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Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses 3.0

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Dear Colleagues,

As sessile organisms, plants are continuously exposed to stressful conditions that can hamper processes of ‘primary’ carbon metabolism, such as photosynthesis and respiration. Therefore, plants have evolved multiple biosynthetic pathways that can produce a plethora of ‘secondary’ metabolites (e.g., volatile organic compounds, anthocyanins, carotenoids) with key physiological and ecological roles. Plant secondary metabolites can act as antioxidants and directly defend plants by quenching and modulating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), or they can indirectly induce physiological mechanisms to enhance tolerance/resistance to stresses. Moreover, secondary metabolites can modify insect behavior and plant-associated microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses), further orchestrating the interaction between plants and the surrounding environment.

This Special Issue will collect research results focusing on different aspects of plant secondary metabolites, from their biosynthesis in both the above- and belowground plant parts to their involvement in signaling, immunization, priming, and cross-tolerance against (abiotic and biotic) stresses. Special consideration will be given to works exploring the possibility of making use of plant secondary metabolites to develop practical applications for sustainable plant defense in the field.

Dr. Federico Brilli
Guest Editor

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23 pages, 4230 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deoxyxylulose 5-Phosphate Synthase Does Not Play a Major Role in Regulating the Methylerythritol 4-Phosphate Pathway in Poplar

by Diego González-Cabanelas, Erica Perreca, Johann M. Rohwer, Axel Schmidt, Tobias Engl, Bettina Raguschke, Jonathan Gershenzon and Louwrance P. Wright

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4181; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084181 - 10 Apr 2024

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Abstract

The plastidic 2-C-methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway supplies the precursors of a large variety of essential plant isoprenoids, but its regulation is still not well understood. Using metabolic control analysis (MCA), we examined the first enzyme of this pathway, 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS), in multiple grey poplar (Populus × canescens) lines modified in their DXS activity. Single leaves were dynamically labeled with ¹³CO₂ in an illuminated, climate-controlled gas exchange cuvette coupled to a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer, and the carbon flux through the MEP pathway was calculated. Carbon was rapidly assimilated into MEP pathway intermediates and labeled both the isoprene released and the IDP+DMADP pool by up to 90%. DXS activity was increased by 25% in lines overexpressing the DXS gene and reduced by 50% in RNA interference lines, while the carbon flux in the MEP pathway was 25–35% greater in overexpressing lines and unchanged in RNA interference lines. Isoprene emission was also not altered in these different genetic backgrounds. By correlating absolute flux to DXS activity under different conditions of light and temperature, the flux control coefficient was found to be low. Among isoprenoid end products, isoprene itself was unchanged in DXS transgenic lines, but the levels of the chlorophylls and most carotenoids measured were 20–30% less in RNA interference lines than in overexpression lines. Our data thus demonstrate that DXS in the isoprene-emitting grey poplar plays only a minor part in controlling flux through the MEP pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses 3.0)

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16 pages, 3654 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Mature miRNA-Encoded Micropeptide miPEP166c Stimulates Anthocyanin and Proanthocyanidin Synthesis in Grape Berry Cells

by Mariana Vale, Hélder Badim, Hernâni Gerós and Artur Conde

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031539 - 26 Jan 2024

Viewed by 753

Abstract

The phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways exhibit intricate regulation, not only influenced by environmental factors and a complex network of transcription factors but also by post-transcriptional regulation, such as silencing by microRNAs and miRNA-encoded micropeptides (miPEPs). VviMYBC2-L1 serves as a transcriptional repressor for flavonoids, playing a crucial role in coordinating the synthesis of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin. It works in tandem with their respective transcriptional activators, VviMYBA1/2 and VviMYBPA1, to maintain an equilibrium of flavonoids. We have discovered a miPEP encoded by miR166c that appears to target VviMYBC2-L1. We conducted experiments to test the hypothesis that silencing this transcriptional repressor through miPEP166c would stimulate the synthesis of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Our transcriptional analyses by qPCR revealed that the application of exogenous miPEP166c to Gamay Fréaux grape berry cells resulted in a significant upregulation in flavonoid transcriptional activators (VviMYBA1/2 and VviMYBPA1) and structural flavonoid genes (VviLDOX and VviDFR), as well as genes involved in the synthesis of proanthocyanidins (VviLAR1 and VviANR) and anthocyanins (VviUFGT1). These findings were supported by the increased enzyme activities of the key enzymes UFGT, LAR, and ANR, which were 2-fold, 14-fold, and 3-fold higher, respectively, in the miPEP166c-treated cells. Ultimately, these changes led to an elevated total content of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses 3.0)

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