Response to the sexual pheromone and wounding in the green alga volvox: induction of an extracellular glycoprotein consisting almost exclusively of hydroxyproline.
The extracellular matrix (ECM) of Volvox is modified during development or in response to external stimuli, like the sex-inducing pheromone. It has recently been demonstrated that a number of genes triggered by the sex-inducing pheromone are also inducible by wounding. By differential screening of a cDNA library, a novel gene was identified that is transcribed in response to the pheromone. Its gene product was characterized as an ECM glycoprotein with a striking feature: it exhibits a hydroxyproline content of 68% and therefore is an extreme member of the family of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs). HRGPs are known as constituents of higher plant ECMs and seem to function as structural barriers in defense responses. The Volvox HRGP is also found to be inducible by wounding. This indicates that the wound response scenarios of higher plants and multicellular green algae may be evolutionary related.
Ender
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F
Lehrstuhl Biochemie I, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
Hallmann
A
A
Amon
P
P
Sumper
M
M
D020418:Algal Proteins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D015723:Gene Library; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
D020418:Algal Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010675:Pheromones; D006909:Hydroxyproline