ISHS Acta Horticulturae 381: International Symposium on Natural Phenols in Plant Resistance
BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISMS CONTROLLING THE FORMATION OF PHENOLS IN PLANTS |
| Author: | H. Kindl |
| Keywords: | bibenzyls, dihydrophenanthrenes, gene activation, phytoalexins, resveratrol, stilbenes, Vitis |
| Abstract:
While a great number of phenols is present in plants in considerable amounts throughout the life time of a particular tissue, a small number of phenols is characterized by low amounts but a rapid and transient formation in response to certain biotic or abiotic signals. The formation of the latter type of phenols requires the function of a specific signal transduction pathway which eventually leads a signal compound to the nucleus and thus effects gene activation. Models of the perception of a signal at the plasma membrane and its conversion to an intracellular messenger are discussed. As a valuable example of gene activation correlated with phenol biosynthesis, the expression of stilbene synthase mRNAs and bibenzyl synthase mRNAs are exploited. Examples of specific activation of a particular gene out of a gene family are provided. Experiments utilizing various promoters and enhancers to demonstrate the differences in gene expression in transgenic plants are described. | |
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