title: Cell-lytic activity of tobacco BY-2 induced by a fungal elicitor from alternaria alternata attributed to the expression of a class I beta-1,3-glucanase gene.
abstract: Stress-induced cell-lytic activity was found in tobacco BY-2 cells treated with various stresses. Among 14 stresses, an elicitor fraction isolated from Alternaria alternata showed the highest inducing activity. Cell-lytic activity increased for 72 h even in the control sample, treated with distilled water, and several isozymes of beta-1,3-glucanases and chitinases were found to be involved in it. In contrast, cell-lytic activity in BY-2 cells treated with a fungal elicitor reached a higher level after 60 h. The principal enzymes specifically involved in this stress-induced portion are speculated to be basic beta-1,3-glucanases. A class I beta-1,3-glucanase gene (glu1) was found to be the specific gene for the stress-induced cell-lytic activity. Its expression became observable at 24 h, and the intensity reached a maximum at about 60-72 h. The glu1 was thus assigned as a late gene. Its role in the stress response is discussed in conjunction with earlier genes such as chitinases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinya
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gondo
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanai
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase