Abstract

Peroxidases constitute a large family of proteins found in all higher plants. Owing to the complexity of the peroxidase isoenzyme family it has been difficult to assess the precise function of individual peroxidase enzymes. In this work we have studied the effects of an endogenous peroxidase-like gene from Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst], spi2, on the development and growth of Norway spruce somatic embryo plants. Embryogenic cells of Norway spruce transformed with spi2 under control of the maize ubi-1 promoter showed up to 40 times higher total peroxidase activity than the control cells; regenerated plants overexpressing spi2 showed an increased total peroxidase activity. Based on these results and the overall sequence similarity with cationic peroxidases we conclude that spi2 encodes a peroxidase. Overexpression of spi2 resulted in increased sensitivity to stress, leading to a reduction in epicotyl formation and in height growth compared with control plants. The plants overexpressing spi2 also showed a deeper phloroglucinol staining but similar levels of Klason lignin.

Keywords

peroxidase; Norway spruce; transformation

Published in

Plant Cell Reports
2001, Volume: 20, number: 7, pages: 596-603

SLU Authors

• Elfstrand, Malin

  • Department of Forest Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sitbon, Folke

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Von Arnold, Sara

  • Department of Forest Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Plant Biotechnology
Other Biological Topics
Botany


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990100360

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/42886