Jasmonic acid is a crucial signal transducer in heat shock induced sesquiterpene formation in Aquilaria sinensis

Abstract

Agarwood, a highly valuable resinous and fragrant heartwood of Aquilaria plants, is widely used in traditional medicines, incense and perfume. Only when Aquilaria trees are wounded by external stimuli do they form agarwood sesquiterpene defensive compounds. Therefore, understanding the signaling pathway of wound-induced agarwood formation is important. Jasmonic acid (JA) is a well-characterized molecule that mediates a plant’s defense response and secondary metabolism. However, little is known about the function of endogenous JA in agarwood sesquiterpene biosynthesis. Here, we report that heat shock can up-regulate the expression of genes in JA signaling pathway, induce JA production and the accumulation of agarwood sesquiterpene in A. sinensis cell suspension cultures. A specific inhibitor of JA, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), could block the JA signaling pathway and reduce the accumulation of sesquiterpene compounds. Additionally, compared to SA and H2O2, exogenously supplied methyl jasmonate has the strongest stimulation effect on the production of sesquiterpene compounds. These results clearly demonstrate the central induction role of JA in heat-shock-induced sesquiterpene production in A. sinensis.

Time-based LC-MS/MS analysis provides insights into early responses to mechanical wounding, a major trigger to agarwood formation in Aquilaria malaccensis Lam

“…36 Based on the ltering parameters for GO analysis, six proteins with signicant protein identities were identied at 2 h ( Table 1). Three of the identied proteins matched those previously reported in KEGG pathways, 14 namely, the terpenoid backbone biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolic pathways, which are involved in the synthesis of sesquiterpenes, 32,37 and the linolenic acid metabolic pathway, which is related to aroma production and jasmonate formation.…”

“…31 These phytohormones are also recognized to play an important role in regulating the defensive signaling network and are involved in agarwood sesquiterpene production. 28,32 Jasmonic acid and salicylic acid are known to help plants such as potato, tomato, and bean to counter heat stresses. 32,33 The presence of jasmonic acid in Aquilaria sinensis has been shown to cause upregulation of agarwood sesquiterpene genes in the tree as early as 30 min post-wounding treatment, 32 thus complementing our study.…”

“…28,32 Jasmonic acid and salicylic acid are known to help plants such as potato, tomato, and bean to counter heat stresses. 32,33 The presence of jasmonic acid in Aquilaria sinensis has been shown to cause upregulation of agarwood sesquiterpene genes in the tree as early as 30 min post-wounding treatment, 32 thus complementing our study. In Aquilaria, wounding triggers formation of the main compounds in agarwood, specically sesquiterpenoids via two pathways, the methylerythritol phosphate pathway (MEP) and mevalonic acid pathway (MEV).…”

Production of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and shikonins in Echium plantagineum L. in response to various plant stressors

“…Certain plants produce specific elicitors followed by an early hormonal signaling response, in response to herbivore attack. This response mechanism generally involves jasmonic acid, a well‐characterized molecule that mediates a plant's defense response and secondary metabolism . Methyl jasmonate and jasmonic acid aided in upregulation of six genes involved in sorgoleone biosynthesis, lending additional support to the concept that sorgoleone functions in plant defense and/or protection of the root in the response to stress …”

Interaction between elevated temperature and different types of Na-salicylate treatment in Brachypodium dystachion

“…In contrast, both spraying and heat treatment increased the JA level in the leaves. This is not surprising, because JA has been shown to be a signal transducer in heat shock, and also has a role in sesquiterpene formation [52].…”