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Phloem-specific expression of the wound-inducible ribonuclease LE from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Lukullus)

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Abstract

Ribonuclease LE (RNaseLE) from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Lukullus) belongs to the widespread RNase T2 family of ribonucleases. With the exception of S-RNases of the solanaceous self-incompatibility system the functions of other members of the RNase T2 family are only barely understood. Using a 2.6-kbp putative promoter sequence of RNaseLE in front of the uidA reporter gene, expression of β-glucuronidase in developing phloem tissue and, especially, in the meristematic and elongation zones at root tips was detected. The tissue-specific expression accords with the range of cis-acting elements detected in the RNaseLE promoter. RNaseLE mRNA was localized in developing phloem cells but not in mature phloem tissue, suggesting association of RNaseLE expression with phloem development. Histochemical staining of β-glucuronidase activity as well as detailed inspection of RNaseLE at mRNA, protein and enzyme activity levels revealed that the wound-induced expression of RNaseLE was also restricted to vascular tissue. RNaseLE transcript accumulation detected by in situ hybridization occurred preferentially in phloem and cambial cells of stem sections upon wounding. The data provide evidence for a role of RNaseLE in a tissue-specific wound response and in wound healing of tomato.

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Fig. 1a–c
Fig. 2a–i
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Abbreviations

GUS:

β-Glucuronidase (uidA gene)

RNaseLE:

Tomato ribonuclease LE

Pi:

Inorganic phosphate

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. M. Ganal (IPK Gatersleben) for providing the genomic tomato library and cultivating primary tomato transformants, Dr. S. Hertel and K. Lehmann (Biocenter) for regeneration and selection of PromLE2::uidA tomato lines, K. Eichhorst and K. Klar for technical assistance, and Prof. C. Wasternack (IPB Halle) for critical reading of the manuscript. The support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to M.K. (SFB 363 B9/B16) is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Irene Stenzel

    Present address: Department of Natural Product Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biocenter, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle, Germany

    Margret Köck, Nadine Groß, Irene Stenzel & Gerd Hause

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  1. Margret Köck
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Correspondence to Margret Köck.

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Köck, M., Groß, N., Stenzel, I. et al. Phloem-specific expression of the wound-inducible ribonuclease LE from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Lukullus). Planta 219, 233–242 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-004-1227-4

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