has been described in many plant species, leading to fragrant and bioactive compounds as diverse as alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and epoxides (Williams et al., 1982; Matich et al., 2003, 2011; Luan et al., 2005, 2006; Ginglinger et al., 2013), pyranoid or furanoid linalool derivatives (Pichersky et al., 1994; Raguso and Pichersky, 1999), and geraniol-derived iridoids and secoiridoids (Dinda et al., 2007a, 2007b, 2011; Tundis et al., 2008), limited information is available on the enzymes generating these oxygenated compounds. Involvement of a cytochrome P450 (P450) enzyme extracted from Vinca rosea (now renamed Catharanthus roseus) in the hydroxylation of geraniol and nerol was suggested as early as 1976 (Madyastha et al., 1976). The first plant P450 gene to be isolated, CYP71A1 from avocado (Persea americana) fruit, was later shown to encode an enzyme with geraniol/nerol epoxidase activity (Hallahan et al., 1992, 1994). To our knowledge, a connection with compounds formed in the fruit has not yet been established. The geraniol 8-hydroxylase (often named geraniol 10-hydroxylase) CYP76B6, involved in the biosynthesis of secoiridoids and monoterpene indole alkaloid anticancer drugs in C. roseus, was found to belong to the CYP76 family in 2001 (Collu et al., 2001). The catalytic function of this enzyme was recently revised, and was shown to include a second oxidation activity, the conversion of 8-hydroxygeraniol into 8-oxogeraniol (Höfer et al., 2013). The same work also revealed a geraniol 8- and 9-hydroxylase activity of CYP76C4 from Arabidopsis thaliana. More recently, another CYP76 enzyme (CYP76A226) from C. roseus was found to metabolize oxidized geraniol derivatives and to have an iridoid oxidase activity, catalyzing the triple oxygenation of cis-trans-nepetalactol into 7-deoxyloganetic acid for the biosynthesis of secoiridoids and terpene indole alkaloids (Miettinen et al., 2014; Salim et al., 2014). Not all CYP76 enzymes seem to be devoted to the metabolism of monoterpenols. In most cases, however, CYP76s seem to be involved in terpenoid metabolism. CYP76Ms from monocots were found to metabolize diterpenoids for the synthesis of antifungal phytocassanes (Swaminathan et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2012; Wu et al., 2013), CYP76AH1 from Salvia miltiorhizza and its ortholog CYP76AH4 from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) were shown to hydroxylate the norditerpene abietatriene in the pathway to labdane-related compounds (Zi and Peters, 2013), whereas CYP76Fs from sandalwood (Santalum album) were found to hydroxylate the sesquiterpenes santalene and bergamotene (Diaz-Chavez et al., 2013). CYP76B1 from Helianthus tuberosus was, however, found to metabolize herbicides belonging to the class of phenylurea (Robineau et al., 1998; Didierjean et al., 2002), but its physiological function was not reported. Other P450s from soybean (Glycine max; CYP71A10; Siminszky et al., 1999) or tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum; CYP71A11 and CYP81B1; Yamada et al., 2000) were also reported to metabolize phenylurea, but their physiological function was not investigated.A. thaliana ecotype Columbia-0 (Col-0) emits no geraniol and only tiny amounts of linalool, and extensive volatile profiling of different tissues detected only minor amounts of lilac aldehydes (oxygenated linalool derivatives; Rohloff and Bones, 2005). However, ectopic expression of a linalool/nerolidol synthase of strawberry (Fragaria × anannasa cv Elsanta) revealed a potentially efficient oxidative linalool metabolism in A. thaliana rosette leaves (Aharoni et al., 2003). Only recent work started to explore linalool metabolism in A. thaliana, which was found mainly localized in the flowers (Ginglinger et al., 2013). This work demonstrated the existence of two linalool synthases producing different enantiomers, and the concomitant involvement of two P450 enzymes, CYP76C3 and CYP71B31, with predominance of CYP76C3, in linalool oxidation. It also suggested the presence of partially redundant enzymes that may contribute to floral linalool metabolism.A family of eight CYP76 genes is detected in the A. thaliana genome. We report here an evolutionary and functional analysis of this family. We show that members of the CYP76C subfamily, when successfully expressed in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), all metabolize monoterpenols with different substrate specificities. Although CYP76Cs seem specific to Brassicaceae, they share common functions with CYP76s from other plants, such as CYP76B1 from H. tuberosus and CYP76B6 from C. roseus. These functions include not only monoterpenol oxidation, but also metabolism and detoxification of herbicides belonging to the class of phenylurea. Because of this property, CYP76Cs can be used simultaneously for monoterpenol oxidation and as selectable markers for plant transformation.     

