tobacco and Hyoscyamus muticus inducible sesquiterpene cy-Phytoalexins play an important role in the inducible defense clase genes were used with the system for rapid amplification responses of plants against diseases caused by fungi. Some of cDNA ends (3%-RACE) technique to prepare pepper EAS-enzymes, involved in the respective biosynthetic pathways, catalyze key steps. Farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) is a key cDNA fragments (PEAS-cDNA). Three specific PEASintermediate in the biosynthesis of terpenes. It may be con-cDNAs were isolated (PEAS1, PEAS18, and PEAS55). verted into several cyclic and some acyclic sesquiterpenic Northern blots of total RNA samples from pepper plant derivatives, sterol precursors, or to geranylgeranyl pyrophos-tissues challenged with cellulase or Phytophthora capsici phate according to the requirements of the plant cells. Specific showed different expression levels of the respective transcripts. cyclization reactions of FPP are catalyzed by particular PEAS1 was used to identify the corresponding elicitor-stimulated gene (gPEAS1). The nucleotide sequence of the pro-sesquiterpene cyclases. The 5-epi-aristolochene synthase posed gPEAS1 promoter showed putative stimuli-and (EAS) enzyme of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) produce the 5-epi-aristolochene, which is tissue-specific responsive elements. A pepper 5-epi-aristolochene synthase gene family of 5 -8 members was demonstrated the immediate precursor of the bicyclic phytoalexin capsidiol. Oligonucleotides homologous to 3%-end specific regions of by Southern blot.

Phytoalexins play an important role in the inducible defense responses of plants against diseases caused by fungi. Some enzymes, involved in the respective biosynthetic pathways, catalyze key steps. Farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of terpenes. It may be converted into several cyclic and some acyclic sesquiterpenic derivatives, sterol precursors, or to geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate according to the requirements of the plant cells. Specific cyclization reactions of FPP are catalyzed by particular sesquiterpene cyclases. The 5‐epi‐aristolochene synthase (EAS) enzyme of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) produce the 5‐epi‐aristolochene, which is the immediate precursor of the bicyclic phytoalexin capsidiol. Oligonucleotides homologous to 3′‐end specific regions of tobacco and Hyoscyamus muticus inducible sesquiterpene cyclase genes were used with the system for rapid amplification of cDNA ends (3′‐RACE) technique to prepare pepper EAS‐cDNA fragments (PEAS‐cDNA). Three specific PEAS‐cDNAs were isolated (PEAS1, PEAS18, and PEAS55). Northern blots of total RNA samples from pepper plant tissues challenged with cellulase or Phytophthora capsici showed different expression levels of the respective transcripts. PEAS1 was used to identify the corresponding elicitor‐stimulated gene (gPEAS1). The nucleotide sequence of the proposed gPEAS1 promoter showed putative stimuli‐ and tissue‐specific responsive elements. A pepper 5‐epi‐aristolochene synthase gene family of 5–8 members was demonstrated by Southern blot.