Expression of the Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene from Rat Leads to Oxidative Stress in Potato Plants
Kamil Kostyn,
Aleksandra Boba,
Anna Kostyn,
Bartosz Kozak,
Michał Starzycki,
Anna Kulma,
Jan Szopa
Affiliations
Kamil Kostyn
Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24A, 50-363 Wroclaw, Poland
Aleksandra Boba
Department of Genetic Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
Anna Kostyn
Department of Genetic Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
Bartosz Kozak
Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24A, 50-363 Wroclaw, Poland
Michał Starzycki
The Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Inst. (IHAR)—National Research Inst., Research Div, Poznan, ul. Strzeszyńska 36, 60-479 Poznan, Poland
Anna Kulma
Department of Genetic Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland
Jan Szopa
Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24A, 50-363 Wroclaw, Poland
Catecholamines are biogenic aromatic amines common among both animals and plants. In animals, they are synthesized via tyrosine hydroxylation, while both hydroxylation or decarboxylation of tyrosine are possible in plants, depending on the species, though no tyrosine hydroxylase—a counterpart of the animal enzyme—has been identified yet. It is known that in potato plants, it is the decarboxylation of tyrosine that leads to catecholamine production. In this paper, we present the effects of the induction of an alternative route of catecholamine production by introducing the tyrosine hydroxylase gene from rat. We demonstrate that an animal system can be used by the plant. However, it does not function to synthesize catecholamines. Instead, it leads to elevated reactive oxygen species content and a constant stress condition in the plant, which responds with elevated antioxidant levels and improved resistance to infection.
