Identification of methyl jasmonate-responsive genes in sugarcane using cDNA arrays

Abstract

Jasmonic acid (JA) and its ester methyl jasmonate (MeJA) are linolenic acid-derived signaling molecules involved in plant development and stress responses. MeJA regulates gene expression at transcription, RNA processing and translation. We investigated the changes in gene expression in sugarcane leaves exposed to MeJA using cDNA arrays. Total RNA isolated at 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 12 h following MeJA treatment was labeled with α-33P-dCTP and hybridized to nylon filters containing 1,536 cDNA clones. A significant increase in gene expression in response to MeJA was detected for both novel and well known stress-related genes, while genes participating in photosynthesis and carbohydrate assimilation were down-regulated. Searches for conserved domains in unknown proteins and digital mRNA expression profile analysis revealed putative new stress-related proteins up-regulated by MeJA and the tissues where the MeJA-regulated genes are preferably expressed.