Activation of different defence-related genes expression by ergosterol
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2005 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | FEBS Journal, Abstract of 30th FEBS Congress |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Plant diseases, weeds and plant protection |
| Keywords | Elicitor; ergosterol; plant defense |
| Description | Ergosterol is the main sterol of most fungi. Production of reactive oxygen species by NADPH oxidase, alkalinization of extracellular space and increase of cytosolic concentration of calcium after the ergosterol treatment on tobacco cells was previously observed as well as the activation of some stress activated mitogen-activated protein kinases on alfalfa cells, even in nano-molar concentrations. Ergosterol activates a signal pathway including phospholipase A2 and protein kinase C. Here, we report about the expression of some defence-related genes after the treatment of tobacco cells and plants with nano-molar concentration of ergosterol. The gene expression of pathogenesis related proteins of families PR1, PR3, PR5 and proteinase inhibitors together with enzymes as phenylalanine ammonia lyase, sesquiterpene cyclase and lipooxygenase was observed by a real-time PCR,. In addition, the concentrations of some phenolic compounds and phytoalexins increased in time. On the other hand, ergosterol did not provoke any leaf necrosis or cell death and the accumulation of PR proteins was slower when compared with another well defined elicitor cryptogein from Phytophthora cryptogea. These data shows that ergosterol is able to activate expression of a number of defence genes and could increase the resistance of plants against the pathogens. |
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