Strigolactone and Methyl Jasmonate-Induced Antioxidant Defense and the Composition Alterations of Different Active Compounds in Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss Under Drought Stress

Strigolactone (SL) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) are one of the most important plant hormones that exert biological activity in plant responses to environmental stresses. Considering the undetected role of SL in drought tolerance and essential oil yield of medicinal plants as well as conceivable interaction among MeJA and SL, a factorial experiment was performed as a complete randomized design with three replications. Experimental factors including two irrigation regimes such as irrigation to 80% field capacity (control) and 40% field capacity (drought stress) and spraying treatments include MeJA (0 and 0.5 mM) and SL (0 and 10 μM) were applied. Treatment of plants with SL and MeJA resulted in higher tolerance to drought stress due to higher fresh and dry weights as well as lower electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, H₂O₂, total phenol content, total antioxidant activity and antioxidant power assay. The most important essential oil constituents of D. kotschyi included geranyl acetate (41.1–48.6%), α-pinene (16.2–18.9%), geranial (7.9–10.1%), limonene (5.5–7.0%), neral (3.5–4.1%), methyl geranate (2.3–3.3%) and geraniol (1–2.2%), the least of which was found in non-MeJA- and SL-treated plants under drought and the highest in MeJA- and SL-treated plants under drought stress. Drought tolerance of D. kotschyi became more intense and the amount of essential oil components of water stressed plants was the highest (99.2%) when these plant hormones were used together. These results suggest a cross-link between MeJA and SL in improving drought resistance and optimizing the production of essential oil of D. kotschyi.

     

Iridoid Glycosides from Tabebuia avellanedae

Five novel iridoid glycosides, avellanedaesides A‐E ( 1  –  5 ) were isolated from the H₂O extract of Tabebuia avellanedae. Their structures were determined on the basis of NMR and MS analysis. Isolated compounds suppressed inflammatory cytokine, tumor‐necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐1β production in cultured human myeloma THP‐1 cells co‐stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the study revealed iridoid glycosides inhibited the activity of cytochrome CYP3A4 enzyme.     

CYP1B1 (4326C > G), CYP2F1 (c.14_15insC), CYP2J2 (?76G > T), and CYP2S1 (13106C > T and 13255A > G) polymorphisms and genetic predisposition to chronic respiratory diseases induced by smoking and occupational factors

The contribution of the polymorphic markers of cytochrome P450 genes to respiratory diseases caused by smoking and occupational factors has been assessed. For this purpose, PCR-RFLP analysis of the CYP1B1 (rs1056836, 4326C > G), CYP2F1 (rs11399890, c.14_15insC), CYP2J2 (rs890293, -76G > T), and CYP2S1 (rs34971233, 13106C > T and rs338583, 13255A > G) gene polymorphisms has been performed. The analysis has shown that CYP1B1 (rs1056836, 4326C > G) and CYP2F1 (rs11399890, c.14_15insC) polymorphisms may contribute to the development of occupational chronic bronchitis. The proportion of CYP1B1*1*3 heterozygotes in the group of patients with occupational chronic bronchitis is considerably greater than in the group of healthy workers (69.16% versus 53.29%; χ² = 5.94, p = 0.02, p _cur = 0.04, OR = 1.97, the 95% CI is 1.13–3.42). Patients with occupational chronic bronchitis and healthy workers significantly differed from each other in the CYP2F1 genotypes frequency distribution (rs11399890, c.14_15insC) (χ² = 6.18, d.f. = 2, p = 0.05). CYP2F1 wild type/ins heterozygous genotype frequency is higher in healthy workers (36.08%) than in patients (22.22%) (χ² = 5.48, p = 0.02, p _cur = 0.04, OR = 0.51, the 95% CI is 0.28–0.90). No association has been found between the CYP2J2 (rs890293, −76G > T) or CYP2S1 (rs34971233, 13106C > T, and rs338583, 13255A > G) gene polymorphisms and respiratory diseases.     

