title: Systemins: a functionally defined family of peptide signals that regulate defensive genes in Solanaceae species.
abstract: Numerous plant species have been known for decades that respond to herbivore attacks by systemically synthesizing defensive chemicals to protect themselves from predators. The nature of systemic wound signals remained obscure until 1991, when an 18-aa peptide called systemin was isolated from tomato leaves and shown to be a primary signal for systemic defense. More recently, two new hydroxyproline-rich, glycosylated peptide defense signals have been isolated from tobacco leaves, and three from tomato leaves. Because of their origins in plants, small sizes, hydroxyproline contents (tomato systemin is proline-rich), and defense-signaling activities, the new peptides are included in a functionally defined family of signals collectively called systemins. Here, we review structural and biological properties of the systemin family, and discuss their possible roles in systemic wound signaling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6340, USA. cabudryan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Clarence A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pearce
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023082:Defensins; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000502:physiology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D019657:Solanaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins; D010455:Peptides; D010940:Plant Proteins