Characterization of a stamen-specific cDNA encoding a novel plant defensin in Chinese cabbage.
We isolated a stamen-specific cDNA, BSD1 (Brassica stamen specific plant defensin 1) that encodes a novel plant defensin peptide in Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis). Plant defensins are antimicrobial peptides containing eight highly conserved cysteine residues linked by disulfide bridges. In BSD1, the eight cysteine residues and a glutamate residue at position 29 are conserved whereas other amino acid residues of the plant defensins consensus sequence are substituted. BSD1 transcripts accumulate specifically in the stamen of developing flowers and its level drops as the flowers mature. The recombinant BSD1 produced in Escherichia coli showed antifungal activity against several phytopathogenic fungi. Furthermore, constitutive over-expression of the BSD1 gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter conferred enhanced tolerance against the Phytophthora parasitica in the transgenic tobacco plants.
Division of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Chinju, Korea.
Hyeong Cheol
HC
Park
Yun Hwan
YH
Kang
Hyun Jin
HJ
Chun
Ja Choon
JC
Koo
Yong Hwa
YH
Cheong
Cha Young
CY
Kim
Min Chul
MC
Kim
Woo Sik
WS
Chung
Jong Cheol
JC
Kim
Jae Hyuk
JH
Yoo
Yoon Duck
YD
Koo
Sung Chul
SC
Koo
Chae Oh
CO
Lim
Sang Yeol
SY
Lee
Moo Je
MJ
Cho
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D001937:Brassica / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023082:Defensins; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D015870:Gene Expression; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D023082:Defensins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins