Publikationen - Molekulare Signalverarbeitung

Jasmonic acid (JA) is an important regulator of plant development and stress responses. Several enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of JA from α-linolenic acid have been characterized. The final biosynthesis steps are the β-oxidation of 12-oxo-phytoenoic acid. We analyzed JA biosynthesis in the Arabidopsis mutants pex6, affected in peroxisome biogenesis, and aim1, disrupted in fatty acid β-oxidation. Upon wounding, these mutants exhibit reduced JA levels compared to wild type. pex6 accumulated the precursor OPDA. Feeding experiments with deuterated OPDA substantiate this accumulation pattern, suggesting the mutants are impaired in the β-oxidation of JA biosynthesis at different steps. Decreased expression of JA-responsive genes, such as VSP1, VSP2, AtJRG21 and LOX2, following wounding in the mutants compared to the wild type reflects the reduced JA levels of the mutants. By use of these additional mutants in combination with feeding experiments, the necessity of functional peroxisomes for JA-biosynthesis is confirmed. Furthermore an essential function of one of the two multifunctional proteins of fatty acid β-oxidation (AIM1) for wound-induced JA formation is demonstrated for the first time. These data confirm that JA biosynthesis occurs via peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation machinery.

The accumulation of apocarotenoids in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) roots suggests a dramatic reorganization of the plastids responsible for the biosynthesis of these compounds. This review describes the cytological and biochemical characterization of this phenomenon. The results presented suggest that plastids are key organelles for the establishment of the symbiotic interface of the AM symbiosis. In addition, a complex interplay of various plant cell components during the different functional phases of this interface is suggested. Arbuscule degradation appears to be of particular interest, as it correlates with the formation of the most extensive plastid structures and with apocarotenoid accumulation.

Oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids synthesized via the lipoxygenase pathway play a role in plant responses to pathogen attack. In solanaceous plants, the preferential stimulation of the 9-lipoxygenase pathway in response to pathogen infection leads to the formation of the divinyl ether-containing polyunsaturated fatty acids colneleic and colnelenic acid, as well as hydroxy and trihydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids. To functionally assess the role of divinyl ethers, transgenic potato plants were generated which express an RNA interference construct directed against the pathogen-inducible 9-divinyl ether synthase. Efficient reduction of 9-divinyl ether synthase transcript accumulation correlated with reduced levels of colneleic and colnelenic acid. However, in response to infection with virulent Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease, no significant differences in pathogen biomass could be detected suggesting that the levels of antimicrobial divinyl ethers are not critical for defense against Phytophthora infestans in a compatible interaction.

The culture filtrate of Fusarium oxysporum f sp matthiolae was inspected on the occurrence of jasmonates and related compounds. Among compounds described for the first time of biological origin are 7-iso-cucurbic acid, (1S,2S)- and (1S,2R)-3-oxo-2-pentylcyclopentane-1-butyric acid, (1S,2S)- and (1S,2R)-3-oxo-2-(2Z-pentenyl)cyclopentane-1-hexanoic acid, (1S,2S)- and (1S,2R)-3-oxo-2-pentylcyclopentane-1-hexanoic acid, (1S,2S)-3-oxo-2-(2Z-pentenyl)cyclopentane-1-octanoic acid, (1S,2S)-3-oxo-2-pentylcyclopentane-1-octanoic acid and N-[9,10-dihydro-7-iso-jasmonoyl]-(S)-isoleucine. The following metabolites were identified for the first time for this fungus: (−)-Jasmonic acid, 9,10-dihydrojasmonic acid and N-[(−)-jasmonoyl-(S)]-isoleucine were major constituents of the culture filtrate, whereas as minor metabolites occurred N-[9,10-dihydrojasmonoyl]-(S)-isoleucine, cucurbic acid and 3-oxo-2-(2Z-pentenyl)cyclopentane-1-butyric acid, 3-oxo-2-(2Z-pentenyl)cyclopentane-1-octanoic acid and 3-oxo-2-pentylcyclopentane-1-octanoic acid. All cyclopentanones found carried a cis- or trans-attached side chain. Didehydro-jasmonates, hydroxylated jasmonates or 12-oxophytodienoic acid could not be detected in the culture filtrate.

Jasmonic acid and 66 structurally related compounds were tested to find the structural requirements which induce the expression of jasmonate-responsive genes in barley. An intact cyclopentanone ring as well as a pentenyl side chain exhibiting only minor alterations are necessary for this activity. The (−)-enantiomeric and the (+)-7-iso-enantiomeric structure increase activity of jasmonoyl compounds.

Aspergillus niger is able to hydroxylate the pentenyl side chain of (−)-jasmonic acid (JA) leading to (11S)- (−)-hydroxy-JA/ (11R)- (−)-hydroxy-JA (2:1) and (−)-11,12-didehydro-JA. Methyl (−)-jasmonate (JA-Me) is converted upon hydrolysis. During prolonged cultivation or at non-optimized isolation procedures, the 11-hydroxy- (9Z)-pentenyl side chain may isomerize to (10E)-9-hydroxy- and (9E)-11-hydroxy-compounds by allylic rearrangement. The fungus hydroxylates (±)-9,10-dihydro-JA at position C-11 into 11j-hydroxy-9,10-dihydro-JA. As JA-Me, the methyl dihydro-JA is hydroxylated only upon hydrolysis into the free acid.