| Title: | Gamma-aminobutyrate: defense against invertebrate pests? |
| Author(s): | Bown AW; Macgregor KB; Shelp BJ; |
| Address: | "Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A9, Canada" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.tplants.2006.07.002 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1360-1385 (Print) 1360-1385 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) is a ubiquitous four-carbon, non-protein amino acid. In plants, stress-induced GABA accumulation is well documented. However, the role(s) of GABA accumulation is contentious. In this Opinion article, we argue that wounding due to herbivory and crawling by insect larvae causes rapid GABA accumulation via the disruption of cellular compartmentation and the release of the acidic vacuolar contents to the cytosol. The activity of glutamate decarboxylase, the cytosolic enzyme responsible for GABA synthesis, has an acidic pH optimum. Subsequent GABA ingestion has a plant defense function by directly acting on GABA-regulated invertebrate neuromuscular junctions. Plants with an enhanced GABA-producing capacity reduce herbivory by invertebrate pests. These findings suggest that GABA accumulation is a rapidly deployed, local resistance mechanism that constitutes a first line of defense in deterring herbivory" |
| Keywords: | Animals Chloride Channels/metabolism Insecta/metabolism Larva/metabolism Neuromuscular Junction/metabolism Plants/*metabolism/*parasitology gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/*metabolism; |
| Notes: | "MedlineBown, Alan W Macgregor, Kennaway B Shelp, Barry J eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2006/08/08 Trends Plant Sci. 2006 Sep; 11(9):424-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2006.07.002. Epub 2006 Aug 4" |
