Survival of Plants During Short-Term BOA-OH Exposure: ROS Related Gene Expression and Detoxification Reactions Are Accompanied With Fast Membrane Lipid Repair in Root Tips.

For the characterization of BOA-OH insensitive plants, we studied the time-dependent effects of the benzoxazolinone-4/5/6/7-OH isomers on maize roots. Exposure of Zea mays seedlings to 0.5 mM BOA-OH elicits root zone-specific reactions by the formation of dark rings and spots in the zone of lateral roots, high catalase activity on root hairs, and no visible defense reaction at the root tip. We studied BOA-6-OH- short-term effects on membrane lipids and fatty acids in maize root tips in comparison to the benzoxazinone-free species Abutilon theophrasti Medik. Decreased contents of phosphatidylinositol in A. theophrasti and phosphatidylcholine in maize were found after 10-30 min. In the youngest tissue, α-linoleic acid (18:2), decreased considerably in both species and recovered within one hr. Disturbances in membrane phospholipid contents were balanced in both species within 30-60 min. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) were also affected, but levels of maize diacylglycerols (DAGs) were almost unchanged, suggesting a release of fatty acids for membrane lipid regeneration from TAGs while resulting DAGs are buildings blocks for phospholipid reconstitution, concomitant with BOA-6-OH glucosylation. Expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and of ER-bound oleoyl desaturase (FAD2-2) genes were contemporaneously up regulated in contrast to the catalase CAT1, while CAT3 was arguably involved at a later stage of the detoxification process. Immuno-responses were not elicited in short-terms, since the expression of NPR1, POX12 were barely affected, PR4 after 6 h with BOA-4/7-OH and PR1 after 24 h with BOA-5/6-OH. The rapid membrane recovery, reactive oxygen species, and allelochemical detoxification may be characteristic for BOA-OH insensitive plants.

Lewis Acid Mediated Nazarov Cyclization as a Convergent and Enantioselective Entry to C-nor-D-homo-Steroids.

A straightforward synthesis of C-nor-D-homo steroids starting from (+)-Wieland-Miescher ketone is reported. This convergent synthetic strategy utilizes a scalable diastereoselective Nazarov cyclization of functionalized chiral aryl vinyl ketones, allowing for further functionalization. The ability to conduct this key transformation on a multi-gram scale paves the way for the synthesis of a variety of completely new C-nor-D-homo steroids, without the need of a classic steran steroid rearrangement or achiral linear reaction sequences.

6-Hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one-A degradable derivative of natural 6-Hydroxybenzoxazolin-2(3H)-one produced by Pantoea ananatis.

Pantoea ananatis is a bacterium associated with other microorganisms on Abutilon theophrasti Medik. roots. It converts 6-hydroxybenzoxazolin-2(3H)-one (BOA-6-OH), a hydroxylated derivative of the allelochemical benzoxazolin-2(3H)-one, into 6-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one. The compound was identified by NMR and mass spectrometric methods. In vitro synthesis succeeded with Pantoea protein, with isolated proteins from the Abutilon root surface or with horseradish peroxidase in the presence of nitrite and H2O2. Nitro-BOA-6-OH is completely degraded further by Pantoea ananatis and Abutilon root surface proteins. Under laboratory conditions, 6-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one inhibits Lepidium sativum seedling growth whereas Abutilon theophrasti is much less affected. Although biodegradable, an agricultural use of 6-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one is undesirable because of the high toxicity of nitro aromatic compounds to mammals.

Interspecies-cooperations of abutilon theophrasti with root colonizing microorganisms disarm BOA-OH allelochemicals.

A facultative, microbial micro-community colonizing roots of Abutilon theophrasti Medik. supports the plant in detoxifying hydroxylated benzoxazolinones. The root micro-community is composed of several fungi and bacteria with Actinomucor elegans as a dominant species. The yeast Papiliotrema baii and the bacterium Pantoea ananatis are actively involved in the detoxification of hydroxylated benzoxazolinones by generating H2O2. At the root surface, laccases, peroxidases and polyphenol oxidases cooperate for initiating polymerization reactions, whereby enzyme combinations seem to differ depending on the hydroxylation position of BOA-OHs. A glucosyltransferase, able to glucosylate the natural benzoxazolinone detoxification intermediates BOA-5- and BOA-6-OH, is thought to reduce oxidative overshoots by damping BOA-OH induced H2O2 generation. Due to this detoxification network, growth of Abutilon theophrasti seedlings is not suppressed by BOA-OHs. Polymer coats have no negative influence. Alternatively, quickly degradable 6-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one can be produced by the micro-community member Pantoea ananatis at the root surfaces. The results indicate that Abutilon theophrasti has evolved an efficient strategy by recruiting soil microorganisms with special abilities for different detoxification reactions which are variable and may be triggered by the allelochemical´s structure and by environmental conditions.