Overexpression of RelA/SpoT homologs, PpRSH2a and PpRSH2b, induces the growth suppression of the moss Physcomitrella patens.

Two genes encoding RelA/SpoT homologs, PpRSH2a and PpRSH2b, which are involved in the synthesis of bacterial alarmone guanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-diphosphate (ppGpp) for the stringent response, were isolated from the moss, Physcomitrella patens. A complementary analysis of PpRSH2a and PpRSH2b in Escherichia coli showed that these genes had ppGpp biosynthetic activity. The recombinant PpRSH2a and PpRSH2b were also shown to synthesize ppGpp in vitro.

CYP94B3 activity against jasmonic acid amino acid conjugates and the elucidation of 12-O-β-glucopyranosyl-jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine as an additional metabolite.

The hormonal action of jasmonate in plants is controlled by the precise balance between its biosynthesis and inactivation. Oxidation of jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine at the C-12 position, which is catalyzed by cytochrome P450s CYP94B3 and CYP94C1, is thought to be one of the main inactivation pathways. In this study, an additional function of CYP94B3 was elucidated, as well additional jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine metabolites being investigated.

Identification of rice β-glucosidase with high hydrolytic activity towards salicylic acid β-D-glucoside.

β-Glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.

Transportation of de novo synthesized jasmonoyl isoleucine in tomato.

In plants, jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives are thought to be involved in mobile forms of defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, the distal transport of JA-isoleucine (JA-Ile) that is synthesized de novo in response to leaf wounding in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants was investigated. JA-[¹³C₆]Ile was recovered in distal untreated leaves after wounded leaves were treated with [¹³C₆]Ile.

Biological activity and tissue specific accumulation of fluorescently labeled methyl jasmonate.

The C-7 position of jasmonate is practical for synthesis of a probe to use for chemical biological studies. To confirm the utility, we synthesized fluorescent-labeled methyl jasmonate. The synthesized compound exhibited Arabidopsis thaliana root growth inhibitory and meandering activity, and potent fluorescence was observed inside the root and root hairs.

Bioconversion of proposed precursors into theobroxide and related compounds.

We have previously reported a tetraketide origin for theobroxide and its related compound. In the present study, bioconversion of natural and deuterium-labeled precursors of this proposed biosynthetic pathway by Lasiodipoldia theobromae was investigated. Theobroxide was quantified after bioconversion from each proposed precursor.

Tobacco salicylic acid glucosyltransferase is active toward tuberonic acid (12-hydroxyjasmonic acid) and is induced by mechanical wounding stress.

Recently we reported that rice salicylic acid (SA) glucosyltransferase (OsSGT) is active toward 12-hydroxyjasmonic acid (tuberonic acid, TA) and that OsSGT gene expression is induced by wounding stress. Here we report that tobacco SA glucosyltransferase (NtSGT), which is thought to be an ortholog of OsSGT, is also active toward TA. Although NtSGT expression is known to be induced by biotrophic stress, it was also induced by wounding stress in the same manner as OsSGT.

Arabidopsis CYP94B3 encodes jasmonyl-L-isoleucine 12-hydroxylase, a key enzyme in the oxidative catabolism of jasmonate.

The hormonal action of jasmonate in plants is controlled by the precise balance between its biosynthesis and catabolism. It has been shown that jasmonyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) is the bioactive form involved in the jasmonate-mediated signaling pathway. However, the catabolism of JA-Ile is poorly understood.

Antitrypanosomal activities of acetylated bruceines A and C; a structure-activity relationship study.

The crude extract of Brucea javanica showed strong in vitro inhibitory activity against Trypanosoma evansi. Among the isolated quassinoids, bruceines A, C, and bruceantinol were found to be the most potent compounds against T. evansi.

OsJAR1 and OsJAR2 are jasmonyl-L-isoleucine synthases involved in wound- and pathogen-induced jasmonic acid signalling.

The synthesis of JA-Ile was catalysed by JA-Ile synthase, which is a member of the group I GH3 family of proteins. Here, we showed evidence that OsGH3.5 (OsJAR1) and OsGH3.

Cellulase applied to the leaves of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum) upregulates the production of salicylic and azelaic acids.

Treating the leaves of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum) with an aqueous solution of cellulase resulted in a four-fold increase in the salicylic acid level compared to a control plant.

Distal transport of exogenously applied jasmonoyl-isoleucine with wounding stress.

Determining the mobile signal used by plants to defend against biotic and abiotic stresses has proved elusive, but jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives appear to be involved. Using deuterium-labeled analogs, we investigated the distal transport of JA and jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) in response to leaf wounding in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. We recovered [(2)H(2)-2]JA ([(2)H(2)]JA) and [(2)H(3)-12]JA-Ile ([(2)H(3)]JA-Ile) in distal leaves of N.

Biosynthesis of jasmonic acid in a plant pathogenic fungus, Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a plant hormone that plays an important role in a wide variety of plant physiological processes. The plant pathogenic fungus, Lasiodiplodia theobromae also produces JA; however, its biosynthesis in this fungus has yet to be explored. Administration of [1-(13)C] and [2-(13)C] NaOAc into L.

Chemical inhibitors of viviparous germination in the fruit of watermelon.

It is well known that the seeds of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum and Nakai] have a high potential to germinate when the fruit has ripened. When removed from the mature fruit, the seeds can germinate under appropriate conditions.

