Conversion of guaiacyl to syringyl moieties on the cinnamyl alcohol pathway during the biosynthesis of lignin in angiosperms

Aglycons derived from 4-O-β-D-glucosides of both caffeyl and 5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohols were incorporated into guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units in the lignin of newly formed xylem of several angiosperms. It is likely that these aglycons enter the cinnamyl alcohol pathway as intermediates in the introduction of methoxyl groups onto aromatic rings, and serve as precursors for the biosynthesis of lignin. The S/G ratio in this pathway was coincident with the ratio in the cell wall lignin of each tree. Our results indicate that the cinnamyl alcohol pathway involves the same mechanisms as the cinnamic acid and cinnamyl CoA pathways and they suggest that this novel pathway might be part of a metabolic grid in the biosynthesis of lignin. Received: 8 September 1999 / Accepted: 4 October 1999     

Impact of different levels of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase down-regulation on lignins of transgenic tobacco plants

The effects of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC.1.1.1.195) down-regulation on lignin profiles of plants were analysed in four selected transgenic lines of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) exhibiting different levels of CAD activity (8–56% of the control). A significant decrease in thioacidolysis yields (i.e. yield of β-O-4 linked monomers) and in the ratio of syringyl to guaiacyl monomers (S/G) was observed for three transgenic lines and the most drastic reduction (up to 50%) was correlated with the lowest level of CAD activity. Higher lignin extractability by mild alkali treatment was confirmed, and, in addition to a tenfold increase in C₆-C₁ aldehydes, coniferyl aldehyde was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography in the alkali extracts from the xylem of transgenic plants. In-situ polymerisation of cinnamyl aldehydes in stem sections of untransformed tobacco gave a xylem cell wall coloration strikingly similar to the reddish-brown coloration of the xylem of antisense CAD-down-regulated plants. Overall, these data provide new arguments for the involvement of polymerised cinnamyl aldehydes in the formation of the red-coloured xylem of CAD-down-regulated plants. Received: 24 January 1997 / Accepted: 14 May 1997     

Metabolite Profiling Reveals a Role for Atypical Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase CAD1 in the Synthesis of Coniferyl Alcohol in Tobacco Xylem

In angiosperms, lignin is built from two main monomers, coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol, which are incorporated respectively as G and S units in the polymer. The last step of their synthesis has so far been considered to be performed by a family of dimeric cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases (CAD2). However, previous studies on Eucalyptus gunnii xylem showed the presence of an additional, structurally unrelated, monomeric CAD form named CAD1. This form reduces coniferaldehyde to coniferyl alcohol, but is inactive on sinapaldehyde. In this paper, we report the functional characterization of CAD1 in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Transgenic tobacco plants with reduced CAD1 expression were obtained through an RNAi strategy. These plants displayed normal growth and development, and detailed biochemical studies were needed to reveal a role for CAD1. Lignin analyses showed that CAD1 down-regulation does not affect Klason lignin content, and has a moderate impact on G unit content of the non-condensed lignin fraction. However, comparative metabolic profiling of the methanol-soluble phenolic fraction from basal xylem revealed significant differences between CAD1 down-regulated and wild-type plants. Eight compounds were less abundant in CAD1 down-regulated lines, five of which were identified as dimers or trimers of monolignols, each containing at least one moiety derived from coniferyl alcohol. In addition, 3-trans-caffeoyl quinic acid accumulated in the transgenic plants. Together, our results support a significant contribution of CAD1 to the synthesis of coniferyl alcohol in planta, along with the previously characterized CAD2 enzymes. Sequences of NtCAD1-1 and NtCAD1-7 were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers AY911854 and AY911855, respectively.     

Characterization of Two Isozymes of Coniferyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase from Streptomyces sp. NL15-2K

We purified two isozymes of coniferyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CADH I and II) to homogeneity from cell-free extracts of Streptomyces sp. NL15-2K. The apparent molecular masses of CADH I and II were determined to be 143 kDa and 151 kDa respectively by gel filtration, whereas their subunit molecular masses were determined to be 35,782.2 Da and 37,597.7 Da respectively by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Thus, it is probable that both isozymes are tetramers. The optimum pH and temperature for coniferyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity were pH 9.5 and 45 °C for CADH I and pH 8.5 and 40 °C for CADH II. CADH I oxidized various aromatic alcohols and allyl alcohol, and was most efficient on cinnamyl alcohol, whereas CADH II exhibited high substrate specificity for coniferyl alcohol, and showed no activity as to the other alcohols, except for cinnamyl alcohol and 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanol. In the presence of NADH, CADH I and II reduced cinnamaldehyde and coniferyl aldehyde respectively to the corresponding alcohols.     

