The use of cyclic oligosaccharides like cyclodextrins (CDs), alone or combined with methyl jasmonate (MJ), as elicitors has proved very effective in stimulating the production of trans-resveratrol (trans-R) in Vitis vinifera suspension-cultured cells (SCC). Since elicitors can be used to increase trans-R production, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved would improve the management of grapevine cells as factories of this compound. The results obtained in this study provide evidence for a role of Ca(2+) in mediating elicitor-induced trans-R production in grapevine SCC. The Ca(2+) elevation was promoted by an uptake of Ca(2+) from the extracellular medium, and by Ca(2+) mobilization from intracellular organelles. Moreover, protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events seem to be involved in the signal transduction pathways triggered by CDs separately or in combination with MJ since trans-R production is dependent on both, the phosphorylation status of several proteins through mitogen-activated kinase pathway and the activity of tyrosine phosphatases. Our results also suggest that H(2)O(2) and NO participated in the production of trans-R triggered by both elicitors in grapevine SCC. Finally, a fast alkalinization of the extracellular medium is induced in the presence of CDs and/or MJ.
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