Identification of a beta-glucosidase hydrolyzing tuberonic acid glucoside in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Tuberonic acid (TA) and its glucoside (TAG) have been isolated from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) leaflets and shown to exhibit tuber-inducing properties. These compounds were reported to be biosynthesized from jasmonic acid (JA) by hydroxylation and subsequent glycosylation, and to be contained in various plant species.

Biosynthesis of resorcylic acid lactone (5S)-5-hydroxylasiodiplodin in Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

An administration study of (2)H-labeled precursors showed that the 9-hydroxydecanoyl unit, the acyl intermediate of lasiodiplodin (1), was also the intermediate of (5S)-5-hydroxylasiodiplodin (2) in Lasiodiplodia theobromae. The incorporation of [O-methyl-(2)H(3)]-lasiodiplodin (6) into 2 indicated that hydroxylation at C-5 occurred after cyclization.

Cloning and functional analysis of an allene oxide synthase in Physcomitrella patens.

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a plant hormone that plays important roles in a large number of processes in stress adaptation and development in flowering plants. A search of genome database indicated the existence of allene oxide synthase (AOS), an enzyme of JA biosynthesis, in Physcomitrella patens, a model plant among mosses. In this study, the presence of JA was detected in P.

Kinetics of the accumulation of jasmonic acid and its derivatives in systemic leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc) and translocation of deuterium-labeled jasmonic acid from the wounding site to the systemic site.

In plants, the mobile signal needed for wound-induced systemic acquired resistance (WSR) has been elusive. The signal compound involved in WSR is supposed to be JA or its derivatives. On the basis of kinetic study of the accumulation of JA or its derivatives, it was discovered that JA, JA-Ile, tuberonic acid (TA, 12-OH epi-JA), and tuberonic acid glucoside (TAG) accumulated in systemic tissues in response to mechanical wounding stress in the tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum).

Isolation and structural elucidation of a new cyclohexenone compound from Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

A new cyclohexenone compound was isolated as a mixture of enantiomers from a culture filtrate of Lasiodiplodia theobromae. The relative structure was determined to be 4,5-dihydroxy-3-methyl-cyclohex-2-enone on the basis of MS, (1)H-NMR, and (13)C-NMR spectroscopic analyses, including 2D-NMR experiments. Resolution of the enantiomers was conducted by a coupling reaction with (S)-MTPA-Cl followed by HPLC separation.

Potato tuber cell expansion-inducing activity of stereochemically restricted JA analogs.

Stereochemically restricted analogues of C-7 substituted 7-epi-jasmonate, together with 12-hydroxy jasmonic acid, 12-hydroxy jasmonic acid glucoside, and jasmonic acid conjugated with L-isoleucine (JA-Ile), were synthesized and then tested for potato tuber cell expansion-inducing activity. JA-Ile showed almost the same activity as JA, while the C-7 substituted 7-epi-jasmonates exhibited weaker activity than JA and showed an antagonist effect against JA.

Expression of allene oxide cyclase from Pharbitis nil upon theobroxide treatment.

In previous reports we have reported that theobroxide induces characteristic accumulation of allene oxide cyclase (AOC; EC 5.3.99.

Biosynthesis of resorcylic acid lactone lasiodiplodin in Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

The biosynthesis of lasiodiplodin (1) and its (5S)-5-hydroxylated derivative (2) were investigated by the administration of (13)C-labeled acetates to Lasiodiplodia theobromae. The labeling patterns of biosynthetically (13)C-labeled 1 and 2 were determined by (13)C-NMR and INADEQUATE spectra, demonstrating the octaketide origins of 1 and 2. Taking into account the biosynthetic study of resorcylic acid lactones, the involvement of highly reduced acyl intermediates in the biosynthesis of lasiodiplodins was presumed; thus, we synthesized (2)H-labeled hypothetical acyl intermediates of 1, 9-hydroxydecanoic acid (4) and its N-acetylcysteamine thioester (SNAC, 5).

Bacterial alarmone, guanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-diphosphate (ppGpp), predominantly binds the beta' subunit of plastid-encoded plastid RNA polymerase in chloroplasts.

It's alarming: Bacterial alarmone guanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-diphosphate (ppGpp), which is a key regulatory molecule that controls the stringent response, also exists in chloroplasts of plant cells. Cross-linking experiments with 6-thioguanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-diphosphate (6-thioppGpp) and chloroplast RNA polymerase indicate that ppGpp binds the beta' subunit of plastid-encoded plastid RNA polymerase that corresponds to the Escherichia coli beta' subunit. Chloroplasts, which are thought to have originated from cyanobacteria, have their own genetic system that is similar to that of the bacteria from which they were derived.

Isolation of antibabesial compounds from Brucea javanica, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, and Excoecaria cochinchinensis.

One new curcuminoid, 3'-demethoxycyclocurcumin (1), was isolated from Curcuma xanthorrhiza as an antibabesial compound, together with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (2) and cleomiscosin A (3) from Brucea javanica and (+)-epiloliolide (4) from Excoecaria cochinchinensis. The antibabesial activities were examined in vitro, and compounds 1-4, and diminazene aceturate were studied with IC(50) values of 16.6, 7.

Purification and cDNA cloning of a wound inducible glucosyltransferase active toward 12-hydroxy jasmonic acid.

Tuberonic acid (12-hydroxy epi-jasmonic acid, TA) and its glucoside (TAG) were isolated from potato leaflets (Solanumtuberosum L.) and shown to have tuber-inducing properties. The metabolism of jasmonic acid (JA) to TAG in plant leaflets, and translocation of the resulting TAG to the distal parts, was demonstrated in a previous study.