title: Overexpression of an isoprenyl diphosphate synthase in spruce leads to unexpected terpene diversion products that function in plant defense.
abstract: Spruce (Picea spp.) and other conifers employ terpenoid-based oleoresin as part of their defense against herbivores and pathogens. The short-chain isoprenyl diphosphate synthases (IDS) are situated at critical branch points in terpene biosynthesis, producing the precursors of the different terpenoid classes. To determine the role of IDS and to create altered terpene phenotypes for assessing the defensive role of terpenoids, we overexpressed a bifunctional spruce IDS, a geranyl diphosphate and geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase in white spruce (Picea glauca) saplings. While transcript level (350-fold), enzyme activity level (7-fold), and in planta geranyl diphosphate and geranylgeranyl diphosphate levels (4- to 8-fold) were significantly increased in the needles of transgenic plants, there was no increase in the major monoterpenes and diterpene acids of the resin and no change in primary isoprenoids, such as sterols, chlorophylls, and carotenoids. Instead, large amounts of geranylgeranyl fatty acid esters, known from various gymnosperm and angiosperm plant species, accumulated in needles and were shown to act defensively in reducing the performance of larvae of the nun moth (Lymantria monacha), a conifer pest in Eurasia. These results show the impact of overexpression of an IDS and the defensive role of an unexpected accumulation product of terpenoid biosynthesis with the potential for a broader function in plant protection.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Beutenberg Campus, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berasategui
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paetz
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gershenzon
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004952:Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D060434:Herbivory / Q000502:physiology*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D028222:Picea / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000201:enzymology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000378:metabolism; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012116:Resins, Plant; D013729:Terpenes; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C002963:geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate