Project group leader in the Department of Molecular Ecology: Transcription factors mediating N. attenuata’s ecological interactions
Group members (Postdocs, PhD students):
Nawaporn Onkokesung, Son Truong Dinh, Lu Zhang, Melkamu Woldemariam Gezahagne, Young Joo Oh
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Gene regulation Living organisms carry genetic information encoded in their DNA molecules; these molecules perform life processes in the cells via transcription -- translational machinery. However, not all genes can be expressed at all times and not all genes should be expressed in every part of the organism. The correct appearance and temporal functionality of individual gene transcripts are assured by the function of specific transcription factors.
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 Nicotiana attenuata with Manduca sexta larvae Photo © Danny Kessler |
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@ Plant and herbivores Interactions of living organisms with their environment involve reproducible (preprogrammed) quantitative and qualitative changes in transcriptome that determine their optimal responses in the environment. In plant-herbivore interactions, a number of plant responses needs to be rapidly mounted to resist attacking herbivore; plants produce secondary metabolites and protease inhibitors that repel or intoxicate the attacker, volatiles that serve as alarm calls for predators reducing the herbivore load, and induce mechanisms that support reproductive abilities of the plants after herbivory (resource allocation). |
Wild populations of Nicotiana attenuata in Great Basin Desert in Utah Photo © Klaus Gase |
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Flowers of Nicotiana attenuata in Utah |
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Project focus and tools We use wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata plants and their natural adversary - tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) in our experimental setup. Using this model, we are specifically targeting a suite of transcription factors (and other regulators) that orchestrates plant defenses against herbivores. We employ broad range of molecular techniques, including differential display, large scale DNA microarrays and currently introduced super-SAGE technology to generate a comprehensive list of herbivory-related genes and potential regulators of plant defense against herbivores. As important hallmarks, these genes have predicted regulatory function in plants and, at the same time, are rapidly and transiently induced when plants are attacked by herbivores.
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Last updated 11-04-2010 |
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Project group leader publications |
♠ Original papersOnkokesung N, Baldwin IT, Galis I. (2010) The role of jasmonic acid and ethylene crosstalk in direct defense of Nicotiana attenuata plants against chewing herbivores. Plant Signaling & Behavior (in press) Onkokesung N, Galis I, von Dahl CC, Matsuoka K, Saluz H-P and Baldwin IT (2010) Jasmonic acid and ethylene modulate local responses to wounding and simulated herbivory in Nicotiana attenuata leaves. Plant Physiology 153: 785–798 Galis I, Onkokesung N and Baldwin IT (2010) New insights into mechanisms regulating differential accumulation of phenylpropanoid-polyamine conjugates (PPCs) in herbivore-attacked Nicotiana attenuata plants. Plant Signaling & Behavior 5: 610-613 Kaur H, Heinzel N, Schöttner M, Baldwin IT and Galis I (2010) R2R3-NaMYB8 regulates the accumulation of phenylpropanoid-polyamine conjugates which are essential for local and systemic defense against insect herbivores in Nicotiana attenuata. Plant Physiology 152: 1731-1747 Zhang L, Gase K, Baldwin IT and Galis I (2010) Enhanced fluorescence imaging in chlorophyll-suppressed tobacco tissues using virus-induced gene silencing of the phytoene desaturase gene. BioTechniques 48: 125-133 Kato K, Galis I, Suzuki S, Araki S, Demura T, Criqui MC, Potuschak T, Genschik P, Fukuda H, Matsuoka K, Ito M (2009) Preferential up-regulation of G2/M phase-specific genes by overexpression of the hyperactive form of NtmybA2 lacking its negative regulation domain in tobacco BY2 cells. Plant Physiology 149: 1945-1957 Stork W, Diezel C, Halitschke R, Galis I and Baldwin IT (2009) An ecological analysis of the herbivory-elicited JA burst and its metabolism: Plant memory processes and predictions of the moving target model. PLoS ONE 4: e4697 Skibbe M, Qu N, Galis I and Baldwin IT (2008) Induced plant defenses in the natural environment: Nicotiana attenuata’s WRKY3 and WRKY6 coordinate responses to herbivory. The Plant Cell 20: 1984-2000 Shinya T, Galis I, Narisawa T, Sasaki M, Fukuda H, Matsuoka H, Saito M, Matsuoka K (2007) Comprehensive analysis of glucan elicitor-regulated gene expression in tobacco BY-2 cells reveals a novel MYB transcription factor involved in the regulation of phenylpropanoid metabolism. Plant and Cell Physiology 48: 1404 - 1413. Shinya T, Hanai K, Galis I, Suzuki K, Matsuoka K, Matsuoka H and Saito M (2007) Characterization of NtChitIV, a class IV chitinase induced by beta-1,3-, 1,6-glucan elicitor from Alternaria alternata 102: Antagonistic effect of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate on the induction of NtChitIV. