Cultivars of Agrostis stolonifera showed weak and strong responsiveness to the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) activator, benzothiadiazole (BTH), or the induced systemic resistance (ISR) activator, 2R, 3R-butanediol (BD). Next Generation RNA sequencing was used to identify 2163 putative transcripts with increased expression in BTH versus water-treated A. stolonifera. Among three BTH-induced genes, AsASP-2 and AsHIR-1 were induced faster, while AsLOX-1 had stronger transient induction, in one out of two strongly BTH-responsive cultivars. Three ISR-responsive genes, AsGNS-5, AsOPR-4 and AsAOS-1, showed no greater induction or priming in the strongly versus weakly BD-responsive cultivars. Cultivars of A. stolonifera vary significantly in their response to defense activators, however this is not consistently related to defense gene expression. To quantify disease severity, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was tested on Nicotiana benthamiana infected with Colletotrichum orbiculare. Leaf areas of healthy, non-necrotic affected and necrotic tissue could be individually quantified, which demonstrated that BD delayed symptom development by approx. 24-hour and reduced non-necrotic affected tissue compared to controls. Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging can quantify and reveal novel features about induced disease resistance.

The incidences of suspected Boron (B) deficiency have increased recently in Kentucky tobacco fields, potentially due to recent changes in management practices. The symptoms observed in the field include; hollow stalk, stunted growth, deformed or no bud formation, small slits on the lower leaf midrib and uncontrollable breaking of the midrib approximately two inches from the stalk. B is a micronutrient tobacco needs in minute amounts, however excessive additions of B could cause toxicity. The objectives of this work were to 1) establish critical points for B sufficiency, 2) describe and define B deficiency and toxicity symptoms and 3) develop field strategies to aid in the mitigation of B deficiency. A general nutrient response curve was generated utilizing solution culture experiments. The peak of the response curve appeared to occur at solution B concentration of 100 µM. Trace-levels of B contamination and small plant size in the solution culture limited the development of deficiency symptoms. Toxicity was observed at solution concentrations of 400 µM and above. Despite choosing sites with a history of B deficiency, deficiency symptoms were not observed during this study. Toxicity was observed when 0.56 kg B/ha or greater was applied as simulated transplant water treatments. No toxicity was observed when B was applied as a soil broadcast or foliar application. Recommendations are to apply B with caution as a broadcast application to avoid potential problems with toxicity. Additional research is required to refine the nutrient response curve and better understand B deficiency.

