Alkaloid metabolism in wounded Catharanthus roseus seedlings.
The effect of mechanical wounding on alkaloid metabolism was analyzed in Catharanthus roseus seedlings. Wounding induced an increase in ajmalicine accumulation, whereas catharanthine remained unaffected. A positive dual effect on vindoline was noticed. Short and mid-term effects were detected between 12 and 24 h after mechanical damage was inflicted, and apparently resulted from the accelerated transformation of the tabersonine intermediaries to vindoline. Long-term effects involved a generalized increase in carbon flux towards alkaloid synthesis. Exposure to ethylene (1 ppm) produced similar results to those observed in wounded seedlings, suggesting that it might be mediating the wound-induced increase in alkaloid synthesis. No synergistic or additive effects were observed when wounded seedlings were exposed to ethylene or jasmonate.
Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43 n degrees. 130, Chuburná de Hidalgo, 97200 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. felipe@cicy.mx
Felipe
F
Vázquez-Flota
Mildred
M
Carrillo-Pech
Yereni
Y
Minero-García
María
M
De Lourdes Miranda-Ham
D030008:Catharanthus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D010935:Plant Diseases; D046948:Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism*
D005030:Ethylenes; D046948:Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids; C005709:raubasine; C009667:vindoline; D014747:Vinblastine; C036216:ethylene