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A comparative transcriptome analysis for successive stages of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) developmental leaf senescence (NS), darkening-induced senescence of individual leaves attached to the plant (DIS), and senescence in dark-incubated detached leaves (DET) revealed many novel senescence-associated genes with distinct expression profiles. The three senescence processes share a high number of regulated genes, although the overall number of regulated genes during DIS and DET is about 2 times lower than during NS. Consequently, the number of NS-specific genes is much higher than the number of DIS- or DET-specific genes. The expression profiles of transporters (TPs), receptor-like kinases, autophagy genes, and hormone pathways were analyzed in detail. The Arabidopsis TPs and other integral membrane proteins were systematically reclassified based on the Transporter Classification system. Coordinate activation or inactivation of several genes is observed in some TP families in all three or only in individual senescence types, indicating differences in the genetic programs for remobilization of catabolites. Characteristic senescence type-specific differences were also apparent in the expression profiles of (putative) signaling kinases. For eight hormones, the expression of biosynthesis, metabolism, signaling, and (partially) response genes was investigated. In most pathways, novel senescence-associated genes were identified. The expression profiles of hormone homeostasis and signaling genes reveal additional players in the senescence regulatory network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the ARAMEMNON, a specialized database for Arabidopsis membrane proteins. Facilitation of the interpretation of gene and protein sequence data; Classification of transmembrane (TM) candidate proteins; Comparison between TM computation programs and the predictions of subcellular localization by signal peptide recognition programs.

Cytokinins are phytohormones that are involved in various regulatory processes throughout plant development, but they are also produced by pathogens and known to modulate plant immunity. A novel transgenic approach enabling autoregulated cytokinin synthesis in response to pathogen infection showed that cytokinins mediate enhanced resistance against the virulent hemi-biotrophic pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv tabaci. This was confirmed by two additional independent transgenic approaches to increase endogenous cytokinin production and by exogenous supply of adenine- and phenylurea-derived cytokinins. The cytokinin-mediated resistance strongly correlated with an increased level of bactericidal activities and up-regulated synthesis of the two major antimicrobial phytoalexins in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), scopoletin and capsidiol. The key role of these phytoalexins in the underlying mechanism was functionally proven by the finding that scopoletin and capsidiol substitute in planta for the cytokinin signal: phytoalexin pretreatment increased resistance against P. syringae. In contrast to a cytokinin defense mechanism in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) based on salicylic acid-dependent transcriptional control, the cytokinin-mediated resistance in tobacco is essentially independent from salicylic acid and differs in pathogen specificity. It is also independent of jasmonate levels, reactive oxygen species, and high sugar resistance. The novel function of cytokinins ill the primary defense response of solanaceous plant species is rather mediated through a high phytoalexin-pathogen ratio in the early phase of infection, which efficiently restricts pathogen growth. The implications of this mechanism for the coevolution of host plants and cytokinin-producing pathogens and the practical application in agriculture are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]