CYP76C2, AN ARABIDOPSIS-THALIANA CYTOCHROME-P450 GENE EXPRESSED DURING HYPERSENSITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL CELL-DEATH

The characterisation of an Arabidopsis thaliana cytochrome P450-encodi ng cDNA clone, B72, preferentially expressed during the hypersensitive response (HR) provoked by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pathovar maculitcola, is reported. The B72 cDNA clone corresponded to the CYP76C2 gene, which belongs to a small multigene family comprisin g four genes. HR-triggering bacteria harbouring different avirulence g enes induced the accumulation of transcripts of this P450 gene. CYP76C 2 gene expression was moreover associated with various processes leadi ng to cell death such as leaf senescence, ageing of cell cultures, wou nding as well as with treatment with the necrotising heavy metal salt, lead nitrate. (C) 1998 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.