In Catharanthus roseus cell suspensions, the expression of several terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthetic genes, including two genes encoding strictosidine synthase (STR) and tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), is coordinately induced by fungal elicitors such as yeast extract. To identify molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of these genes, a yeast one-hybrid screening was performed with an elicitor-responsive part of the TDC promoter. This screening identified three members of the Cys 2 /His 2 -type (transcription factor IIIA-type) zinc finger protein family from C. roseus, ZCT1, ZCT2, and ZCT3. These proteins bind in a sequence-specific manner to the TDC and STR promoters in vitro and repress the activity of these promoters in trans-activation assays. In addition, the ZCT proteins can repress the activating activity of APETALA2/ethylene responsefactor domain transcription factors, the ORCAs, on the STR promoter. The expression of the ZCT genes is rapidly induced by yeast extract and methyljasmonate. These results suggest that the ZCT proteins act as repressors in the regulation of elicitor-induced secondary metabolism in C. roseus.

No abstract

In Catharanthus roseus cell suspensions, expression of several terpenoid indole alkaloid (TIA) biosynthetic genes, including those encoding strictosidine synthase and tryptophan decarboxylase, is coordinately induced by fungal elicitors such as yeast extract (YE). This induction is mediated by several signaling steps including the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid, and the activation of the jasmonic acid-responsive ORCA transcription factors. We investigated a possible role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a second messenger in this system. YE was shown to activate the production of ROS, which was dependent on protein phosphorylation and calcium influx. However, ROS generation was neither necessary for the induction of genes involved in TIA biosynthesis by YE nor by itself sufficient to induce these genes. Therefore, we conclude that activation of the oxidative burst by YE occurs independently of the activation of genes involved in TIA biosynthesis.

No abstract

In Catharanthus roseus cell suspensions, expression of several terpenoid indole alkaloid (TIA) biosynthetic genes, including those encoding strictosidine synthase and tryptophan decarboxylase, is coordinately induced by fungal elicitors such as yeast extract (YE). This induction is mediated by several signaling steps including the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid, and the activation of the jasmonic acid-responsive ORCA transcription factors. We investigated a possible role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a second messenger in this system. YE was shown to activate the production of ROS, which was dependent on protein phosphorylation and calcium influx. However, ROS generation was neither necessary for the induction of genes involved in TIA biosynthesis by YE nor by itself sufficient to induce these genes. Therefore, we conclude that activation of the oxidative burst by YE occurs independently of the activation of genes involved in TIA biosynthesis.