Journal article
Evidence that γ-aminobutyric acid is a major nitrogen source during Cladosporium fulvum infection of tomato
Planta, Vol.214(3), pp.414-420
2002
Abstract
The growth of the biotrophic pathogen Cladosporium fulvum within the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaf is restricted to the intercellular space. Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulates to millimolar concentrations in the apoplast during a compatible interaction. We decided to further investigate the role of GABA during infection. A gene encoding a required enzyme for GABA metabolism, GABA transaminase (Gat1), was cloned and sequenced from C. fulvum. The predicted protein sequence of Gat1 had high homology to other fungal GABA transaminases, particularly from Aspergillus nidulans. In vitro expression experiments revealed Gat1 to be strongly expressed during fungal growth on both GABA and glutamate whereas nearly no expression was evident during nitrogen starvation conditions. Expression of Gat1 was also apparent during infection, suggesting for the first time that C. fulvum actively metabolises GABA during infection. This indicates that the fungus may be utilising the GABA in the apoplast as a nutrient source. Further analysis revealed that the expression of tomato glutamate decarboxylase, the enzyme responsible for GABA synthesis, appeared appreciably higher during a compatible interaction than in the incompatible interaction. These findings imply that the infecting fungus may alter the physiology of the tomato leaf with the result that a source of nitrogen is supplied.
Details
- Title
- Evidence that γ-aminobutyric acid is a major nitrogen source during Cladosporium fulvum infection of tomato
- Authors/Creators
- P.S. Solomon (Author/Creator) - Carlsberg LaboratoryR.P. Oliver (Author/Creator) - Carlsberg Laboratory
- Publication Details
- Planta, Vol.214(3), pp.414-420
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag
- Identifiers
- 991005542094007891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Australian Centre for Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.4 Crop Science
- 3.4.419 Jasmonic Acid
- Web Of Science research areas
- Plant Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science