Stress Induced Protein Changes in Tall Fescue

Authors

R. L.G. Long, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Lance T. Adams, University of Arkansas at Little RockFollow
J. D. Corely, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Alvan A. Karlin, University of Arkansas at Little RockFollow
B. L. Parsons, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Maurice G. Kleve, University of Arkansas at Little RockFollow
J. Henle, McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital

Abstract

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), the most important pasture grass in Arkansas, exhibits different agricultural properties when it is infected by its mutualistic endophyte Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Gams. We postulate that the presence of endophyte exerts a stress on the host that enhances or detracts from the host's ability to express specific genes. We tested this hypothesis by heat stressing infected and non-infected, juvenile and mature tall fescue, and examining their protein profiles by SDS-PAGE analysis. The results indicate that mature, infected, stressed grass produced greater amounts of Rubisco (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase) than all other treatments. Additionally, the mature, infected, stressed grass exhibited a 20 k Dalton protein band which was not apparent in other treatments. These observations support the possibility that the endophyte prestresses the grass, and they suggest a molecular mechanism for this response.

Recommended Citation

Long, R. L.G.; Adams, Lance T.; Corely, J. D.; Karlin, Alvan A.; Parsons, B. L.; Kleve, Maurice G.; and Henle, J. (1993) "Stress Induced Protein Changes in Tall Fescue," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 47, Article 18.

Available at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol47/iss1/18