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The role of CCoAOMT1 and COMT1 in Arabidopsis anthers

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Abstract

Arabidopsis caffeoyl coenzyme A dependent O-methyltransferase 1 (CCoAOMT1) and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase 1 (COMT1) display a similar substrate profile although with distinct substrate preferences and are considered the key methyltransferases (OMTs) in the biosynthesis of lignin monomers, coniferyl and sinapoylalcohol. Whereas CCoAOMT1 displays a strong preference for caffeoyl coenzyme A, COMT1 preferentially methylates 5-hydroxyferuloyl CoA derivatives and also performs methylation of flavonols with vicinal aromatic dihydroxy groups, such as quercetin. Based on different knockout lines, phenolic profiling, and immunohistochemistry, we present evidence that both enzymes fulfil distinct, yet different tasks in Arabidopsis anthers. CCoAOMT1 besides its role in vascular tissues can be localized to the tapetum of young stamens, contributing to the biosynthesis of spermidine phenylpropanoid conjugates. COMT1, although present in the same organ, is not localized in the tapetum, but in two directly adjacent cells layers, the endothecium and the epidermal layer of stamens. In vivo localization and phenolic profiling of comt1 plants provide evidence that COMT1 neither contributes to the accumulation of spermidine phenylpropanoid conjugates nor to the flavonol glycoside pattern of pollen grains.

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Abbreviations

AtTSM1:

Flower bud-specific O-methyltransferase

BCIP/NBT:

Bromo-chloro-indolyl phosphate/nitroblue tetrazolium

CCoAOMT:

Caffeoyl coenzyme A O-methyltransferase

COMT:

Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase

HCAA:

Hydroxycinnamic acid amide

OMT:

O-Methyltranferase

qPCR:

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

SHT:

Spermidine hydroxycinnamic acid transferase

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Acknowledgments

We thank Alain Tissier (IPB, Halle) for critical reading of the manuscript. Financial support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Vo 719/8-1) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Author notes

  1. Maike van Ohlen

    Present address: Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Braunschweig University of Technology, Mendelssohnstraße 1, 38106, Brunswick, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Christin Fellenberg, Maike van Ohlen, Vinzenz Handrick & Thomas Vogt

Authors
  1. Christin Fellenberg
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  2. Maike van Ohlen
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  3. Vinzenz Handrick
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  4. Thomas Vogt
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Correspondence to Thomas Vogt.

Additional information

C. Fellenberg and M. van Ohlen contributed equally to this work.

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Fellenberg, C., van Ohlen, M., Handrick, V. et al. The role of CCoAOMT1 and COMT1 in Arabidopsis anthers. Planta 236, 51–61 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-011-1586-6

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