Structure of the Telomeric Ends of Mt DNA, Transcriptional Analysis and Complex I Assembly in the Dum24 Mitochondrial Mutant of Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii

The dum24 mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contains four types of altered mitochondrial linear genomes: two types of deleted monomers and two types of dimers resulting from fusions between some monomers via their deleted ends. All molecules lack at least cob, nd4 and the 3' end of nd5, three adjacent genes located in the left part of the genome. We present evidence showing that in dum24, as in other deletion mutants, the deletions extend to the left telomeric end, and propose that the only replicative forms in the mutants are the dimeric DNA molecules that possess intact telomeric structures at both ends. Two abnormally large transcripts produced from chimeric genes are detected in dum24, which throws some light on the location of potential promoter sequences and processing signals in the mitochondrial genome. Using BN-PAGE analysis and immunological methods to detect complex I, we further show that dum24 mitochondria do not possess the normal multimeric complex I (850 kDa), but produce a smaller, partially assembled, complex (650 kDa), demonstrating a role for ND4 and/or ND5 subunits(s) in complex I assembly

Mutations Inactivating Mitochondrial Genes in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is now becoming a useful model for the study of mitochondrial genetics in a photosynthetic organism. The small (15.8 kb) mitochondrial genome C. reinhardtii has been sequenced completely and all the genes have been identified. Several mutants inactivated in mitochondrial genes encoding components of the respiratory complexes I, III and IV have been characterized at the molecular level. Assembly of complex I in several mutant strains and mapping of mitochondrial mutations by recombinational analysis are also described

The elicitation of a systemic resistance by Pseudomonas putida BTP1 in tomato involves the stimulation of two lipoxygenase isoforms

Background Some non-pathogenic rhizobacteria called Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) possess the capacity to induce in plant defense mechanisms effective against pathogens. Precedent studies showed the ability of Pseudomonas putida BTP1 to induce PGPR-mediated resistance, termed ISR (Induced Systemic Resistance), in different plant species. Despite extensive works, molecular defense mechanisms involved in ISR are less well understood that in the case of pathogen induced systemic acquired resistance. Results We analyzed the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and lipoxygenase (LOX), key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid and oxylipin pathways respectively, in tomato treated or not with P. putida BTP1. The bacterial treatment did not stimulate PAL activity and linoleate-consuming LOX activities. Linolenate-consuming LOX activity, on the contrary, was significantly stimulated in P. putida BTP1-inoculated plants before and two days after infection by B. cinerea. This stimulation is due to the increase of transcription level of two isoforms of LOX: TomLoxD and TomLoxF, a newly identified LOX gene. We showed that recombinant TomLOXF preferentially consumes linolenic acid and produces 13-derivative of fatty acids. After challenging with B. cinerea, the increase of transcription of these two LOX genes and higher linolenic acid-consuming LOX activity were associated with a more rapid accumulation of free 13-hydroperoxy-octadecatrienoic and 13-hydroxy-octadecatrienoic acids, two antifungal oxylipins, in bacterized plants. Conclusion In addition to the discovery of a new LOX gene in tomato, this work is the first to show differential induction of LOX isozymes and a more rapid accumulation of 13-hydroperoxy-octadecatrienoic and 13-hydroxy-octadecatrienoic acids in rhizobacteria mediated-induced systemic resistance.Caractérisation de la réponse immunitaire de plantes stimulées par les lipopeptides bactérien

The systemic resistance induced in tomato by a non-pathogenic Pseudomonas strain is associated with the stimulation of the lipoxygenase pathway

peer reviewedRoot treatment by the non-pathogenic Pseudomonas putida strain BTP1 reduced by 34% the disease caused by Botrytis cinerea on tomato leaves. This induced systemic resistance phenomenon is associated both with the accumulation of fungitoxic material and with the stimulation of the lipoxygenase pathway in infected leaves. More precisely, we observed a consistent change in the expression of a new tomloxF gene in the leaves from BTP1-treated plants as far as the pathogen is introduced. This suggests that the roots were primed and reacted locally to colonization by bacteria and that defense-related gene expression is turned on systemically upon pathogen perceptio

Resistance induced in cucumber and tomato by a non-pathogenic Pseudomonas putida strain

peer reviewedSome plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are able to stimulate inducible defense mechanisms that render the host plant less susceptible to a subsequent pathogen attack. This phenomenon, called induced systemic resistance (ISR), can occur in several plant species against a wide range of bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens. Despite extensive work, many aspects of the molecular basis underlying this rhizobacteria-mediated ISR remain unclear. In this context, we have studied for several years the ISR-mediated protective effect of a particular strain, Pseudomonas putida BTP1. In this paper, we present the results obtained by using BTP1 for disease reduction against anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lagenarium on cucumber and grey mold caused by Botrytis cinerea on tomato. As a result of cucumber treatment with BTP1, we observed an enhanced hydroperoxide lyase activity that could restrict pathogen ingress since this enzyme, acting downstream in the so-called oxylipin pathway, forms short chain aldehydes considered as “volatile phytoalexins”. By contrast, this phenomenon is not involved in the protective effect afforded by the strain in tomato. In this case, disease reduction is more seemingly associated with an early accumulation of antifungal compounds stimulated by the bacterium, showing that specific ISR-related metabolic pathways may be activated in different plants by the same microorganism