Alcohol Dehydrogenases: Identification and Names for Gene Families

Plant gene products that have been described as `alcohol dehydrogenases' are surveyed and related to their CPGN nomenclature. Most are Zn-dependent medium chain dehydrogenases, including `classical' alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh1), glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (Fdh1), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (Cad2), and benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase (Bad1). Plant gene products belonging to the short-chain dehydrogenase class should not be called alcohol dehydrogenases unless such activity is shown.     

Characterization of a novel antimycotic agent,cinnamyl benzoate,using yeast-phase Sporothrix schenckii

Cinnamyl benzoate specifically inhibited the growth of yeast-phase cells of the pathogenic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. A commercially available antimycotic agent, miconazole nitrate, released large amounts of K⁺ and P_i from S. schenckii probably due to it damaging the cell membrane, but no such release was observed with cinnamyl benzoate or with another commercial antimycotic agent, Tolnaftate. The sterol content of cells treated with cinnamyl benzoate and Tolnaftate was decreased and large amounts of squalene accumulated in the cells. Cinnamyl benzoate may therefore inhibit sterol synthesis in S. schenckii.The authors are with the Department of Applied Microbial Technology, Kumamoto Institute of Technology, lkeda 4-22-1, Kumamoto 860, Japan.     

Cinnamyl alcohol: An attractant of the flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa

Flower-inhabiting thrips find hosts using olfactory and visual cues. In this study, we report the identification of a plant-produced attractant of the flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom), an important agricultural pest worldwide. GC–MS analysis of solid-phase microextraction samples from blueberry flowers, Vaccinium corymbosum L., that mediate the attraction of adult F. intonsa revealed that the major component was cinnamyl alcohol, followed by cinnamyl acetate, cinnamaldehyde, germacrene D, β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, and benzyl benzoate. The biological activity of the floral compounds was investigated using commercial cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, β-caryophyllene, cinnamyl acetate, and benzyl benzoate in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fields. Significantly more F. intonsa males and females were caught in red delta traps with cinnamyl alcohol than in all other traps. Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamyl acetate attracted adult F. intonsa but were not as attractive as cinnamyl alcohol. β-Caryophyllene and benzyl benzoate were not attractive. Furthermore, the addition of four minor components to cinnamyl alcohol did not result in increased trap catches relative to cinnamyl alcohol alone, indicating that cinnamyl alcohol is responsible for attracting adult F. intonsa toward blueberry flowers. Therefore, this phenylpropanoid could be used as an effective lure for monitoring and controlling F. intonsa.     

3个植物源苯甲醇酰基转移酶合成乙酸肉桂酯的研究

[背景]乙酸肉桂酯是一种重要的香料化合物,在化妆品和食品工业上具有广泛的应用,传统的生产方法主要依靠植物提取和化学合成。[目的]通过筛选不同植物源的酰基转移酶,利用大肠杆菌从头合成乙酸肉桂酯。[方法]首先,通过在苯丙氨酸高产菌BPHE中表达异源基因苯丙氨酸解氨酶(Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase from Arabidopsis thaliana,AtPAL)、对羟基肉桂酰辅酶A连接酶(Hydroxycinnamate:CoA Ligase from Petroselinum crispum,Pc4CL)和肉桂酰辅酶 A 还原酶(Cinnamyl-CoA Reductase from Arabidopsis thaliana,AtCCR),并结合大肠杆菌自身的内源性醇脱氢酶(Alcohol Dehydrogenases,ADHs)或醛酮还原酶(Aldo-Keto Reductases,AKRs)的催化作用构建了从苯丙氨酸到肉桂醇的生物合成途径。然后,苯甲醇苯甲酰转移酶(Benzyl Alcohol O-Benzoyltransferase from Nicotiana tabacum,ANN09798;Benzyl Alcohol O-Benzoyltransferase from Clarkia breweri,ANN09796)或苯甲醇乙酰转移酶(Benzyl Alcohol Acetyltransferase from Clarkia breweri,BEAT)被引入到上述重组大肠杆菌中发酵培养生产乙酸肉桂酯。最后,在大肠杆菌中过表达乙酰辅酶A合成酶(Acetyl Coenzyme A Synthetase,ACS)来提高底物乙酰辅酶A的量。[结果]探讨了 3个植物源苯甲醇酰基转移酶生物合成乙酸肉桂酯的能力,并应用于合成乙酸肉桂酯的细胞工厂,最终使乙酸肉桂酯最高产量达到166.9±6.6mg/L。[结论]植物源苯甲醇酰基转移酶具有一定的底物宽泛性,能以肉桂醇为底物催化合成乙酸肉桂酯。首次利用植物源的苯甲醇酰基转移酶合成乙酸肉桂酯,为微生物细胞工厂以葡萄糖作为碳源生产乙酸肉桂酯提供参考。     

Expression of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases and their putative homologues during Arabidopsis thaliana growth and development: lessons for database annotations?

