MCBU Molecular and Cell Biology Updates

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2 MCBU Molecular and Cell Biology Updates Series Editors: Prof. Dr. Angelo Azzi Institut fur Biochemie und Molekularbiologie BOhlstr.28 CH-3012 Bern Switzerland Prof. Dr. Lester Packer Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology 251 Life Science Addition Membrane Bioenergetics Group Berkeley, CA USA

3 Signal Transduction in Plants ~dited by P. Aducci Birkhauser Verlag Basel Boston Berlin

4 Volume editors' address: Prof. P. Aducci University of Rome "Tor Vergata" Department of Biology Via della Ricerca Scientifica Rome Italy A CI P catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress, Washington D.C., USA Deutsche Bibliothek Cataloging-in-Publication Data Signal transduction in plants / ed. by P. Aducci. - Basel; Boston; Berlin: Birkhiiuser, 1997 (Molecular and cell biology updates) ISBN-13: NE: Aducci, Patrizia IHrsg.1 The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher cannot assume any legal responsibility for given data, especially as far as directions for the use and the handling of chemicals and drugs are concerned. This information can be obtained from the manufacturers. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machine or similar means, and storage in data banks. Under 54 of the German Copyright Law, where copies are made for other than private use, a fee is payable to "Verwertungsgesellschaft Wort", Munich Birkhiiuser Verlag, PO Box 133, CH-4010 Basel, Switzerland SofIcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1997 Printed on acid-free paper produced from chlorine-free pulp. ISBN-13: e-isbn-13: : 10,1007/

5 Table of Contents Preface... VII Chemical signals: Hormones, Phytotoxins Roles of ion channels in initiation of signal transduction in higher plants I.M. Ward and 1.1. Schroeder ABA signaling in plant development and growth T.L. Thomas, H.-I. Chung and A. N. Nunberg Auxin perception and signal transduction M.A. Venis and R.M. Napier Transduction of ethylene responses M.A. Hall and A.R. Smith Phytotoxins as molecular signals P. Aducci, A. Ballio and M. Marra Physical signals: Blue and red light Blue light-activated signal transduction in higher plants W.R. Briggs and E. Liscum The transduction of light signals by phytochrome C. Bowler Biotic signals: Host-pathogen interactions Perception of fungal elicitors and signal transduction F. Cervone, R. Castoria, F. Leckie and G. De Lorenzo 153 Subject index

6 Preface Increasing interest has been emerging in the last decade in the field of signal recognition and transduction. This is particularly true for animal systems where an impressive amount of literature is appearing and where many important pathways have been clarified at a molecular level. In the elucidation of the functions of single components of a given pathway, gene cloning has played a major role and opened the field to the genetic engineering of these complex systems. At variance with this situation, plant systems are less well elucidated, even if in recent years exciting research developments have been initiated especially with the view toward the most promising role of plants in biotechnology. Recent studies have elucidated some of the events involved in the perception of the plant hormone signals and some steps concerning its transduction. Only for three of the five hormones in plants, namely auxin, ethylene and cytokinins, have specific receptors been isolated. The use of classical molecular approaches, together with the more recently isolated mutants, have produced crucial information on receptors and shed light on possible transduction pathways. As in the case of red light, more than one pathway can be triggered by one specific signal. Many systems involved in animal signaling are now shown to be present also in plants, and in view of the fast progress in this area, it will be possible in the near future to fully describe the content of the "black boxes" in the reaction chain specifically triggered by a signal. These have been some of the reasons that prompted us to prepare the present book. It reflects the current "state of the art" in the field of signal transduction in plants. The contributing authors are experts in different areas of plant physiology and plant molecular biology and have used different approaches to study the recognition and transduction of different signals specific for plant organisms. These can be chemical or physical in nature and some examples will be presented on the molecular mechanisms by which hormones, toxins or light can regulate plant growth, differentiation and morphogenesis. Moreover, plant-pathogen interactions are now beginning to be clarified and some progress on their molecular basis is being described. This book, for its multidisciplinary approach, for the different technologies used and for the emerging interesting peculiarities of the plant world should be of interest both to experts in the field and to a wider audience. I would like to thank my coworkers Vincenzo Fogliano, Maria Rosaria Fullone, Mauro Marra and Silvia Bacocco for their help in organizing the material for the book and the staff of Birkhauser for their collaboration. Patrizia Aducci