Two tobacco genes induced by infection, elicitor and salicylic acid encode glucosyltransferases acting on phenylpropanoids and benzoic acid derivatives, including salicylic acid.

Abstract

Two tobacco genes (TOGT) with homology to glucosyltransferase genes known to be induced by salicylic acid (SA) also responded rapidly to a fungal elicitor or to an avirulent pathogen. SA, although an efficient inducer, was shown not to be essential in the signal transduction pathway regulating TOGT gene expression during the resistance response. Recombinant TOGT proteins produced in Escherichia coli exhibited low, but significant, glucosyltransferase activity towards SA, but very high activity towards hydroxycoumarins and hydroxycinnamic acids, with glucose esters being the predominant products. These results point to a possible important function in defense of these glucosyltransferases in conjugating aromatic metabolites prior to their transport and cross-linking to the cell wall.

• Authors: L Fraissinet-Tachet, R Baltz, J Chong, S Kauffmann, B Fritig, P Saindrenan
• Journal: FEBS letters (FEBS Lett) Vol. 437 Issue 3 Pg. 319-23 (Oct 23 1998) ISSN: 0014-5793 [Print] England
• PMID: 9824316 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzoates
• Fungal Proteins
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• elicitor protein, Phytophthora megasperma
• Glucosyltransferases
• Salicylic Acid

Topics

• Benzoates (metabolism)
• Catalysis
• Cloning, Molecular
• Enzyme Induction (genetics)
• Fungal Proteins (pharmacology)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant (drug effects)
• Glucosyltransferases (biosynthesis, genetics, metabolism)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (pharmacology)
• Plant Diseases (genetics)
• Plants, Toxic
• Salicylic Acid (analysis, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Sequence Analysis, DNA
• Tobacco (enzymology, genetics, virology)
• Tobacco Mosaic Virus (metabolism)