OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE

This Article Free via Open Access: OA OA Full Text Full Text (PDF) OA All Versions of this Article: 144/2/1066    most recent pp.107.098509v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Loivamäki, M. Articles by Schnitzler, J.-P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Loivamäki, M. Articles by Schnitzler, J.-P. Agricola Articles by Loivamäki, M. Articles by Schnitzler, J.-P.

ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND ADAPTATION TO STRESS

Arabidopsis, a Model to Study Biological Functions of Isoprene Emission?^1,[OA]

Research Centre Karlsruhe, Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (M.L., R.J.F., C.S., A.B., J.-P.S.); and Research Centre Jülich, Institute of Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere (ICG-3): Phytosphere, 52428 Juelich, Germany (F.G., A.W.)

The volatile hemiterpene isoprene is emitted from plants and can affect atmospheric chemistry. Although recent studies indicate that isoprene can enhance thermotolerance or quench oxidative stress, the underlying physiological mechanisms are largely unknown. In this work, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), a natural nonemitter of isoprene and the model plant for functional plant analyses, has been constitutively transformed with the isoprene synthase gene (PcISPS) from Grey poplar (Populus x canescens). Overexpression of poplar ISPS in Arabidopsis resulted in isoprene-emitting rosettes that showed transiently enhanced growth rates compared to the wild type under moderate thermal stress. The findings that highest growth rates, higher dimethylallyl diphosphate levels, and enzyme activity were detected in young plants during their vegetative growth phase indicate that enhanced growth of transgenic plants under moderate thermal stress is due to introduced PcISPS. Dynamic gas-exchange studies applying transient cycles of heat stress to the wild type demonstrate clearly that the prime physiological role of isoprene formation in Arabidopsis is not to protect net assimilation from damage against thermal stress, but may instead be to retain the growth potential or coordinated vegetative development of the plant. Hence, this study demonstrates the enormous potential but also the pitfalls of transgenic Arabidopsis (or other nonnatural isoprenoid emitters) in studying isoprene biosynthesis and its biological function(s).

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Jörg-Peter Schnitzler (joerg-peter.schnitzler{at}imk.fzk.de).

^[OA] Open Access articles can be viewed online without a subscription.

www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.107.098509

^* Corresponding author; e-mail joerg-peter.schnitzler{at}imk.fzk.de; fax 49–8821–183–131.

Received February 23, 2007; accepted April 11, 2007; published April 27, 2007.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. D. Sharkey, A. E. Wiberley, and A. R. Donohue Isoprene Emission from Plants: Why and How Ann. Bot., January 1, 2008; 101(1): 5 - 18. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]