Detoxification of the cruciferous phytoalexin brassinin in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum requires an inducible glucosyltransferase

Phytochemistry. 2004 Oct;65(19):2685-94. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.08.033.

Abstract

The phytoalexins, brassinin, 1-methoxybrassinin and cyclobrassinin, were metabolized by the stem rot fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum into their corresponding glucosyl derivatives displaying no detectable antifungal activity. Importantly, co-incubation of S. sclerotiorum with camalexins, various phytoalexin analogs, and brassinin indicated that a synthetic camalexin derivative could slow down substantially the rate of brassinin detoxification. Furthermore, inducible brassinin glucosyltransferase (BGT) activity was detected in crude cell-free extracts of S. sclerotiorum. BGT activity was induced by the phytoalexin camalexin, and the brassinin analogs methyl tryptamine dithiocarbamate and methyl 1-methyltryptamine dithiocarbamate. The overall results suggest that the fungus S. sclerotiorum in its continuous adaptation and co-evolution with brassinin producing plants, has acquired efficient glucosyltransferase(s) that can disarm some of the most active plant chemical defenses.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / metabolism*
  • Antifungal Agents / toxicity
  • Ascomycota / drug effects
  • Ascomycota / enzymology
  • Ascomycota / genetics
  • Ascomycota / metabolism*
  • Cell Extracts
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Glucosyltransferases / genetics
  • Glucosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Inactivation, Metabolic
  • Indoles / metabolism*
  • Indoles / toxicity
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phytoalexins
  • Plant Extracts / metabolism*
  • Plant Extracts / toxicity
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Terpenes
  • Thiocarbamates / metabolism*
  • Thiocarbamates / toxicity

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Cell Extracts
  • Indoles
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Terpenes
  • Thiocarbamates
  • brassinin
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • Phytoalexins