A major goal currently in Arabidopsis research is determination of the (biochemical) function of each of its approximately 27,000 genes. To date, however, 12% of its genes actually have known biochemical roles. In this study, we considered it instructive to identify the gene expression patterns of nine (so-called AtCAD1-9) of 17 genes originally annotated by The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR) as cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1.195) homologues [see Costa, M.A., Collins, R.E., Anterola, A.M., Cochrane, F.C., Davin, L.B., Lewis N.G., 2003. An in silico assessment of gene function and organization of the phenylpropanoid pathway metabolic networks in Arabidopsis thaliana and limitations thereof. Phytochemistry 64, 1097-1112.]. In agreement with our biochemical studies in vitro [Kim, S.-J., Kim, M.-R., Bedgar, D.L., Moinuddin, S.G.A., Cardenas, C.L., Davin, L.B., Kang, C.-H., Lewis, N.G., 2004. Functional reclassification of the putative cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase multigene family in Arabidopsis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 1455-1460.], and analysis of a double mutant [Sibout, R., Eudes, A., Mouille, G., Pollet, B., Lapierre, C., Jouanin, L., Séguin A., 2005. Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase-C and -D are the primary genes involved in lignin biosynthesis in the floral stem of Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 17, 2059-2076.], both AtCAD5 (At4g34230) and AtCAD4 (At3g19450) were found to have expression patterns consistent with development/formation of different forms of the lignified vascular apparatus, e.g. lignifying stem tissues, bases of trichomes, hydathodes, abscission zones of siliques, etc. Expression was also observed in various non-lignifying zones (e.g. root caps) indicative of, perhaps, a role in plant defense. In addition, expression patterns of the four CAD-like homologues were investigated, i.e. AtCAD2 (At2g21730), AtCAD3 (At2g21890), AtCAD7 (At4g37980) and AtCAD8 (At4g37990), each of which previously had been demonstrated to have low CAD enzymatic activity in vitro (relative to AtCAD4/5) [Kim, S.-J., Kim, M.-R., Bedgar, D.L., Moinuddin, S.G.A., Cardenas, C.L., Davin, L.B., Kang, C.-H., Lewis, N.G., 2004. Functional reclassification of the putative cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase multigene family in Arabidopsis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 1455-1460.]. Neither AtCAD2 nor AtCAD3, however, were expressed in lignifying tissues, with the latter being found mainly in the meristematic region and non-lignifying root tips, i.e. indicative of involvement in biochemical processes unrelated to lignin formation. By contrast, AtCAD7 and AtCAD8 [surprisingly now currently TAIR-annotated as probable mannitol dehydrogenases, but for which there is still no biochemical or other evidence for same] displayed gene expression patterns largely resembling those of AtCAD4/5, i.e. indicative perhaps of a quite minor role in monolignol/lignin formation. Lastly, AtCAD1 (At1g72680), AtCAD6 (At4g37970) and AtCAD9 (At4g39330), which lacked detectable CAD catalytic activities in vitro, were also expressed predominantly in vascular (lignin-forming) tissues. While their actual biochemical roles remain unknown, definition of their expression patterns, nevertheless, now begins to provide useful insights into potential biochemical/physiological functions, as well as the cell types in which they are expressed. These data thus indicate that the CAD metabolic network is composed primarily of AtCAD4/5 and may provisionally, to a lesser extent, involve AtCAD7/8 based on in vitro catalytic properties and (promoter regions selected to obtain) representative gene expression patterns. This analysis has, therefore, enabled us to systematically map out bona fide CAD gene involvement in both the assembly and differential emergence of the various component parts of the lignified vascular apparatus in Arabidopsis, as well as those having other (e.g. putative plant defense) functions. The data obtained also further underscore the ongoing difficulties and challenges as regards current limitations in gene annotations versus actual determination of gene function. This is exemplified by the annotation of AtCAD2, 3 and 6-9 as purported mannitol dehydrogenases, when, for example, no in vitro studies have been carried out to establish such a function biochemically. Such annotations should thus be discontinued in the absence of reliable biochemical and/or other physiological confirmation. In particular, AtCAD2, 3, 6 and 9 should be designated as dehydrogenases of unknown function. Just as importantly, the different patterns of gene expression noted during distinct phases of growth and development in specific cells/tissues gives insight into the study of the roles that these promoters have.     

