Stress induction and antimicrobial properties of a lipid transfer protein in germinating sunflower seeds.
Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) belong to a large family of plant proteins whose function in vivo remains unknown. In this research, we studied a LTP previously isolated from sunflower seeds (Ha-AP10), which displays strong antimicrobial activity against a model fungus. The protein is present during at least the first 5 days of germination, and tissue printing experiments revealed the homogeneous distribution of the protein in the cotyledons. Here we report that Ha-AP10 exerts a weak inhibitory effect on the growth of Alternaria alternata, a fungus that naturally attacks sunflower seeds. These data put into question the contribution of Ha-AP10 as an antimicrobial protein of direct effect on pathogenic fungus, and rather suggest a function related to the mobilization of lipid reserves. We also show that the levels of Ha-AP10 in germinating seeds increase upon salt stress, fungal infection and ABA treatment, indicating that it somehow participates in the adaptative responses of germinating sunflower seeds.
Gonorazky
Ana G
AG
Instituto Investigaciones Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Casilla Correo 1245, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina.
Regente
Mariana C
MC
de la Canal
Laura
L
D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000528:Alternaria / Q000187:drug effects; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018525:Germination; D006368:Helianthus / Q000502:physiology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C500581:Ha-AP10 protein, Helianthus annuus; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000040:Abscisic Acid