| Abstract Detail
Plant-Pest Interactions Kim, Jae Hak [1], de Vos, Martin [1], Jander, Georg [2]. Indole glucosinolates play a central role in Arabidopsis-aphid interactions. Cleavage of glucosinolates by the enzyme myrosinase to produce deterrent breakdown products is a characteristic insect defense of cruciferous plants. However, by feeding from a single cell type, the phloem sieve elements, Myzus persicae (green peach aphids) are able to avoid myrosinase-catalyzed glucosinolate activation. Although methionine-derived aliphatic glucosinolates pass through M. persicae mostly intact, there is nevertheless significant breakdown of tryptophan-derived indole glucosinolates. Surprisingly, this indole glucosinolate breakdown in the insect gut occurs even when M. persicae are feeding on tgg1 tgg2 double mutants that are devoid of myrosinase. Experiments with purified indole glucosinolates added to aphid diets also showed that breakdown in the absence of myrosinase contributes to aphid deterrence. In particular, compounds formed by the reaction of indole-3-carbinol, an indol-3-ylmethylglucosinolate breakdown product, with cysteine significantly reduce aphid feeding and reproduction. In response to M. persicae feeding on Arabidopsis, indol-3-ylmethylglucosinolate is converted to 4-methoxyindol-3-ylmethylglucosinolate, which is six-fold more aphid-deterrent in artificial diets. Expression of genes encoding O-methyltransferases that may catalyze this indole glucosinolate conversion is significantly induced both by M. persicae feeding and by infiltration of aphid salivary components into Arabidopsis leaves. Log in to add this item to your schedule
Related Links: Boyce Thompson Institute web page Plant Genome Research Program, summer interships
1 - Boyce Thompson Institute 2 - Boyce Thompson Institute, Tower Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
Keywords: aphid plant-insect interaction Arabidopsis Myzus persicae glucosinolate myrosinase defense.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract Session: P Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007 Time: 8:00 AM Number: P14011 Abstract ID:491 |