Open AccessA thaumatin‐like gene from Asparagus officinalis (AoPRT‐L) exhibits slow activation following tissue maceration or salicylic acid treatment, suggesting convergent defence‐related signalling in monocots
Author(s) -
Darby Robert M.,
Firek Simon,
Mur Luis A. J.,
Draper John
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1046/j.1364-3703.2000.00039.x
Subject(s) - biology , asparagus , nicotiana benthamiana , pathogen , wrky protein domain , gene , maceration (sewage) , gene expression , thaumatin , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , transcriptome , botany , materials science , composite material
Summary Messenger RNA derived from mechanically separated cells of asparagus has proved to be an enriched source of defence‐related transcripts. We describe the characterization of a novel PR‐5 gene coding for a secreted protein of neutral pI (AoPRT‐L) that is strongly up‐regulated following cell isolation or following accelerated tissue ageing caused by tissue maceration, but which is also responsive to salicylic acid, a defence‐related signal not normally associated with wound responses. Infection with the necrotizing fungal pathogen Stemphylium vesicarium confirmed the responsiveness of AoPRT‐L to pathogen challenge in intact plants. An upstream region of the AoPRT‐L gene of less than 500 bp was sufficient to confer SA‐inducibility in transgenic tobacco. The expression profile of AoPRT‐L in both macerated and pathogen challenged tissue suggested there were complex, convergent signalling mechanisms operating during responses to these different stresses.