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Biosynthesis of avenanthramides in suspension cultures of oat (Avena sativa)

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Abstract

Oats produce a group of secondary metabolites termed avenanthramides (avn). These compounds are biosynthesized through the action of the enzyme hydroxycinnamoyl CoA: hydroxyanthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HHT) which catalyzes the condensation of one of several cinnamate CoA thioesters with the amine functionality of anthranilic acid, 4-hydroxy- or 5-hydroxy-anthranilic acid. In oat leaf tissue the biosynthesis of avenanthramides appears to result from elicitation by fungal infection. Here we demonstrate the biosynthesis of several avenanthramides in suspension cultures of oat apical meristem callus tissue. This phenomenon appears as a generalized pathogen response, evidenced by the production of PR-1 mRNA, in response to elicitation with chitin (poly-N-acetyl glucosamine). The suspension cultures also produce relatively large quantities of avnA and G in response to chitin elicitation. Under certain culture conditions avnB and C are also produced as well as three additional metabolites tentatively identified as avnH, O and R. These findings portend the utility of oat suspension culture as a tool for more detailed investigation of the mechanisms triggering their biosynthesis as well as the factors dictating the particular types of avenanthramides biosynthesized.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are extended to Rachel Angel, Laurie Herrin, John Herbst, and Nick Partridge for expert technical assistance. NMR data was obtained from the National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, which is supported by NIH grants P41RR02301 (BRTP/NCRR) and P41GM66326 (NIGMS). Additional equipment was purchased with funds from the University of Wisconsin, the NIH (RR02781, RR08438), the NSF (DMB-8415048, OIA-9977486, BIR-9214394), and the USDA. This research is supported by the USDA, Agricultural Research Service CRIS #3655-21000-044-00D.

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Names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of he name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA, ARS, Cereal Crops Research Unit, 502 Walnut St., Madison, WI, 53726, USA

    Mitchell L. Wise & Ronald W. Skadsen

  2. Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Hassan K. Sreenath & Heidi F. Kaeppler

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  1. Mitchell L. Wise
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  2. Hassan K. Sreenath
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Correspondence to Mitchell L. Wise.

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Wise, M.L., Sreenath, H.K., Skadsen, R.W. et al. Biosynthesis of avenanthramides in suspension cultures of oat (Avena sativa). Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 97, 81–90 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-009-9501-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-009-9501-6

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