Polyamine metabolism in maize tumors induced by Ustilago maydis.

Abstract

Alterations occurring in polyamine metabolism of maize in tumors formed during the interaction with the biotrophic pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis were analyzed. During the process, a striking increase in maize polyamine biosynthesis, mainly free and conjugated putrescine occurred in the tumors induced by the fungus, and in the neighbor plant tissues. This increase correlated with an activation mainly of Adc, Samdc1, Zmsamdc2 and Zmsamdc3, but not of Zmodc, Zmspds1 and Zmspds2 genes, and an elevation in arginine decarboxylase activity, confirming a predominant role of this enzyme in the process. Evidences for a possible contribution of spermidine and spermine degradation by polyamine oxidase activity, probably related to cell wall stiffening or lignification during tumor growth, were also obtained. It is suggested that polyamines, mainly putrescine, might play an active role in the pathosystem maize-U. maydis.

• Authors: Margarita Rodríguez-Kessler, Oscar A Ruiz, Santiago Maiale, José Ruiz-Herrera, Juan Francisco Jiménez-Bremont
• Journal: Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB (Plant Physiol Biochem) 2008 Aug-Sep Vol. 46 Issue 8-9 Pg. 805-14 ISSN: 0981-9428 [Print] France
• PMID: 18614373 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• RNA, Plant
• Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors
• polyamine oxidase
• Carboxy-Lyases
• Ornithine Decarboxylase
• arginine decarboxylase
• Putrescine

Topics

• Carboxy-Lyases (metabolism)
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
• Genes, Plant
• Ornithine Decarboxylase (metabolism)
• Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors (metabolism)
• Plant Tumors (microbiology)
• Putrescine (metabolism)
• RNA, Plant (genetics)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Ustilago (growth & development)
• Zea mays (enzymology, genetics, metabolism, microbiology)