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Reduction of polar auxin transport in tobacco by the tumorigenic Agrobacterium tumefaciens AK-6b gene

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Abstract

The plant-tumorigenic 6b (AK-6b) gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain AKE10 induces morphological alterations to tobacco plants, Nicotiana tabacum. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, we generated transgenic tobacco harboring the AK-6b gene under the control of a dexamethazone-inducible promoter. Upon induction, transgenic tobacco seedlings exhibited distinct classes of aberrant morphologies, most notably adventitious outgrowths and stunted epicotyls. Histological analysis revealed massive proliferation and altered venation in the newly established outgrowths. Prominent vascular development suggested that auxin metabolism or signaling had been altered. Indeed, basipetal auxin transport in the hypocotyls of the transgenic seedlings was reduced by 50–80%, whereas intracellular auxin contents were only slightly reduced. Analysis of cell extracts by HPLC revealed a large accumulation of phenolic compounds, including the flavonoid kaempferol-3-rutinoside, in transgenic plants compared with wild-type seedlings. As some naturally occurring flavonoids have been shown to affect auxin transport, we suggest that the AK-6b gene expression impairs auxin transport via modulation of phenylpropanoid metabolism, and ultimately results in the observed morphological alterations.

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Abbreviations

CaPu:

Caffeoylputrescine

CGA:

Chlorogenic acid

C4H:

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase

Dex:

Dexamethazone

HFCA:

9-hydroxyfluorene-9-caboxylic acid

hpt:

Hygromycin phosphotransferase

NPA:

N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid

Kp:

Kaempferol

K-3-R:

Kaempferol-3-rutinoside

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase

SCT:

Scopoletin

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. N. Sakurai (Hiroshima University) for providing us with [13C]IAA and Dr. S. Youssefian (Akita Prefectural University) for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (13660055) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology, Japan and by the Sasagawa Scientific Research Grant (No. 13–238) from the Japan Science Society.

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  1. Yasutaka Kakiuchi

    Present address: Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Nishi 241-7, Nakano-Aza Kaidobata, Shimoshinjo, Akita, 010-0195, Japan

    Yasutaka Kakiuchi, Shigeru Tamogami & Hiroetsu Wabiko

  2. Plant Science Center, RIKEN, 1-7-22, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan

    Ivan Gàlis

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  1. Yasutaka Kakiuchi
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Correspondence to Hiroetsu Wabiko.

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Kakiuchi, Y., Gàlis, I., Tamogami, S. et al. Reduction of polar auxin transport in tobacco by the tumorigenic Agrobacterium tumefaciens AK-6b gene. Planta 223, 237–247 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0080-4

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