Cytochemical immuno-localization of allene oxide cyclase, a jasmonic acid biosynthetic enzyme, in developing potato stolons

ANA CENZANO A, ABDALA G, HAUSE BETTINA

JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

Elsevier Jena, Germany

Lugar: Jena, Germany; Año: 2007 vol. 164 p. 1449 - 1456

0176-1617

The involvement of jasmonates in the tuber development has been proved by thepresence of many of these compounds in potato stolons, modification of their levelsduring the transition of the stolon into tuber, and induction of cell expansion uponexogenous jasmonates treatment. However, to date there is only little evidence ofthe presence of the jasmonic acid-biosynthetic enzymes in stolons or young tubers.As allene oxide cyclase represents the major control point for jasmonic acidbiosynthesis, we studied the occurrence of allene oxide cyclase by immunologicalapproaches in the early stages of tuber formation. In developing stolons, alleneoxide cyclase as well as lipoxygenase were clearly detectable, but their levels didnot change during development. Jasmonic acid treatment for 24 h, however,increased lipoxygenase and allene oxide cyclase protein levels in both developmentalstages analyzed. In longitudinal sections of stolons of stages 1 and 2, alleneoxide cyclase and lipoxygenase occurred in the apex and along the stolon axis. Alleneoxide cyclase was clearly detectable in epidermal, cortical and pith parenchymaticcells, showing the highest levels in vascular tissues surrounding cells. Lipoxygenasewas mainly located in the parenchymatic cortex cells. The occurrence of alleneoxide cyclase in stolons together with the previous identification of jasmonates from developing stolons reveals that these organs are capable to synthesize andmetabolize jasmonates.