Untargeted metabolomics analysis reveals dynamic changes in azelaic acid- and salicylic acid derivatives in LPS-treated Nicotiana tabacum cells

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 482; no. 4; pp. 1498 - 1503
• Main Authors: Mhlongo, M.I., Tugizimana, F., Piater, L.A., Steenkamp, P.A., Madala, N.E., Dubery, I.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 22.01.2017
• Subjects: Azelaic acid; Biomarkers - chemistry; biotic stress; cell suspension culture; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Liquid; defense mechanisms; Dicarboxylic Acids - chemistry; elicitors; Glycosylation; Innate immunity; Lipopolysaccharide; lipopolysaccharides; Lipopolysaccharides - chemistry; liquid chromatography; Mass Spectrometry; metabolites; Metabolomics; methanol; methyl salicylate; Multivariate Analysis; Nicotiana - chemistry; Nicotiana tabacum; Phytohormones; Plant Growth Regulators - chemistry; plant hormones; Salicylic acid; Salicylic Acid - chemistry; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Lipopolysaccharide; Phytohormones; Metabolomics; Salicylic acid; Innate immunity; Azelaic acid
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.12.063

To counteract biotic stress factors, plants employ multilayered defense mechanisms responsive to pathogen-derived elicitor molecules, and regulated by different phytohormones and signaling molecules. Here, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) molecule, was used to induce defense responses in Nicotiana tabacum cell suspensions. Intracellular metabolites were extracted with methanol and analyzed using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-qTOF-MS/MS) platform. The generated data were processed and examined with multivariate and univariate statistical tools. The results show time-dependent dynamic changes and accumulation of glycosylated signaling molecules, specifically those of azelaic acid, salicylic acid and methyl-salicylate as contributors to the altered metabolomic state in LPS-treated cells. •LPS-induced changes in the metabolome of tobacco cells were investigated.•PCA plots revealed time-dependent metabolic perturbations.•OPLS-DA plots indicated signatory bio-markers.•Glycosides of azelaic acid, salicylic acid and methylsalicylate are biomarkers.•AzA and SA play a role in LPS-induced priming and defence activation.