Publikationen - Molekulare Signalverarbeitung

Ribonuclease LE (RNaseLE) from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Lukullus) belongs to the widespread RNase T2 family of ribonucleases. With the exception of S-RNases of the solanaceous self-incompatibility system the functions of other members of the RNase T2 family are only barely understood. Using a 2.6-kbp putative promoter sequence of RNaseLE in front of the uidA reporter gene, expression of β-glucuronidase in developing phloem tissue and, especially, in the meristematic and elongation zones at root tips was detected. The tissue-specific expression accords with the range of cis-acting elements detected in the RNaseLE promoter. RNaseLE mRNA was localized in developing phloem cells but not in mature phloem tissue, suggesting association of RNaseLE expression with phloem development. Histochemical staining of β-glucuronidase activity as well as detailed inspection of RNaseLE at mRNA, protein and enzyme activity levels revealed that the wound-induced expression of RNaseLE was also restricted to vascular tissue. RNaseLE transcript accumulation detected by in situ hybridization occurred preferentially in phloem and cambial cells of stem sections upon wounding. The data provide evidence for a role of RNaseLE in a tissue-specific wound response and in wound healing of tomato.

The role of systemin in Pin2 gene expression was analyzed in wild-type plants of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), as well as in abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient tomato (sitiens) and potato (droopy) plants. The results showed that systemin initiates Pin2 mRNA accumulation only in wildtype tomato and potato plants. As in the situation after mechanical wounding,Pin2 gene expression in ABA-deficient plants was not activated by systemin. Increased endogenous levels of jasmonic acid (JA) and accumulation of Pin2 mRNA were observed following treatment with α-linolenic acid, the precursor of JA biosynthesis, suggesting that these ABA mutants still have the capability to synthesize de novo JA. Measurement of endogenous levels of ABA and JA showed that systemin leads to an increase of both phytohormones (ABA and JA) only in wild-type but not in ABA-deficient plants.

The accumulation of abundant proteins and their respective transcripts, induced by 10−4 M cisabscisic acid or 10−5 M jasmonic acid methyl ester, was studied in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaf segments and compared to that resulting from osmotic stress caused by floating the segments on solutions of sorbitol, glucose, polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-6000 or NaCl. Osmotic stress or treatment with abscisic acid led to the synthesis of novel proteins which were identical to jasmonateinduced proteins (JIPs) with respect to immunological properties and molecular masses. The most prominent polypeptides were characterized by molecular masses of 66, 37 and 23 kDa and were newly synthesized. Whereas sorbitol, mannitol, sucrose, glucose and PEG provoked the synthesis of JIPs, 2deoxyglucose and NaCl did not. We provide evidence that the synthesis of JIPs induced by osmotic stress is directly correlated with a preceding rise in endogenous jasmonates. These jasmonates, quantified by an enzyme immunoassay specific for (−)jasmonic acid and its aminoacid conjugates, increased remarkably in leaf segments treated with sorbitol, glucose or other sugars. In contrast, no increase in jasmonates could be observed in tissues exposed to salts (NaCl). The results strengthen the hypothesis that the accumulation of jasmonates, probably by de-novo synthesis, is an intermediate and essential step in a signalling pathway between (osmotic) stress and activation of genes coding for polypeptides of high abundance.