| Title: | Two terpene synthases are responsible for the major sesquiterpenes emitted from the flowers of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) |
| Author(s): | Nieuwenhuizen NJ; Wang MY; Matich AJ; Green SA; Chen X; Yauk YK; Beuning LL; Nagegowda DA; Dudareva N; Atkinson RG; |
| Address: | "The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Private Bag 92 169, Auckland, New Zealand. nnieuwenhuizen@hortresearch.co.nz" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1460-2431 (Electronic) 0022-0957 (Print) 0022-0957 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Kiwifruit vines rely on bees for pollen transfer between spatially separated male and female individuals and require synchronized flowering to ensure pollination. Volatile terpene compounds, which are important cues for insect pollinator attraction, were studied by dynamic headspace sampling in the major green-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cultivar 'Hayward' and its male pollinator 'Chieftain'. Terpene volatile levels showed a profile dominated by the sesquiterpenes alpha-farnesene and germacrene D. These two compounds were emitted by all floral tissues and could be observed throughout the day, with lower levels at night. The monoterpene (E)-beta-ocimene was also detected in flowers but was emitted predominantly during the day and only from petal tissue. Using a functional genomics approach, two terpene synthase (TPS) genes were isolated from a 'Hayward' petal EST library. Bacterial expression and transient in planta data combined with analysis by enantioselective gas chromatography revealed that one TPS produced primarily (E,E)-alpha-farnesene and small amounts of (E)-beta-ocimene, whereas the second TPS produced primarily (+)-germacrene D. Subcellular localization using GFP fusions showed that both enzymes were localized in the cytoplasm, the site for sesquiterpene production. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that both TPS genes were expressed in the same tissues and at the same times as the corresponding floral volatiles. The results indicate that two genes can account for the major floral sesquiterpene volatiles observed in both male and female A. deliciosa flowers" |
| Keywords: | "Actinidia/chemistry/*enzymology/metabolism Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism Amino Acid Sequence Flowers/chemistry/enzymology/genetics Gene Expression Regulation, Plant Molecular Sequence Data Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*me;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineNieuwenhuizen, Niels J Wang, Mindy Y Matich, Adam J Green, Sol A Chen, Xiuyin Yauk, Yar-Khing Beuning, Lesley L Nagegowda, Dinesh A Dudareva, Natalia Atkinson, Ross G eng P30 CA023168/CA/NCI NIH HHS/ 2P30CA23168/CA/NCI NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2009/06/12 J Exp Bot. 2009; 60(11):3203-19. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erp162. Epub 2009 Jun 10" |
