Ethylene and a Wound Signal Modulate Local and Systemic Transcription of win2 Genes in Transgenic Potato Plants

The transcriptional regulation of a win2-beta-glucuronidase gene fusion in transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants by wounding and ethylene has been analyzed. In common with other genes that are expressed in response to mechanical or chemical stress, win2 is transcribed at the site of injury and also in distant undamaged parts of the wounded plant. Similar kinetics of induction and patterns of transcription were observed in response to mechanical, wounding, elicitor, or arachidonic acid application. Experiments involving the use of chemicals that inhibited ethylene action, and those that increased ethylene production, showed that local induction of win2 transcription did not have an absolute requirement for ethylene, but ethylene was necessary for high levels of expression. In contrast, systemic expression of win2 required both a putative wound signal and ethylene. Ethylene alone had no direct effect on win2 gene expression in the absence of wounding.