PtaRHE1 is a poplar (Populus tremula x P. alba) gene encoding a REALLY INTERESTING NEW GENE (RING) domain-containing protein. RING proteins are largely represented in plants and play important roles in the regulation of many developmental processes as well as in plant-environment interactions. In this thesis, we present a functional characterization of PtaRHE1. To gain further insight into the role of this gene, molecular and genetic alteration approaches were used. The results of in vitro ubiquitination assays indicate that PtaRHE1 protein is a functional E3 ligase and this activity was shown to be specific with the human UbCH5a, among the tested ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes. Histochemical GUS stainings showed that the PtaRHE1 promoter is induced by plant pathogens and by elicitors such as salicylic acid and cellulase and is also developmentally regulated. In silico predictions and the transient expression of PtaRHE1-GFP fusion protein in N. tabacum epidermal cells revealed that PtaRHE1 is localized both in the plasma membrane and in the nucleus. The localization of expression of PtaRHE1 in poplar stem by in situ hybridization indicated that PtaRHE1 transcripts are localized within the cambial zone mainly in ray cells, suggesting a role of this gene in vascular tissue development and/or functioning. The overexpression of PtaRHE1 in tobacco resulted in a pleiotropic phenotype characterized by a curling of leaves, the formation of necrotic lesions on leaf blades, growth retardation as well as a delay in flower transition. Plant genes expression responses to PtaRHE1 overexpression provided evidence for the up-regulation of defence and/or programmed cell death (PCD) related genes. Moreover, genes coding for WRKY transcription factors as well as for MAPK, such as WIPK, were also found to be induced in the transgenic lines as compared to the wild type (WT). Taken together, our results suggest that the E3 ligase PtaRHE1 plays a role in the signal transduction pathways leading to defence responses against biotic and abiotic stresses. Identification of PtaRHE1 target(s) is required in order to fully assess the role of this E3 ligase in the ubiquitination-mediated regulation of defence response./<p>RÉSUMÉ<p><p><p>PtaRHE1 est un gène qui code pour une protéine possédant un domaine RING (REALLY INTERESTING NEW GENE) chez le peuplier (Populus tremula x P. alba). Les protéines de type RING sont très répandues chez les végétaux où elles jouent de rôles importants dans la régulation de plusieurs processus de développement et également dans les interactions plantes-environnement. Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous avons procédé à la caractérisation fonctionnelle du gène PtaRHE1. Dans le but de découvrir la fonction de ce gène, nous avons adopté une stratégie faisant usage d’approches moléculaires ainsi que de l’altération de l’expression génique. Les résultats obtenus montrent que la protéine PtaRHE1 est une E3 ligase et que cette activité enzymatique est spécifique à l’Ubiquitin-Conjugating enzym humaine UbCH5a. Les résultats du test histochimique GUS ont montré que le promoteur du gène PtaRHE1 est induit par des pathogènes et aussi par l’acide salicylique et la cellulase. Par ailleurs, ce promoteur est aussi régulé au cours du développement végétal. Les prédictions in silico et l’expression transitoire d’une fusion traductionnelle GFP-PtaRHE1, au niveau de l’épiderme des feuilles du tabac N. tabacum, ont révélé que la protéine PtaRHE1 se situe tant au niveau de la membrane cytoplasmique qu’au niveau du noyau. La localisation de l’expression du gène PtaRHE1, par les techniques d’hybridation in situ, montre que les transcrits de ce gène se retrouvent principalement au niveau des cellules de rayon, dans la zone cambiale, suggérant que ce gène pourrait jouer un rôle dans le développement ou la formation du tissu vasculaire. La surexpression du gène PtaRHE1 chez le tabac a conduit à l’obtention d’un phénotype pléiotropique caractérisé par un recroquevillement (incurvation) des feuilles, la formation des lésions nécrotiques sur le limbe, un retard de croissance ainsi qu’un retard dans la transition florale. L’analyse de la réponse de l’expression de différents gènes à la surexpression de PtaRHE1 a mis en évidence l’induction des gènes liés à la défense et ou à la mort cellulaire programmée. En outre, l’expression des gènes codant pour des facteurs de transcription WRKY et aussi des MAPKs, tel que WIPK, était aussi plus élevée chez les plantes transgéniques comparées au type sauvage. Les résultats de ce travail suggèrent que PtaRHE1, comme E3 ligase, pourrait jouer un rôle dans la transduction des signaux cellulaires conduisant aux réactions de défense contre les stress biotiques et abiotiques. L’identification de la (des) cible(s) de PtaRHE1 est indispensable pour la compréhension du rôle de cette protéine dans la régulation des réponses de défense par l’intermédiaire de l’ubiquitination.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:32:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_gabriel_klafke.pdf: 1619582 bytes, checksum: dcdfb7127ef88b680dc43b41887f2c86 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-18 / During the past decades, the development of genetically modified plants became a consolidated reality. Taking advantage of the genetic engineering process, it is possible to obtain modified plants to use as bioreactors in the production of tissue or organs expressing antigens which can be easily used as vaccines. The plant-based expression systems as tomato and lettuce, which attend as models for that process, present innumerous advantages such as conservation of eukaryotic machinery, which promote pos-translational modifications, possibility of large-scale production and development of safer and economically more attractive vaccines. Taking use of that strategy, the Swine mycoplasm hyopneumoniae (SMP) disease can be one important and possible target to either be eradicated or controlled. The SMP, caused by fastidious bacterium Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, is one of the most important respiratory disease in swine breeding, due to its very high prevalence coupled with associated losses all over the whorld, and has in the recombinant DNA technology a viable alternative in the development of more effective and safe vaccines The objective of my work was to genetically manipulate tobacco plants in order to use them as bioreactor in the production of an antigen against PMS. Tobacco leaves and internodes were cultured in different concentrations of BAP and AIA hormones. The best regeneration results for both explants were seen with 1,5mg.L-1 BAP and 0,1mg.L-1 AIA. The selection test with the kanamycin antibiotic appeared to be highly effective, showing a total inhibition of regeneration with 30 mg.L-1 and 100 mg.L-1 for leaves and internodes respectively. The recombinant colonies of A. tumefaciens, containing ltb-r, were co-cultivated with the internodes and leaves from plants germinated in vitro. The next step, the explants were transferred to the selection medium in order to induce the selection of the putatively transformed cells. The genomic DNA from regenerated and putatively transformed plants were extracted and amplified by PCR, where it was detected the presence of a band referent to ltb r1. The analyses of the integration and the transcription of ltb-r1 were carried out by Southern blot and RT-PCR, respectively. In both techniques, it was possible to confirm the presence of one band which corresponds to the expected size of ltb-r1, supporting the integration and expression of the gene. However, with the tests used here, it was not possible to detect with accuracy the recombinant protein / Nas últimas décadas, o desenvolvimento de plantas geneticamente modificadas tornou-se uma realidade consolidada. Nesse sentido, utilizando-se da engenharia genética, é possível obter plantas servindo como biorreatores na produção de tecidos ou orgãos expressando antígenos que podem ser facilmente utilizados como vacina. Os sistemas de expressão em plantas como tomate, alface, tabaco que servem como modelos desse processo, apresentam várias vantagens, entre elas, a conservação da maquinaria eucariótica que promove as modificações póstraducionais das proteínas e ainda a possibilidade de produção em larga escala. Dentro desta estratégia de produção de proteínas, pode-se citar a pneumonia micoplásmica suína (PMS), causada pelo agente Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, uma das principais doenças de suínos que provoca elevadas perdas econômicas em todo mundo, e tem, na tecnologia do DNA recombinante, uma alternativa de desenvolvimento de vacinas mais efetivas. O objetivo do trabalho foi transformar plantas de tabaco para sua utilização como biorreator na produção de um antígeno vacinal contra a PMS. Folhas e entrenós foram cultivados em diferentes concentrações de BAP e AIA. As melhores taxas de regeneração foram encontradas utilizando 1,5 mg.L-1 de BAP e 0,1 mg.L-1 de AIA para segmentos de folhas e entrenós. O teste de seleção utilizando canamicina mostrou-se altamente eficiente, obtendo-se a supressão da regeneração com 30 mg.L-1 e 100 mg.L-1 para segmentos de folhas e entrenós, respectivamente. Colônias recombinantes de A. tumefaciens contendo ltb-r1 foram co-cultivadas com entrenós e segmentos foliares de plantas germinadas in vitro. Após esta etapa, os explantes foram transferidos para meios de seleção, visando selecionar células possivelmente transformadas. O DNA genômico das plantas regeneradas e putativamente transformadas foi extraído e amplificado por PCR, na qual foi possível visualizar uma banda referente ao ltb-r1. A detecção da integração e transcrição do gene foi realizada por Southern blot e RTPCR, respectivamente. Em ambas as técnicas, foi possível verificar a presença de uma banda do tamanho esperado para ltb-r1, demonstrando assim, a integração e expressão do gene. Entretanto, não foi possível detectar com precisão, através dos testes utilizados, a proteína recombinante.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第23530号 / 農博第2477号 / 新制||農||1088(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R3||N5361(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生命科学専攻 / (主査)教授 矢﨑 一史, 教授 小川 順, 教授 阪井 康能 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