Oxidation of cinnamyl alcohols and aldehydes by a basic peroxidase from lignifying Zinnia elegans hypocotyls.

The xylem of 26-day old Zinnia elegans hypocotyls synthesizes lignins derived from coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol with a G/S ratio of 43/57 in the aryl-glycerol-beta-aryl ether core, as revealed by thioacidolysis. Thioacidolysis of Z. elegans lignins also reveals the presence of coniferyl aldehyde end groups linked by beta-0-4 bonds. Both coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols, as well as coniferyl and sinapyl aldehyde, are substrates of a xylem cell wall-located strongly basic peroxidase, which is capable of oxidizing them in the absence and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. This peroxidase shows a particular affinity for cinnamyl aldehydes with kappa(M) values in the mu(M) range, and some specificity for syringyl-type phenols. The affinity of this strongly basic peroxidase for cinnamyl alcohols and aldehydes is similar to that shown by the preceding enzymes in the lignin biosynthetic pathway (microsomal 5-hydroxylases and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase), which also use cinnamyl alcohols and aldehydes as substrates, indicating that the one-way highway of construction of the lignin macromolecule has no metabolic "potholes" in which the lignin building blocks might accumulate. This fact suggests a high degree of metabolic plasticity for this basic peroxidase, which has been widely conserved during the evolution of vascular plants, making it one of the driving forces in the evolution of plant lignin heterogeneity.     

Down-regulation of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase in transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and the effect on lignin composition and digestibility

To improve the digestibility of the forage crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), which catalyses the last step in the biosynthesis of the lignin monomers, was down-regulated by using an antisense approach. A subset of six transgenic lines with reduced CAD activity and control lines were analysed when grown in the greenhouse and in the field. The down-regulation of the CAD enzyme was associated with a red coloration of the stem. The lignin quantity remained unchanged, but the lignin composition, as determined by thioacidolysis, was altered. The highest reduction of CAD activity was associated with a lower syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio and a lower S+G yield, mainly because of a decreased amount of S units. An increase in in situ disappearance of dry matter and of cell wall residue was detected in one of the transgenic lines grown in the greenhouse, and for two of the lines grown in the field the rate of disappearance of dry matter slightly improved. Furthermore, these two lines had a higher solubility in alkali as shown by the lower yield of saponified residue. This study opens perspectives for improving forage crop digestibility by the modulation of enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis.     

Enhanced Biotransformation Capacity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodiola rosea</Emphasis> Callus Cultures for Glycosid Production

Rhodiola rosea is a promising medicinal plant that produces various glycosides. Recently we developed a successful method for cultivating it in liquid cultures of compact callus aggregates. In a previous study we reported the successful production of the glycosides of R. rosea by biotransformation of cinnamyl alcohol and tyrosol. In the present study we investigated the possibility of further increasing the yields of the biotransformation products by addition of glucose to the culture medium aside from sucrose, which was used earlier as carbon source. Surprisingly, glucose addition doubled the yield of cinnamyl alcohol glycosides. Rosavin was not produced at all when only sucrose was used. When glucose was added the accumulation dynamics of rosin and a recently described derivative glycoside (designed as compound 321) were similar. Both increased during the first days and then remained constant, while other glycoside compounds increased continuously throughout the cultivation. Rosavin reached its maximum concentration after nine days. In contrast to the beneficial effect on cinnamyl alcohol related glycosides the addition of glucose did not affect the accumulation of the tyrosol derivative salidroside.     

