Manipulating of 14-3-3 protein expression resultes in the changes of catecholamine content in potato plant

Recently transgenic potato plants were created where the 14-3-3 protein derived from Cucurbita pepo was overexpressed or potato endogenous 14-3-3 protein repressed. Detailed analysis of those plants suggested that a isolated 14-3-3 isoforms are involved in the control of plant senescence and carbohydrate metabolism. In this study carbohydrate content, adenine nucleotide level and catecholamine content in tubers and leaves of transgenic plants grown in greenhouse and in a field were compared. Overexpressing of 14-3-3 protein gave rise to increase catecholamine contents and soluble sugars in leaves and a reduction in tubers size and starch content. The repression of 14-3-3 synthesis led to opposite effect, a decrease in catecholamine, soluble sugars contents in leaves, and an increase in tubers size and starch content. It is proposed that 14-3-3 protein affects carbohydrate metabolism in potato via regulation of catecholamine synthesis.