HORNET VENOM INDUCES ABUNDANT EXPRESSION OF SPECIFIC POLYPEPTIDES IN YOUNG BARLEY LEAVES

Venom of Vespa crabro induced in barley an abundant expression of at l east five polypeptides, having the same apparent molecular masses as t he jasmonate-induced polypeptides. Treatment of venom by trypsin, as w ell as addition of indomethacin prevented the appearance of the polype ptides. Separation of the venom by gel-filtration chromatography showe d that the fraction containing phospholipase activity was able to indu ce expression of the 23 kDa polypeptide as revealed by 2-D electrophor esis, but the induction was much stronger when this fraction was appli ed together with the fraction of the low molecular weight peptides, Th e treatment by venom did not promote senescence of the detached leaves as the jasmonate did and kept the photosynthesis, transpiration, prot ein content, and the intensity of labelled amino acid incorporation in to proteins near the control values.