Modulation of the Biological Activity of a Tobacco LTP1 by Lipid Complexation
Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are small, cysteine-rich proteins secreted into the extracellular space. They belong to the pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-14) family and are believed to be involved in several physiological processes including plant disease resistance, although their precise biological function is still unknown. Here, we show that a recombinant tobacco LTP1 is able to load fatty acids and jasmonic acid. This LTP1 binds to specific plasma membrane sites, previously characterized as elicitin receptors, and is shown to be involved in the activation of plant defense. The biological properties of this LTP1 were compared with those of LTP1-linolenic and LTP1-jasmonic acid…
The Elicitor Cryptogein Blocks Glucose Transport in Tobacco Cells
Abstract Cryptogein is a 10-kD protein secreted by the oomycetePhytophthora cryptogea that induces a hypersensitive response on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi) plants and a systemic acquired resistance against various pathogens. The mode of action of this elicitor has been studied using tobacco cell suspensions. Our previous data indicated that within minutes, cryptogein signaling involves various events including changes in ion fluxes, protein phosphorylation, sugar metabolism, and, eventually, cell death. These results suggested that transport of sugars could be affected and, thus, involved in the complex relationships between plant and microorganisms via elicitors. This led us to…
Differences in berry primary and secondary metabolisms identified by transcriptomic and metabolic profiling of two table grape color somatic variants
ABSTRACTAnthocyanins are flavonoids responsible for the color of berries in skin-pigmented grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). Due to the widely adopted vegetative propagation of this species, somatic mutations occurring in meristematic cell layers can be fixed and passed into the rest of the plant when cloned. In this study we focused on the transcriptomic and metabolic differences between two color somatic variants. Using microscopic, metabolic and mRNA profiling analyses we compared the table grape cultivar (cv.) ‘Red Globe’ (RG, with purplish berry skin) and cv. ‘Chimenti Globe’ (CG, with a contrasting reddish berry skin color). As expected, significant differences were found in the composit…