Adventitious rooting is enhanced by methyl jasmonate in tobacco thin cell layers

Adventitious roots (ARs) are induced by auxins. Jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) are also plant growth regulators with many effects on development, but their role on ARs needs investigation. To this aim, we analyzed AR formation in tobacco thin cell layers (TCLs) cultured with 0.01–10 μM MeJA, either under root-inductive conditions, i.e., on medium containing 10 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.1 μM kinetin, or without hormones. The explants were excised from the cultivars Samsun, Xanthii and Petite Havana, and from genotypes with altered AR-forming ability in response to auxin, namely the non-rooting rac mutant and the over-rooting Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolB transgenic line. Results show that NtRNR1 (G1/S) and Ntcyc29 (G2/M) gene activity, cell proliferation and meristemoid formation were stimulated in hormone-cultured TCLs by submicromolar MeJA concentrations. The meristemoids developed either into ARs and xylogenic nodules, or into xylogenic nodules only (rac TCLs). MeJA-induced meristemoid over-production characterized rolB TCLs. No rooting or xylogenesis occurred under hormone-free conditions, independently of MeJA and genotype. Endogenous JA progressively (days 1–4) increased in hormone-cultured TCLs in the absence of MeJA. JA levels were enhanced by 0.1 μM MeJA, on both days 1 and 4. Endogenous IBA was the only auxin detected, both in the free form and as IBA-glucose. Free IBA increased up to day 2, remaining constant thereafter (day 4). Its level was enhanced by 0.1 μM MeJA only on day 1, while IBA conjugation was not affected by MeJA. Taken together, these results show that an interplay between jasmonates and auxins regulates AR formation and xylogenesis in tobacco TCLs.     

Concentrations of the Active Constituents of the Tibetan Folk Medicine Qinjiao (Gentiana sect. Cruciata) within and between Taxonomic Species across the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan folk medicine Qinjiao is traditionally used to treat various conditions, and its main active constituents comprise four iridoid glycosides, i.e., loganic acid, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, and sweroside. The traditional crude medicine Qinjiao is derived from the dried roots of three species belonging to Gentiana sect. Cruciata (Gentianaceae) growing in the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP). In this study, we determined by HPLC the contents of the four main active constituents in the dried roots collected from 83 localities at different altitudes across the QTP. The material was classified under the seven taxonomic species G. straminea, G. dahurica, G. crassicaulis, G. waltonii, G. officinalis, G. ihassica, and G. macrophylla. Our results suggested that the four constituents were present in the roots of all seven species for all localities, but their concentrations varied greatly within and between species. The level of gentiopicroside revealed to be the most dominant for all examined localities (2.1–12.4 mg/g), and G. macrophylla Pall . contained the highest concentration of all the four constituents at the species level. Except for loganic acid in G. officinalis, there was no significant correlation between the contents of these constituents and the altitude of the sampling localities. These results suggest that all species of all origins can be used as reliable resource for the crude medicine Qinjiao. However, a few species contain higher concentrations of the main active constituents, irrespective of their origin.     

地黄RgMYB10基因的克隆与表达分析

MYB转录因子是植物最大的转录因子家族之一,广泛参与植物的生长发育、逆境胁迫和次生代谢产物积累.该研究通过同源比对和功能注释,在地黄(Rehmannia glutinosa)转录组中筛选出MYB的转录本,设计特异性引物对MYB基因的cDNA序列进行PCR扩增,用水杨酸(SA)、Ag+、茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)和腐胺(Pu...     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the promoter for the multiple stress-inducible gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">BjCHI1</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis>

We have previously isolated a Brassica juncea cDNA encoding a novel chitinase BjCHI1 with two chitin-binding domains (Zhao and Chye in Plant Mol Biol 40:1009–1018, 1999). The expression of BjCHI1 was highly inducible by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, wounding, caterpillar feeding, and pathogenic fungal infection. These observations suggest that the promoter of BjCHI1 gene might contain specific cis-acting elements for stress responses. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the BjCHI1 promoter. A 1,098 bp BjCHI1 genomic DNA fragment upstream of the ATG start codon was isolated by PCR walking and various constructs were made by fusing the BjCHI1 promoter or its derivatives to β-glucuronidase reporter gene. The transgenic Arabidopsis plants showed that the BjCHI1 promoter responded to wounding and MeJA treatment, and to treatments with either NaCl or polyethyleneglycol (PEG 6000), indicating that the BjCHI1 promoter responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. A transient gene expression system of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves was adopted for promoter deletion analysis, and the results showed that a 76 bp region from −695 to −620 in the BjCHI1 promoter was necessary for MeJA-responsive expression. Furthermore, removal of a conserved T/G-box (AACGTG) at −353 to −348 of the promoter greatly reduced the induction by MeJA. This is the first T/G-box element identified in a chitinase gene promoter. Gain-of-function analysis demonstrated that the cis-acting element present in the 76 bp region requires coupling with the T/G-box to confer full magnitude of BjCHI1 induction by MeJA.     

