Acetosyringone

Occurrence and biological role

Historically, this substance has been best known for its involvement in plant-pathogen recognition, especially its role as a signal attracting and transforming unique, oncogenic bacteria in genus Agrobacterium. The virA gene on the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the Ri plasmid of Agrobacterium rhizogenes is used by these soil bacteria to infect plants, via its encoding for a receptor for acetosyringone and other phenolic phytochemicals exuded by plant wounds. This compound also allows higher transformation efficiency in plants, as shown in A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation procedures, and so is of importance in plant biotechnology.

Acetosyringone can also be found in Posidonia oceanica and a wide variety of other plants. It is secreted at wounded sites of dicotyledons. This compound enhances the Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation in dicots. Monocotyledons lack this wound response, which is considered the limiting factor in Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation in monocots.

The compound is also produced by the male leaffooted bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus) and used in its communication system.

In vitro studies show that acetosyringone increases mycorrhizae formation in the fungus Glomus intraradices.

A total synthesis of this simple natural product was performed by Crawford et al. in 1956, but is of limited contemporary synthetic interest. A variety of acetosyringone analogues are available, including some which are covalent inactivators of cellular processes that involve acetosyringone.

Chemical characteristics

Acetosyringone does not dissolve well in water. Although it has a melting point of about 125 degree Celsius, it is not wise to autoclave acetosyringone along with the medium used for (for example) plant infiltration by microbes.

References

References

1. (2005). "Involvement of acetosyringone in plant-pathogen recognition". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
2. (2000). "Sequence analysis of the vir-region from Agrobacterium tumefaciens octopine Ti plasmid pTi15955". Journal of Experimental Botany.
3. (1987). "Acetosyringone promotes high efficiency transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana explants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens". Plant Molecular Biology.
4. (1998). "Distribution of phenolic compounds in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica". Phytochemistry.
5. (2010). "Improving ''Agrobacterium''-mediated Transformation Protocol For Integration Of XA21 Gene In Wheat (''Triticum aestivum'' L.)". Pak. J. Bot..
6. [http://www.pherobase.com/database/compound/compounds-detail-acetosyringone.php Acetosyringone on www.pherobase.com, the pheromones data base]
7. (1976). "Male specific natural products in the bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus: Chemistry and possible function". Journal of Insect Physiology.
8. (1979). "Species-specific natural products of adult male leaf-footed bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)". Journal of Chemical Ecology.
9. (2008). "Role of acetosyringone in the accumulation of a set of RNAs in the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus ''Glomus intraradices''". International Microbiology.
10. (1956). "An Improved Synthesis of Acetosyringone". Canadian Journal of Chemistry.