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The Pseudomonas savastanoi tryptophan-2-mono-oxygenase is biologically active in Nicotiana tabacum

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Abstract

It has been proposed that the “eukaryotic” T-DNA-encoded indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis genes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and their prokaryotic counterpart in Pseudomonas savastanoi originated from common ancestor genes. This paper provides additional evidence for the functional similarity between the gene products. We have demonstrated that a chimeric gene consisting of the coding sequence of the P. savastanoi tryptophan-2-mono-oxygenase (iaaM gene) and a plant promoter encodes an active enzyme in Nicotiana tabacum. Transformants obtained with this chimeric gene grew as a callus on hormone-free media. No stably transformed plantlets could be isolated. The callus tissues contained extremely high levels of indole-3-acetamide and slightly elevated levels of IAA. Either indole-3-acetamide by itself has a low auxin activity or, alternatively, it is converted aspecifically and at low rates into IAA. The P. savastanoi tryptophan-2-mono-oxygenase activity in plants is also able to detoxify the amino-acid analogue 5-methyltryptophan. This property can be used for positive selection of transformed calli.

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Abbreviations

BAP:

6-benzylaminopurine

IAA:

indole-3-acetic acid

IAM:

indole-3-acetamide

NAA:

naphthalene-1-acetic acid

NPT-II:

neomycin phosphotransferase II

T-DNA:

transferred DNA

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Author notes

  1. J. Velten & L. Velten

    Present address: Department of Chemistry, New Mexico State University, 88003, Las Cruces, N.M., USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorium voor Genetica, Rijksuniversiteit Gent, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000, Gent, Belgium

    D. Inzé, A. Follin, J. Schell & M. Van Montagu

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung, D-5000, Köln, FRG

    J. Velten, L. Velten & J. Schell

  3. Department Biologie, Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen, B-2610, Antwerpen, Belgium

    E. Prinsen, P. Rüdelsheim & H. Van Onckelen

Authors
  1. D. Inzé
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  2. A. Follin
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  3. J. Velten
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  4. L. Velten
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  5. E. Prinsen
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  6. P. Rüdelsheim
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  7. H. Van Onckelen
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  8. J. Schell
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  9. M. Van Montagu
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Inzé, D., Follin, A., Velten, J. et al. The Pseudomonas savastanoi tryptophan-2-mono-oxygenase is biologically active in Nicotiana tabacum . Planta 172, 555–562 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393874

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393874

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