Elicitor-mediated induction of enzymes of lignin biosynthesis and formation of lignin-like material in a cell suspension culture of spruce (Picea abies)

Incubations of photomixotrophic suspension culture cells of spruce (Picea abies) (L.) (Karst) with an autoclaved cell wall preparation of Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii as elicitor led to a rapid increase of the activity of a number of enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis. l-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC 4.3.1.5) was induced about 10-fold, feruloyl-Coenzyme A reductase (ED 1.2.1.44) 4-fold, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP⁺) (EC 1.1.1.195) 2-fold and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) about 1.5-fold. The induction of the enzymes, with the exception of the peroxidase, was transient, showing maximal activity within 3 days after elicitation. Extracellular peroxidase activity, determined in the culture medium, rapidly decreased on initiation of elicitation.Concomitant with the increase of activity of the enzymes of lignin synthesis was a rapid clouding of the culture medium. Phloroglucinol-HCl staining revealed the presence of lignin-like material in the medium and also in the cells. The IR-spectrum of this material was identical with the IR-spectrum of authentic spruce lignin.Abbreviations PAL l-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase - FCR feruloyl-Coenzyme A reductase - CAD cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase - POD peroxidase     

木质素合成关键酶——肉桂醇脱氢酶的研究进展

肉桂醇脱氢酶(CAD)是木质素合成途径的关键酶之一,它作用于木质素单体生物合成的最后一步。重点综述了肉桂醇脱氢酶(CAD)的在基因家族方面,基因调控方面以及蛋白结晶方面的研究进展,讨论了存在的问题并提出了相关策略。     

Morphological and transcript changes in the biosynthesis of lignin in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) during Ganoderma boninense infections in vitro

Lignification of the plant cell wall could serve as the first line of defense against pathogen attack, but the molecular mechanisms of virulence and disease between oil palm and Ganoderma boninense are poorly understood. This study presents the biochemical, histochemical, enzymology and gene expression evidences of enhanced lignin biosynthesis in young oil palm as a response to G. boninense (GBLS strain). Comparative studies with control (T1), wounded (T2) and infected (T3) oil palm plantlets showed significant accumulation of total lignin content and monolignol derivatives (syringaldehyde and vanillin). These derivatives were deposited on the epidermal cell wall of infected plants. Moreover, substantial differences were detected in the activities of enzyme and relative expressions of genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase (EC 4.3.1.24), cinnamate 4‐hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.11), caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.68) and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1.195). These enzymes are key intermediates dedicated to the biosynthesis of lignin monomers, the guaicyl (G), syringyl (S) and ρ‐hydroxyphenyl (H) subunits. Results confirmed an early, biphasic and transient positive induction of all gene intermediates, except for CAD enzyme activities. These differences were visualized by anatomical and metabolic changes in the profile of lignin in the oil palm plantlets such as low G lignin, indicating a potential mechanism for enhanced susceptibility toward G. boninense infection.     

An Efficient Procedure to Stably Introduce Genes into an Economically Important Pulp Tree (Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla)

Regeneration problems are one of the main limitations preventing the wider application of genetic engineering strategies to the genus Eucalyptus. Seedlings from Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla were selected according to their regeneration (adventitious organogenesis) and transformation capacity. After in vitro cloning, the best genotype of 250 tested was transformed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) antisense cDNA from Eucalyptus gunnii was transferred, under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter with a double enhancer sequence, into a selected genotype. According to kanamycin resistance and PCR verification, 120 transformants were generated. 58% were significantly inhibited for CAD activity, and nine exhibited the highest down-regulation, ranging from 69 to 78% (22% residual activity). Southern blot hybridisation showed a low transgene copy number, ranging from 1 to 4, depending on the transgenic line. Northern analyses on the 5–16 and 3–23 lines (respectively one and two insertion sites) demonstrated the antisense origin of CAD gene inhibition. With respectively 26 and 22% of residual CAD activity, these two lines were considered as the most interesting and transferred to the greenhouse for further analyses.     

Stereospecificity of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase and synthesis of stereospecifically labelled coniferyl alcohol

Using horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, stereospecifically tritiated (R)- and (S)-(γ-³H)-coniferyl alcohol was synthesized. Using both of these substrates it was demonstrated that cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase from lignifying Forsythia tissue specifically removes the pro-R-hydrogen atom of coniferyl alcohol in the oxidation to the aldehyde. This also means that in the reverse reaction the A-hydrogen of NADPH is transferred to the Re-site of coniferyl aldehyde.     

