Stress induction and antimicrobial properties of a lipid transfer protein in germinating sunflower seeds

J Plant Physiol. 2005 Jun;162(6):618-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2004.10.006.

Abstract

Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) belong to a large family of plant proteins whose function in vivo remains unknown. In this research, we studied a LTP previously isolated from sunflower seeds (Ha-AP10), which displays strong antimicrobial activity against a model fungus. The protein is present during at least the first 5 days of germination, and tissue printing experiments revealed the homogeneous distribution of the protein in the cotyledons. Here we report that Ha-AP10 exerts a weak inhibitory effect on the growth of Alternaria alternata, a fungus that naturally attacks sunflower seeds. These data put into question the contribution of Ha-AP10 as an antimicrobial protein of direct effect on pathogenic fungus, and rather suggest a function related to the mobilization of lipid reserves. We also show that the levels of Ha-AP10 in germinating seeds increase upon salt stress, fungal infection and ABA treatment, indicating that it somehow participates in the adaptative responses of germinating sunflower seeds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abscisic Acid / pharmacology
  • Alternaria / drug effects
  • Antifungal Agents / metabolism
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Carrier Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Carrier Proteins / pharmacology
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Germination
  • Helianthus / physiology*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • Plant Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Plant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Plant Proteins / physiology*
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Ha-AP10 protein, Helianthus annuus
  • Plant Proteins
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Abscisic Acid