Antibiotic activities of peptides, hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite in plant defence.
Genes encoding plant antibiotic peptides show expression patterns that are consistent with a defence role. Transgenic over-expression of defence peptide genes is potentially useful to engineer resistance of plants to relevant pathogens. Pathogen mutants that are sensitive to plant peptides in vitro have been obtained and a decrease of their virulence in planta has been observed, which is consistent with their hypothetical defence role. A similar approach has been followed to elucidate the potential direct anti-microbial role of hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, a scavenger of peroxynitrite has been used to investigate its involvement in plant defence.
García-Olmedo
F
F
Departamento de Biotecnología - UPM, ETS Ingenieros Agrónomos, E-28040, Madrid, Spain. olmedo@bit.etsia.upm.es
Rodríguez-Palenzuela
P
P
Molina
A
A
Alamillo
J M
JM
López-Solanilla
E
E
Berrocal-Lobo
M
M
Poza-Carrión
C
C
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023082:Defensins; D009566:Nitrates; D016877:Oxidants; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D014527:Uric Acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide