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Overexpression of carnation S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene generates a broad-spectrum tolerance to abiotic stresses in transgenic tobacco plants

  • Physiology and Biochemistry
  • Published:
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Abstract

Polyamines (PAs), such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are present in all living organism and implicate in a wide range of cellular physiological processes. We have used transgenic technology in an attempt to evaluate their potential for mitigating the adverse effects of several abiotic stresses in plants. Sense construct of full-length cDNA for S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), a key enzyme in PA biosynthesis, from carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) flower was introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Several transgenic lines overexpressing SAMDC gene under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter accumulated soluble total PAs by 2.2 (S16-S-4) to 3.1 (S16-S-1) times than wild-type plants. The transgenic tobacco did not show any difference in organ phenotype compared to the wild-type. The number and weight of seeds increased, and net photosynthetic rate also increased in transgenic plants. Stress-induced damage was attenuated in these transgenic plants, in the symptom of visible yellowing and chlorophyll degradation after all experienced stresses such as salt stress, cold stress, acidic stress, and abscisic acid treatment. H2O2-induced damage was attenuated by spermidine treatment. Transcripts for antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, manganase superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferase) in transgenic plants and GUS activity transformed with SAMDC promoter::GUS fusion were induced more significantly by stress treatment, compared to control. These results that the transgenic plants with sense SAMDC cDNA are more tolerant to abiotic stresses than wild-type plants suggest that PAs may play an important role in contributing stress tolerance in plants.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

ACC:

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

ADC:

Arginine decarboxylase

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

GST:

Glutathione S-transferase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

Mn-SOD:

Manganase superoxide dismutase

ODC:

Ornithine decarboxylase

PA:

Polyamine

SAMDC:

S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Korea Research Foundation Grant, KRF-2001-042-D00076 and KRF-2003-042-C00121, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, College of Natural Science, Sunchon National University, Sunchon, Chonnam, 540-742, Korea

    Soo Jin Wi & Ky Young Park

  2. Department of Biology, College of Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, 120-749, Korea

    Woo Taek Kim

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  1. Soo Jin Wi
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  2. Woo Taek Kim
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Correspondence to Ky Young Park.

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Communicated by I. S. Chung

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Wi, S.J., Kim, W.T. & Park, K.Y. Overexpression of carnation S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene generates a broad-spectrum tolerance to abiotic stresses in transgenic tobacco plants. Plant Cell Rep 25, 1111–1121 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-006-0160-3

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