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Regulatory Mechanism of Terpene Trilactones Improvement by Exogenous Methyl Jasmonate in Ginkgo biloba

Introduction

 Terpene trilactones (TTLs) are one of the main active ingredients of Ginkgo biloba. Owing to TTL’s unique chemical structure, it is difficult to increase TTL content through chemical and biological methods. Studying its regulatory mechanism is important in the G. biloba industry.

Results

The effect of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the physiological and molecular mechanism of TTL biosynthesis was studied. These results showed that MeJA treatment could improve the TTL contents, soluble sugar, starch, soluble protein, endogenous hormones (ZT, GA3, IAA, and ABA), antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), and the efficiency of photosynthesis in G. biloba leaves. A total of 100 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the control group and MeJA treatment through RNA-seq analysis. The results indicated that exogenous MeJA treatment upregulated the expression levels of the following genes: BMY (beta-amylase) in the starch and sucrose metabolic pathway; PEX7 (peroxin-7) in the peroxisome pathway; psbA (photosystem II reaction center D1 protein), psbC (photosystem II CP43 chlorophyll apoprotein), psaA (photosystem I P700 chlorophyll a apoprotein A1), and petF (photosynthetic electron transport ferredoxin) in the photosynthesis pathway; and CYP450 (Gb-16765) (cytochromeP450).

Conclusions

Exogenous MeJA treatment can promote physiological indexes (photosynthetic efficiency, starch, sucrose, antioxidant enzyme activities, etc.) and then regulating differential genes, thus controlling the synthesis of TTLs.

     

Cytochrome P-450-catalysed monoterpenoid oxidation in catmint (Nepeta racemosa) and avocado (Persea americana); evidence for related enzymes with different activities

A cytochrome P-450 present in ripening avocado (Persea americana) fruit mesocarp (CYTP71A1) had previously been shown to metabolize the monoterpenoids nerol and geraniol (Hallahan et al. (1992) Plant Physiol. 98, 1290-1297). Using DNA encoding CYP71A1 as a hybridization probe, we have shown by Southern analysis that a related gene is present in the catmint, Nepeta racemosa. RNA blot analysis, together with Western analysis of catmint leaf polypeptides using avocado cyt P-450 antiserum, showed that a closely related gene is expressed in catmint leaves. Cytochrome P-450 in catmint microsomes catalysed the specific hydroxylation of nerol and geraniol at C-10, whereas avocado CYP71A1, in either avocado microsomes or heterologously expressed in yeast, catalysed 2,3- or 6,7-epoxidation of these substrates. These results suggest that orthologous genes of the CYP71 family are expressed in these two plant species, but catalyse dissimilar reactions with monoterpenoid substrates.     

玉米转录因子WRKY76克隆及抗纹枯病表达模式分析

玉米纹枯病是影响玉米产量和品质的重要病害之一。转录因子WRKY家族部分成员能够调控水杨酸和茉莉酸甲酯信号传递方式来激发防卫反应基因的表达。在NCBI上检索玉米中WRKY家族成员及拟南芥中抗病相关的WRKY家族成员,利用CLUSTAL X和MEGA5.05构建系统进化树,发现转录因子WRKY76可能参与玉米抗纹枯病的调控途径。该研究以玉米抗纹枯病材料R15和感病材料Ye478为对象,在玉米拔节期接种立枯丝核菌AG1-IA,首先分别于接菌前(对照)和接菌后1、2、4、6、12、24 h取叶鞘;然后分别进行水杨酸和茉莉酸甲酯胁迫处理,分别于处理前(对照)和处理后1、2、4、6、12 h取叶鞘,提取RNA,实时荧光定量PCR分析WRKY76转录因子基因在玉米叶鞘组织中不同胁迫条件下的差异表达。结果表明:在立枯丝核菌AG1-IA胁迫下,WRKY76转录因子基因在胁迫后1 h表达量达最大值,抗病材料R15的相对表达量高于感病材料Ye478且差异显著(P≤0.05);经水杨酸(Salicylic Acid,SA)处理,WRKY76在抗感材料中表达趋势相似,在感病材料掖478中,WRKY76被诱导而显著地上调表达,在抗病材料中,相对表达量峰值出现在胁迫后4 h,且相对表达量低于感病材料掖478。经茉莉酸甲酯(Methyl jasmine,Me JA)处理,WRKY76基因在感病材料中呈现下调表达趋势。WRKY76基因在1 h表达量为对照的0.6倍,其他调查时间点基本都在0.1~0.3之间。在抗病材料R15中,WRKY76基因表达呈现上升趋势,变化趋势不明显。这表明WRKY76转录因子基因能够被病原物、SA、Me JA诱导表达,可能参与植物抗纹枯病调控途径。