Methyl jasmonate elicitation of common bean seedlings induces nucleotidase activity and the expression of several nucleotidase genes in radicles

Abstract

Nucleotides are the basic elements of the genetic material, participate in bio-energetic processes, are cofactors and components of secondary metabolites, etc. Nucleotide hydrolases (nucleotidases) are phosphatases that remove the 5'-phosphate group from the nucleotides and play a crucial role in nucleotide metabolism. In this study, genes encoding putative nucleotidases in Phaseolus vulgaris have been identified, and the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on both nucleotidase activity and gene expression has been addressed. The predicted nucleotidase peptides include the conserved domains characteristic of the haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolase superfamily. The analysis of the expression of the 11 identified genes in radicles of common bean seedlings elicited with MeJA showed that 3 of them are highly induced by this phytohormone in a dose-dependent manner. Nucleotidase activity in radicles from MeJA treated plants was higher than in not elicited seedlings, and this induction was observed with all the nucleotides assayed (mono-, di- or triphosphate) and with purine or pyrimidine nucleotides. MeJA is involved in biotic and abiotic stress, and the induction of nucleotide metabolism in response to this treatment suggests a relevant role for nucleotides in the seedlings response to unfavourable conditions.

Keywords

• haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolases superfamily
• phosphatases
• stresses