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 353: 311-317 Galis I, Simek P, Narisawa T, Sasaki M, Horiguchi T, Fukuda H and Matsuoka K (2006) A novel R2R3 MYB transcription factor NtMYBJS1 is a methyl jasmonate-dependent regulator of phenylpropanoid-conjugate biosynthesis in tobacco. Plant Journal 46: 573-592 Kakiuchi Y, Galis I, Tamogami S and Wabiko H (2006) Reduction of polar auxin transport in tobacco by the tumorigenic Agrobacterium tumefaciens AK-6b gene. Planta 223: 237-247 Galis I, Bilyeu K, Wood G, Jameson PE (2005) Rhodococcus fascians: Shoot proliferation without elevated cytokinin? Plant Growth Regulation 46: 109-115 Galis I, Bilyeu KD, Godinho MJG, Jameson PE (2005) Expression of three Arabidopsis cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogense promoter::GUS chimeric constructs in tobacco: Response to developmental and biotic factors. Plant Growth Regulation 45: 173-182 Matsuoka K, Demura T, Galis I, Horiguchi T, Sasaki M, Tashiro G, Fukuda H (2004) A comprehensive gene expression analysis toward the understanding of growth and differentiation of tobacco BY-2 cells. Plant and Cell Physiology 45: 1280-1289Galis I, Smith JL, Jameson PE (2004) Salicylic acid-, but not cytokinin-induced, resistance to WCLMV is associated with increased expression of SA-dependent resistance genes in Phaseolus vulgaris. Journal of Plant Physiology 161: 459-466 Galis I, Kakiuchi Y, Simek P, Wabiko H (2004) Agrobacterium tumefaciens AK-6b gene modulates phenolic compound metabolism in tobacco. Phytochemistry 65: 169-179 Galis I, Simek P, Van Onckelen H, Kakiuchi Y, Wabiko H (2002) Increased resistance of transgenic tobacco seedlings expressing the Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58-6b gene to growth-inhibitory levels of cytokinin is associated with activation of phenylpropanoid metabolism and elevated IAA levels. Plant and Cell Physiology 43: 939-950 Galis I, Simek P, Macas J, Zahradnickova H, Vlasak J, Wabiko H, Van Dongen W, Van Onckelen H, Ondrej M (1999) The Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58-6b gene confers resistance to N6-benzyladenine without modifying cytokinin metabolism in tobacco seedlings. Planta 209: 453-461 Kertbundit S, Linacero R, Galis I, Macas J, Deboeck F, Rouz P, Hernalsteens J-P, De Greve H (1998) Analysis of T-DNA-mediated translational beta-glucuronidase gene fusions. Plant Molecular Biology 36: 205-217 Pavingerova D, Galis I, Ondrej M (1996) Tissue culture and transformation of Oenothera bienensis. Biologia Plantarum 38: 27-32 Galis I, Macas J, Vlasak J, Ondrej M, Van Onckelen HA (1995) The effect of an elevated cytokinin level using the ipt gene and N6-benzyladenine on single node and intact potato plant tuberization in vitro. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 14: 143-150 Sladky Z, Galis I, Macas J, Brinca P, Dubova J (1994) Physiological regulation of growth in potato transformants [in Czech]. Rostlinna vyroba 40: 721-728 Galis I, Jiraskova J (1993) Effect of ATP concentration and temperature on firefly luciferase activity. Biologia Plantarum 35: 147-153 ♠ Book chapters Galis I, Matsuoka K (2007) Transcriptomic analysis of salicylic acid-responsive genes in tobacco BY-2 cells. In: Salicylic acid - A plant hormone. Eds. S. Hayat and A. Ahmad, Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands Matsuoka K, Galis I (2006) EST and microarray analysis of tobacco BY-2 cells. In: Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, Tobacco BY-2 cells: From cellular dynamics to omics. Eds. T. Nagata, K. Matsuoka & D. Inze, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg Prinsen E, Redig P, Strnad M, Galis I, Van Dongen W, Van Onckelen H (1995) Quantifying phytohormones in transformed plants. In: Methods in Molecular Biology - Agrobacterium Protocols. Eds. K. Gartland & M. Davey, Humana Press Inc.,Totowa NJ ♠ Review articles Galis I, Gaquerel E, Pandey SP, Baldwin IT (2009) Molecular mechanisms underlying plant memory in JA-mediated defense responses. Plant Cell Environment 32: 617-627 Wabiko H, Galis I, Kakiuchi Y (2001) Degeneration and regeneration of plant cells induced by the tumorogenic genes from Agrobacterium [Japanese]. Regulation of Plant Growth and Development 36: 24-34 |