Open AccessMetabolite fingerprinting in transgenic lettuce
Author(s) -
Garratt Lee C.,
Linforth Robert,
Taylor Andrew J.,
Lowe Kenneth C.,
Power J. Brian,
Davey Michael R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2004.00110.x
Subject(s) - lactuca , transgene , metabolite , biology , atmospheric pressure chemical ionization , genetically modified crops , arabidopsis thaliana , acetaldehyde , metabolome , botany , biochemistry , ethanol , chemical ionization , chemistry , gene , mutant , ionization , ion , organic chemistry
Summary Metabolite fingerprinting has been achieved using direct atmospheric pressure chemical ionization‐mass spectrometry (APCI‐MS) and linked gas chromatography (GC‐APCI/EI‐MS) for transgenic lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. cv. Evola) plants expressing an IPT gene under the control of the senescence‐specific SAG12 promoter from Arabidopsis thaliana (P SAG12 ‐ IPT ). Mature heads of transgenic lettuce and their azygous controls were maintained under defined conditions to assess their shelf life. Transgenic lettuce plants exhibited delayed senescence and significant increases (up to a maximum of threefold) in the concentrations of three volatile organic compounds (VOCs), corresponding to molecular masses of 45, 47 and 63, when compared with heads from azygous plants. These VOCs were identified as acetaldehyde (45), ethanol (47) and dimethyl sulphide (63). The increase in dimethyl sulphide was paralleled by an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the heads of transgenic plants. These results demonstrate the applicability of metabolic fingerprinting techniques to elucidate the underlying pleiotropic responses of plants to transgene expression.