The role of plant Cyanogenic Glucosides (CGs) in immunity and symbiosis
M. NEWMAN (1), L. Andersen Gersby (1), G. Erbs (2) (1) University of Copenhagen, Denmark; (2) University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Cyanogenic glucosides (CGs) are β-glucosides of α-hydroxynitriles which are believed to play an important role in plant defence against herbivores due to their bitter taste and release of toxic hydrogen cyanide upon tissue disruption. Two papers in Science have established a link between glucosinolate metabolism and innate immunity in response to microbial pathogens in Arabidopsis thaliana. This link cannot exist for most species because glucosinolates are limited to the Brassicaceae. The CGs are much more widely distributed compounds than the glucosinolates, and in fact the glucosinolate pathway has been suggested to have originated from the biosynthesis of CGs by the evolution of a CYP83 enzyme. Using a Lotus japonicus mutant (cyd1) which is completely deficient in the biosynthesis of CGs, we have obtained preliminary data that CGs do indeed impact innate immune responses to bacteria, but that CGs in wild type Lotus might operate to suppress such defences. Many legumes rely on nitrogen fixation via a symbiotic interaction with bacteria (for example Lotus interacting with Rhizobia (ex. Mesorhizobium loti)) and need to be able to suppress defence responses induced by these bacteria. Breeding programs and transgenic approaches in several crops are aimed at reducing or eliminating cyanogenesis, especially in tissues used for feed or food, but this ancient pathway may play an important role for the plant’s survival.

Abstract Number: P17-577
Session Type: Poster