Exocyst is a protein complex composed of eight subunits, evolutionarily conserved in yeasts, animals, and plants. The main function of exocyst is to mediate the tethering of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. However, the involvement of exocyst in some other processes, especially in autophagy, has been recently discovered. Plant exocyst is specific because most of its subunits have multiple paralogs. The most diversified subunit is EXO70, which is encoded by 23 paralogous genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this thesis, I dealt with subunit AtEXO70E2 (AT5G61010), which has been localized to double-membrane compartments considerably reminiscent of autophagosomes. These compartments were named EXPOs (for exocyst-positive organelles) and described as a component of unconventional protein secretion pathways. There are also hints that EXO70E2 could play a role in autophagic processes. However, details of this relationship remained unexplored. For my experiments, I used stably transformed lines of A. thaliana and transiently transformed leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. I performed numerous colocalization experiments, applied various pharmacological treatments to the studied lines, and analyzed a mutant line in the EXO70E2 gene. According to my observations, protein EXO70E2 is expressed especially...

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In this study, I examined the use of mouse (Mus musculus) Fat Specific Protein 27 (FSP27) ectopically expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana as a means to increase lipid droplet (LD) presence in plant tissues. In mammalian cells, this protein induces cytoplasmic LD clustering and fusion and helps prevent breakdown of LDs contributing to the large, single LD that dominates adipocytes. When expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana, FSP27 retained its functionality and supported the accumulation of numerous and large cytoplasmic LDs, although it failed to produce the large, single LD that typifies adipose cells. FSP27 has no obvious homologs in plants, but a search for possible distant homologs in Arabidopsis returned a Tudor/PWWP/MBT protein coded for by the gene AT1G80810 which for the purposes of this study, we have called LIPID REGULATORY TUDOR DOMAIN CONTAINING GENE 1 (LRT1). As a possible homolog of FSP27, LRT1 was expected to have a positive regulatory effect on LDs in cells. Instead, a negative regulatory effect was observed in which disruption of the gene induced an accumulation of cytoplasmic LDs in non-seed tissue. A study of lrt1 mutants demonstrated that disruption this gene is the causal factor of the cytoplasmic LD accumulation observed in the mutants, that this phenotype occurs in above ground tissues and is present throughout the early growth stages of the plant. Further examination of lrt1 mutant plants has allowed a preliminary understanding of the role LRT1 may play in LD regulation. Taken together, the results of this study point towards some promising strategies to increase LD content in plant tissues.

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