Purification and characterization of isoforms of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase fromEucalyptus xylem

Two distinct isoforms of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, CAD 1 and CAD 2, have been purified to homogeneity from xylem-enriched fractions ofEucalyptus gunii Hook and partially characterized. They differ greatly in terms of both physical and biochemical properties, and can be separated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B. The native molecular weight of of CAD 1 is 38 kDa as determined by gel-filtration chromatography on Superose 6, and this isoform is likely to be a monomer since it yields a polypeptide of 35 kDa upon sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It has a low substrate affinity for coniferyl andp-coumaryl alcohols and their corresponding aldehydes. No activity with sinapyl aldehyde and alcohol was detected. The more abundant isoform is CAD 2, which has a native molecular weight of 83 kDa and is a dinier composed of two subunits of slightly different molecular weights (42–43 kDa). These subunits show identical peptide patterns after digestion with N-chlorosuccinimide. The isoform, CAD 2, has a high substrate affinity for all the substrates tested. The two isoforms are immunologically distinct as polyclonal antibodies raised against CAD 2 do not cross-react with CAD 1. The characterization of two forms of CAD exhibiting such marked differences indicates their involvement in specific pathways of monolignol utilisation.Abbreviations CAD cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase - DTT dithiothreitol - NCS N chlorosuccinimide - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis This work was supported by the European Economic Community project AGRE 0021 (OPLIGE) in the scope of the ECLAIR PROGRAMME. The authors whis to thank Drs. L. Davin and N. Lewis (Washington State University) for kindly providing synthesized substrates, Dr. Annie Boudet for excellent technical assistance, and Dr. M. Campbell for fruitful discussions (Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France). We would also like to thank Dr. M. M. Cordonnier-Pratt and Dr. L. Pratt (University of Georgia, Athens, USA) for helpful advice and antibody production.     

Lignification in poplar plantlets fed with deuterium-labelled lignin precursors

Lignification was investigated in wild-type (WT) and in transgenic poplar plantlets with a reduced caffeic acid O-methyl-transferase (COMT) activity. Coniferin and syringin, deuterated at their methoxyl, were incorporated into the culture medium of microcuttings. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the thioacidolysis guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) lignin-derived monomers revealed that COMT deficiency altered stem lignification. GC-MS analysis proved that the deuterated precursors were incorporated into root lignins and, to a lower extent, in stem lignins without major effect on growth and lignification. Deuterium from coniferin was recovered in G and S lignin units, whereas deuterium from syringin was only found in S units, which further establishes that the conversion of G to S lignin precursors may occur at the level of p-OH cinnamyl alcohols.     

Role of phenolic acids and enzymes of phenylpropanoid pathway in resistance of chayote fruit (Sechium edule) against infestation by melon fly,Bactrocera cucurbitae

Melon fly is a serious pest of cucurbits all over the world causing huge losses to yield. However, the only exception is the chayote fruit (Sechium edule) that shows resistance to melon fly infestation. Studies on culture of melon fly indicated the absence of plant traits resisting oviposition on chayote fruit. However, the melon fly was unable to complete its life cycle successfully on chayote showing that factors inhibiting larval development in melon fly could be attributed to biochemical constituents. Studies were, therefore, carried out to compare the biochemical responses of chayote, a melon fly resistant species and bitter gourd, a susceptible species to melon fly infestation with regard to the levels of phenolic acids and activities of the enzymes of phenylpropanoid pathway (PPP) leading to synthesis of lignin. The resistant chayote exhibited significantly higher accumulation of lignin associated with higher activities of phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL), tyrosine ammonia‐lyase (TAL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and peroxidase (POD). On the contrary, the susceptible bitter gourd recorded lower activities of PAL, CAD and POD and a decreasing trend of TAL during infestation associated with a lower lignin content. The monomer composition of lignin in the resistant chayote showed twofold higher level of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units compared to susceptible bitter gourd and the G/S ratio during infestation increased in chayote while decreasing in bitter gourd. The levels of PPP intermediates, p‐coumaric acid was higher in chayote while p‐hydroxy benzoic acid, a chemo‐attractant, was higher in bitter gourd. Incorporation of p‐coumaric acid in the larval diet strongly inhibited larval growth even as p‐hydroxy benzoic acid promoted growth confirming the direct role of p‐coumaric acid in conferring resistance to chayote. The level of salicylic acid, a signal molecule involved in induction of defence response, was higher in chayote compared to bitter gourd. Chayote also exhibited higher level of activity of POD in the phloem exudates compared to bitter gourd. The higher concentration of sugars in exudates of chayote might act like signalling molecules causing activation of plant genes, especially of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and possibly produce an osmotic effect inducing resistance against the melon fly. Thus, the study revealed that the resistance in chayote to melon fly infestation is a complex, multi‐layered process in which the activities of PPP enzymes generating phenolic intermediates leading to lignin biosynthesis and the composition of exudates appear to play significant roles. Besides, the study also indicated that different forms of lignin might play a role in the resistance of chayote against melon fly infestation.