scholarly journals Expression of a glucomannan mannosyltransferase gene (GMMT) from Aloe vera is induced by water deficit and abscisic acid

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Salinas ◽  
Carlos Salinas ◽  
Rodrigo A. Contreras ◽  
Gustavo E. Zuñiga ◽  
Paul Dupree ◽  
...  

HighlightGMMT (a possible CSLA9) from Aloe vera is upregulated during water stress. Aloe vera GMMT expression is also induced by exogenous application of the plant stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in non-water-stressed plants.SummaryIn Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera), a xerophytic crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant, the main polysaccharide of the gel present in the leaves is an acetylated glucomannan named acemannan. This polysaccharide is responsible for the plant succulence, helping it to retain water. In this study we determined using polysaccharide analysis by carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE) that the acemannan is a glucomannan without galactose side branches. We also investigated the expression of the gene responsible for acemannan backbone synthesis, encoding a glucomannan mannosyltransferase (GMMT). It was found by in silico analyses that the GMMT gene belongs to the cellulose synthase like A type-9 (CSLA9) subfamily. Using RT-qPCR it was found that the expression of GMMT increased in Aloe vera plants subjected to water stress. This expression correlates with an increase of endogenous ABA levels, suggesting that the gene expression could be regulated by ABA. To corroborate this hypothesis, exogenous ABA was applied to non-water-stressed plants, increasing the expression of GMMT significantly 48 h after ABA treatment.

1982 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. Fu ◽  
C. S. Hew

1984 ◽  
Vol 218 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
P P Daniel ◽  
J A Bryant ◽  
F I Woodward

Umbilicus rupestris (pennywort) switches from C3 photosynthesis to an incomplete form of crassulacean acid metabolism (referred to as ‘CAM-idling’) when exposed to water stress (drought). This switch is accompanied by an increase in the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. This enzyme also shows several changes in properties, including a marked decrease in sensitivity to acid pH, a lower Km for phosphoenolpyruvate, very much decreased sensitivity to the allosteric inhibitor malate, and increased responsiveness to the allosteric effector glucose 6-phosphate. The Mr of the enzyme remains unchanged, at approx. 185 000. These changes in properties of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase are discussed in relation to the roles of the enzyme in C3 and in CAM plants.


1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Winter

Induction of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum in response to high salinity was studied in plants grown in different CO2 regimes to determine whether the induction of CAM could be controlled by CO2 supply in the light and dark; a possible consequence of stomatal closure in response to water stress. The activity of extractable phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) and the nocturnal change in malate content were followed at frequent intervals after onset of the treatments. The results suggest that the initial event during the induction of CAM is a change in the biochemical apparatus, indicated by the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, which then leads to the day/night fluctuations of malate synthesis typical of CAM. This initial step is not controlled by the availability of CO2 in the light or dark.


2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 1253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfram Hartung ◽  
Daniela Schraut ◽  
Fan Jiang

Abscisic acid (ABA), the universal plant stress hormone, is accumulated in roots subjected to a range of external stresses, including drought, salinity, and nutrient deficiencies. This accumulation is regulated by ABA-metabolism (biosynthesis and degradation), -recirculation, and -exudation. Stress ABA serves as a long-distance signal regulating the water relations of shoots (stomata, meristems) and roots (hydraulic conductivity, root development, desiccation tolerance). Endogenous ABA, radial water flows (JV), and radial ABA flows (JABA) are closely coupled. Here we described the relations between these processes that are crucial factors for the role of ABA as a stress hormone and a long-distance stress signal. Crop varieties with high ABA concentrations exhibit an intensified long distance ABA signalling that reduces water consumption and, in the case of grapevine, improves the quality of the berries.


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