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Coordinated activation of as-1-type elements and a tobacco glutathione S-transferase gene by auxins, salicylic acid, methyl-jasmonate and hydrogen peroxide

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Abstract

The molecular mechanism of signal transduction pathways which mediate the action of phytohormones are poorly understood. Recently, we and others have shown that the as-1 type cis-acting elements can respond to auxin and salicylic acid, two well-characterized signaling molecules in plants. In the present work, we have examined a comprehensive set of physiological and abiotic agents and found that auxin, salicylic acid and methyl-jasmonate are three effective inducers of the as-1-type elements in transgenic tobacco. Using a cell suspension culture containing a synthetic promoter-GUS fusion, we demonstrated rapid and sensitive induction of the as-1-type element by these phytohormones. Furthermore, a tobacco glutathione S-transferase gene, GNT35, that contains an as-1-type binding site in its promoter is also inducible by auxin, salicylic acid and methyl-jasmonate with similar kinetics. As Ulmasov et al. have recently reported, we found that the as-1-type elements can also respond to weak/inactive analogues of auxin and salicylic acid. In addition, we show that hydrogen peroxide can also effectively activate the expression of GNT35 as well as the as-1-type element in a cell suspension culture, but not with whole seedlings. These results are discussed with respect to the possible mechanism(s) through which a single cis element may respond to a diverse array of molecules.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AgBiotech Center, Rutgers University, Dudley Road, Box 231, 08903-0231, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Chengbin Xiang, Zhong-He Miao & Eric Lam

  2. Department of Plant Science, Foran Hall, Rutgers University, Dudley Road, Box 231, 08903-0231, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Chengbin Xiang, Zhong-He Miao & Eric Lam

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  1. Chengbin Xiang
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  2. Zhong-He Miao
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  3. Eric Lam
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Xiang, C., Miao, ZH. & Lam, E. Coordinated activation of as-1-type elements and a tobacco glutathione S-transferase gene by auxins, salicylic acid, methyl-jasmonate and hydrogen peroxide. Plant Mol Biol 32, 415–426 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00019093

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00019093

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