Varnika Bhatia1, Jaya Maisnam1, Ajay Jain1, Krishan Kumar Sharma1, Ramcharan Bhattacharya2. 1. National Research Center on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute Campus, New Delhi-110012, India and All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India. 2. National Research Center on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute Campus, New Delhi-110012, India and All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India rcb@nrcpb.org rcbhattacharya1@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plant-synthesized sesquiterpenes play a pivotal role in chemotactic interactions with insects. Biosynthesis of functionally diverse sesquiterpenes is dependent on the availability of a pool of the precursor farnesyldiphosphate (FDP). In Arabidopsis thaliana, FPS2, encoding cytosolic farnesyldiphosphate synthase, is implicated in the synthesis of cytosolic FDP, but it is not known whether enhanced levels of FDP have a commensurate effect on sesquiterpene-mediated defence responses. This study examined transgenic arabidopsis plants generated to over-express FPS2 in order to determine if any effects could be observed in the response of aphids, Myzus persicae. METHODS: Transgenic arabidopsis plants were generated to over-express FPS2 to produce FPS2 in either the cytosol or the chloroplasts. Morphochemical analyses of the transgenic plants were carried out to detremine growth responses of roots and shoots, and for GC-MS profiling of sesquiterpenes. Aphid response to hyrdo-distillate extracts and head-space volatiles from transgenic plants was assessed using a bioassay. KEY RESULTS: Either over-expression of FPS2 in the cytosol or targetting of its translated product to chlorplasts resulted in stimulatory growth responses of transgenic arabidopsis at early and late developmental stages. GC-MS analysis of hydro-distillate extracts from aerial parts of the plants revealed biosynthesis of several novel sesquiterpenes, including E-β-farnesene, an alarm pheromone of aphids. Both entrapped volatiles and hydro-distillate extracts of the transgenic leaves triggered agitation in aphids, which was related to both time and dose of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Over-expression of FPS2 in the cytosol and targeting of its translated product to chloroplasts in arabidopsis led to synthesis of several novel sesquiterpenes, including E-β-farnesene, and induced alarm responses in M. persicae. The results suggest a potential for engineering aphid-resistant strains of arabidopsis.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plant-synthesized sesquiterpenes play a pivotal role in chemotactic interactions with insects. Biosynthesis of functionally diverse sesquiterpenes is dependent on the availability of a pool of the precursor farnesyldiphosphate (FDP). In Arabidopsis thaliana, FPS2, encoding cytosolic farnesyldiphosphate synthase, is implicated in the synthesis of cytosolic FDP, but it is not known whether enhanced levels of FDP have a commensurate effect on sesquiterpene-mediated defence responses. This study examined transgenic arabidopsis plants generated to over-express FPS2 in order to determine if any effects could be observed in the response of aphids, Myzus persicae. METHODS: Transgenic arabidopsis plants were generated to over-express FPS2 to produce FPS2 in either the cytosol or the chloroplasts. Morphochemical analyses of the transgenic plants were carried out to detremine growth responses of roots and shoots, and for GC-MS profiling of sesquiterpenes. Aphid response to hyrdo-distillate extracts and head-space volatiles from transgenic plants was assessed using a bioassay. KEY RESULTS: Either over-expression of FPS2 in the cytosol or targetting of its translated product to chlorplasts resulted in stimulatory growth responses of transgenic arabidopsis at early and late developmental stages. GC-MS analysis of hydro-distillate extracts from aerial parts of the plants revealed biosynthesis of several novel sesquiterpenes, including E-β-farnesene, an alarm pheromone of aphids. Both entrapped volatiles and hydro-distillate extracts of the transgenic leaves triggered agitation in aphids, which was related to both time and dose of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Over-expression of FPS2 in the cytosol and targeting of its translated product to chloroplasts in arabidopsis led to synthesis of several novel sesquiterpenes, including E-β-farnesene, and induced alarm responses in M. persicae. The results suggest a potential for engineering aphid-resistant strains of arabidopsis.
Authors: Petra M Bleeker; Rossana Mirabella; Paul J Diergaarde; Arjen VanDoorn; Alain Tissier; Merijn R Kant; Marcel Prins; Martin de Vos; Michel A Haring; Robert C Schuurink Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2012-11-19 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Yun-Soo Yeo; S Eric Nybo; Amar G Chittiboyina; Aruna D Weerasooriya; Yan-Hong Wang; Elsa Góngora-Castillo; Brieanne Vaillancourt; C Robin Buell; Dean DellaPenna; Mary Dawn Celiz; A Daniel Jones; Eve Syrkin Wurtele; Nick Ransom; Natalia Dudareva; Khaled A Shaaban; Nidhi Tibrewal; Suman Chandra; Troy Smillie; Ikhlas A Khan; Robert M Coates; David S Watt; Joe Chappell Journal: J Biol Chem Date: 2012-12-14 Impact factor: 5.157
Authors: Joris J Glas; Bernardus C J Schimmel; Juan M Alba; Rocío Escobar-Bravo; Robert C Schuurink; Merijn R Kant Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2012-12-12 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Sol A Green; Xiuyin Chen; Niels J Nieuwenhuizen; Adam J Matich; Mindy Y Wang; Barry J Bunn; Yar-Khing Yauk; Ross G Atkinson Journal: J Exp Bot Date: 2011-12-07 Impact factor: 6.992
Authors: Marta I Terry; Fernando Pérez-Sanz; M Victoria Díaz-Galián; Felipe Pérez de Los Cobos; Pedro J Navarro; Marcos Egea-Cortines; Julia Weiss Journal: Cells Date: 2019-04-11 Impact factor: 6.600