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Spatial and developmental synthesis of endogenous sesquiterpene lactones supports function in growth regulation of sunflower.

ABSTRACT: MAIN CONCLUSION:Tissue-specific occurrence and formation of endogenous sesquiterpene lactones has been assessed and suggests physiological function as antagonists of auxin-induced plant growth in sunflower. Sunflower, Helianthus annuus, accumulate high concentrations of bioactive sesquiterpene lactones (STL) in glandular trichomes, but in addition, structurally different STL occur in only trace amounts in the inner tissues. The spatial and temporal production of these endogenous STL during early phases of plant development is widely unknown and their physiological function as putative natural growth regulators is yet speculative. By means of HPLC and MS analysis it was shown that costunolide, dehydrocostuslactone, 8-epixanthatin and tomentosin are already present in dry seeds and can be extracted in low amounts from cotyledons, hypocotyls and roots of seedlings during the first days after germination. Semi-quantitative and RT-qPCR experiments with genes of the key enzymes of two independent routes of the endogenous STL biosynthesis confirmed the early and individual expression in these organs and revealed a gradual down regulation during the first 72-96 h after germination. Light irradiation of the plants led to a fast, but transient increase of STL in parts of the hypocotyl which correlated with growth retardation of the stem. One-sided external application of costunolide on hypocotyls conferred reduced growth of the treated side, thus resulting in the curving of the stem towards the side of the application. This indicates the inhibiting effects of STL on plant growth. The putative function of endogenous STL in sunflower as antagonists of auxin in growth processes is discussed.

SUBMITTER: Spring O

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7275010 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Spatial and developmental synthesis of endogenous sesquiterpene lactones supports function in growth regulation of sunflower.

Spring Otmar O Schmauder Katharina K Lackus Nathalie D ND Schreiner Jasmin J Meier Carolin C Wellhausen Jan J Smith Lisa V LV Frey Maximilian M

Planta 20200605 1

<h4>Main conclusion</h4>Tissue-specific occurrence and formation of endogenous sesquiterpene lactones has been assessed and suggests physiological function as antagonists of auxin-induced plant growth in sunflower. Sunflower, Helianthus annuus, accumulate high concentrations of bioactive sesquiterpene lactones (STL) in glandular trichomes, but in addition, structurally different STL occur in only trace amounts in the inner tissues. The spatial and temporal production of these endogenous STL duri ...[more]

PMID: 32504343

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Project description:BackgroundSesquiterpene lactones are characteristic metabolites of Asteraceae (or Compositae) which often display potent bioactivities and are sequestered in specialized organs such as laticifers, resin ducts, and trichomes. For characterization of sunflower sesquiterpene synthases we employed a simple method to isolate pure trichomes from anther appendages which facilitated the identification of these genes and investigation of their enzymatic functions and expression patterns during trichome development.ResultsGlandular trichomes of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were isolated, and their RNA was extracted to investigate the initial steps of sesquiterpene lactone biosynthesis. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments led to the identification of three sesquiterpene synthases. By combination of in vitro and in vivo characterization of sesquiterpene synthase gene products in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively, two enzymes were identified as germacrene A synthases, the key enzymes of sesquiterpene lactone biosynthesis. Due to the very low in vitro activity, the third enzyme was expressed in vivo in yeast as a thioredoxin-fusion protein for functional characterization. In in vivo assays, it was identified as a multiproduct enzyme with the volatile sesquiterpene hydrocarbon delta-cadinene as one of the two main products with alpha-muuorlene, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene and alpha-copaene as minor products. The second main compound remained unidentified. For expression studies, glandular trichomes from the anther appendages of sunflower florets were isolated in particular developmental stages from the pre- to the post-secretory phase. All three sesquiterpene synthases were solely upregulated during the biosynthetically active stages of the trichomes. Expression in different aerial plant parts coincided with occurrence and maturity of trichomes. Young roots with root hairs showed expression of the sesquiterpene synthase genes as well.ConclusionThis study functionally identified sesquiterpene synthase genes predominantly expressed in sunflower trichomes. Evidence for the transcriptional regulation of sesquiterpene synthase genes in trichome cells suggest a potential use for these specialized cells for the identification of further genes involved in the biosynthesis, transport, and regulation of sesquiterpene lactones.

Dataset Information

Spatial and developmental synthesis of endogenous sesquiterpene lactones supports function in growth regulation of sunflower.

Publications

Spatial and developmental synthesis of endogenous sesquiterpene lactones supports function in growth regulation of sunflower.

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