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Comparative molecular and biochemical characterization of segmentally duplicated 9-lipoxygenase genes ZmLOX4 and ZmLOX5 of maize

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Abstract

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) catalyze hydroperoxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to form structurally and functionally diverse oxylipins. Precise physiological and biochemical functions of individual members of plant multigene LOX families are largely unknown. Herein we report on molecular and biochemical characterization of two closely related maize 9-lipoxygenase paralogs, ZmLOX4 and ZmLOX5. Recombinant ZmLOX5 protein displayed clear 9-LOX regio-specificity at both neutral and slightly alkaline pH. The genes were differentially expressed in various maize organs and tissues as well as in response to diverse stress treatments. The transcripts of ZmLOX4 accumulated predominantly in roots and shoot apical meristem, whereas ZmLOX5 was expressed in most tested aboveground organs. Both genes were not expressed in untreated leaves, but displayed differential induction by defense-related hormones. While ZmLOX4 was only induced by jasmonic acid (JA), the transcripts of ZmLOX5 were increased in response to JA and salicylic acid treatments. ZmLOX5 was transiently induced both locally and systemically by wounding, which was accompanied by increased levels of 9-oxylipins, and fall armyworm herbivory, suggesting a putative role for this gene in defense against insects. Surprisingly, despite of moderate JA- and wound-inducibility of ZmLOX4, the gene was not responsive to insect herbivory. These results suggest that the two genes may have distinct roles in maize adaptation to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. Both paralogs were similarly induced by virulent and avirulent strains of the fungal leaf pathogen Cochliobolus carbonum. Putative physiological roles for the two genes are discussed in the context of their biochemical and molecular properties.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AOS:

Allene oxide synthase

GLV:

Green leaf volatiles

HOD:

Hydroxy octadecadienoic acid

HPL:

Hydroperoxide lyase

HPOD:

Hydroperoxy octadecadienoic acid

JA:

Jasmonic acid

JA-Ile:

Jasmonic acid-isoleucine

LOX:

Lipoxygenase

MeJA:

Methyl jasmonate

ORF:

Open reading frame

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

SA:

Salicylic acid

UTR:

Untranslated region

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Acknowledgments

We thank Charles Greenwald (Texas A&M University) for his help with the phylogenetic analysis, and Andriy Nemchenko and Sholpan Davletova for their assistance in generating the ZmLOX5 overexpression construct. Pedro Navarro and Carl Simmons (Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl.) are acknowledged for their help with the initial bioinformatic analysis of the EST clones representing the ZmLOX4 and ZmLOX5 genes. We acknowledge the assistance of Ms. Jantana Keereetaweep and Drs. Aruna Kilaru and Kent Chapman of the Center for Plant Lipid Research, University of North Texas, for analyses of oxylipins in maize samples. This work was supported by Texas AgriLIFE Research Monocot Improvement Program and by the NSF grant IOB-0544428 to MK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2132, USA

    Yong-Soon Park & Michael V. Kolomiets

  2. Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg-August University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Susan Kunze & Ivo Feussner

  3. USDA-ARS, Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit, University of Georgia-Tifton, Tifton, GA, 31793-0748, USA

    Xinzhi Ni

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  1. Yong-Soon Park
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  2. Susan Kunze
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  5. Michael V. Kolomiets
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Correspondence to Michael V. Kolomiets.

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Park, YS., Kunze, S., Ni, X. et al. Comparative molecular and biochemical characterization of segmentally duplicated 9-lipoxygenase genes ZmLOX4 and ZmLOX5 of maize. Planta 231, 1425–1437 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-010-1143-8

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