Regulation of a plant pathogenesis-related enzyme: Inhibition of chitinase and chitinase mRNA accumulation in cultured tobacco tissues by auxin and cytokinin

Two endochitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) of M(r) values of approximately 34,000 and approximately 32,000 have been purified from cultured tissues of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Havana 425. The chitinase content of cloned tobacco pith tissues subcultured on hormone-free medium increases by approximately 5-fold to 8% of the soluble protein over a 7-day period. This induction is inhibited >90% by addition of combinations of the plant hormones auxin and cytokinin to the culture medium. Chitinase is also developmentally regulated in the intact plant. Not detectable in leaves near the top of the plant, it is 1-4% of the soluble protein in roots and lower leaves. A cDNA clone of tobacco chitinase was isolated containing a single, large open reading frame of 310 amino acids that includes the complete amino acid sequence of the mature enzyme. Chitinase and chitinase mRNA measured by RNA blot analysis show similar patterns of regulation indicating that chitinase accumulation is controlled, at least in part, at the mRNA level. The patterns were also similar to those obtained with glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.39) suggesting that the two enzymes are coordinately regulated.