Cloning and characterization of maize herbicide safener-induced cDNAs encoding subunits of glutathione S-transferase isoforms I, II and IV

Role of glutathione S-transferases in the mode of action of herbicides that inhibit amino acid synthesis in Amaranthus palmeri

Acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS inhibitors) and glyphosate are two classes of herbicides that act by inhibiting an enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of branched-chain or aromatic amino acids, respectively. Besides amino acid synthesis inhibition, both herbicides trigger similar physiological effects in plants. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the role of glutathione metabolism, with special emphasis on glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), in the mode of action of glyphosate and ALS inhibitors in Amaranthus palmeri. For that purpose, plants belonging to a glyphosate-sensitive (GLS) and a glyphosate-resistant (GLR) population were treated with different doses of glyphosate, and plants belonging to an ALS-inhibitor sensitive (AIS) and an ALS-inhibitor resistant (AIR) population were treated with different doses of the ALS inhibitor nicosulfuron. Glutathione-related contents, GST activity, and related gene expressions (glutamate-cysteine ligase, glutathione reductase, Phi GST and Tau GST) were analysed in leaves. According to the results of the analytical determinations, there were virtually no basal differences between GLS and GLR plants or between AIS and AIR plants. Glutathione synthesis and turnover did not follow a clear pattern in response to herbicides, but GST activity and gene expression (especially Phi GSTs) increased with both herbicides in treated sensitive plants, possibly related to the rocketing H2O2 accumulation. As GSTs offered the clearest results, these were further investigated with a multiple resistant (MR) population, compressing target-site resistance to both glyphosate and the ALS inhibitor pyrithiobac. As in single-resistant plants, measured parameters in the MR population were unaffected by herbicides, meaning that the increase in GST activity and expression occurs due to herbicide interactions with the target enzymes.

Transcriptomic analysis of maize uncovers putative genes involved in metabolic detoxification under four safeners treatment

Isoxadifen-ethyl (IDF) and cyprosulfamide (CSA) can effectively protect maize from nicosulfuron (NIC) injury, while mefenpyr-diethyl (MPR) and fenchlorazole-ethyl (FCO) did not. Their chemical diversity and requirement to use them in combination with the corresponding herbicides suggest that their elicitation of gene expression are complex and whether it is associated with the safening activity remains elusive. In this study, our first objective was to determine whether or not the ability of four safeners to enhance the metabolic rate of nicosulfuron. It was found that nicosulfuron degradation in maize was accelerated by IDF and CSA, but not by FCO and MPR. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the number of genes induced by IDF and CSA were larger than that induced by FCO and MPR. Overall, 34 genes associated with detoxification were identified, including glutathione S-transferase (GST), cytochrome P450 (CYP450), UDP-glucosyltransferase (UGT), transporter and serine. Moreover, 14 detoxification genes were screened for further verification by real-time PCR in two maize inbred lines. Two maize inbred lines exhibited high expression levels of four genes (GST31, GST39, AGXT2 and ADH) after IDF treatment. GST6, GST19, MATE, SCPL18 and UF3GT were specifically up-regulated in telerant maize inbred line under IDF and IDF + NIC treatments. Seven genes, namely GST31, GST6, GST19, UF3GT, MATE, ADH and SCPL18, are induced by IDF and CSA to play a vital role in regulating the detoxification process of NIC. Accordingly, the GST activity in maize was accelerated by IDF and CSA, but not by FCO and MPR. This result is consistent with transcriptome and metabolic data.These results indicate that the mitigation of NIC damage is associated with enhanced herbicide metabolism. IDF and CSA were more effective in protecting maize from NIC injury due to their ability to enhance the detoxification of specific types of herbicides, compared to FCO and MPR. The chemical specificity of four safeners is attributed to the up-regulated genes related to the detoxification pathway.

Glutathione S-transferase: a versatile protein family

Glutathione-S transferase (GST) is a most ancient protein superfamily of multipurpose roles and evolved principally from gene duplication of an ancestral GSH binding protein. They have implemented in diverse plant functions such as detoxification of xenobiotic, secondary metabolism, growth and development, and majorly against biotic and abiotic stresses. The vital structural features of GSTs like highly divergent functional topographies, conserved integrated architecture with separate binding pockets for substrates and ligand, the stringent structural fidelity with high Tm values (50º-60º), and stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements in the promoter region offer this protein as most flexible plant protein for plant breeding approaches, biotechnological applications, etc. This review article summarizes the recent information of GST evolution, and their distribution and structural features with emphasis on the assorted roles of Ser and Cys GSTs with the signature motifs in their active sites, alongside their recent biotechnological application in the area of agriculture, environment, and nanotechnology have been highlighted.

Chemically induced herbicide tolerance in rice by the safener metcamifen is associated with a phased stress response

The closely related sulphonamide safeners, metcamifen and cyprosulfamide, were tested for their ability to protect rice from clodinafop-propargyl, a herbicide normally used in wheat. While demonstrating that both compounds were equally bioavailable in planta, only metcamifen prevented clodinafop from damaging seedlings, and this was associated with the enhanced detoxification of the herbicide. Transcriptome studies in rice cultures demonstrated that whereas cyprosulfamide had a negligible effect on gene expression over a 4 h exposure, metcamifen perturbed the abundance of 590 transcripts. Changes in gene expression with metcamifen could be divided into three phases, corresponding to inductions occurring over 30 min, 1.5 h and 4 h. The first phase of gene induction was dominated by transcription factors and proteins of unknown function, the second by genes involved in herbicide detoxification, while the third was linked to cellular homeostasis. Analysis of the inducible genes suggested that safening elicited similar gene families to those associated with specific biotic and abiotic stresses, notably those elicited by abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and methyl jasmonate. Subsequent experiments with safener biomarker genes induced in phase 1 and 2 in rice cell cultures provided further evidence of similarities in signalling processes elicited by metcamifen and salicylic acid.

Copper-induced oxidative cleavage of glutathione transferase F1-1 from Zea mays

Study of the interaction of glutathione transferase F1-1 from Zea mays (ZmGSTF1-1) with Cu(II), in the presence of ascorbate showed that the enzyme was rapidly inactivated. The inactivation was time and Cu(II) concentration dependent. The rate of inactivation showed non-linear dependence on Cu(II) concentration, indicating that a reversible complex with the enzyme (K_D 84.5 ± 6.5 μM) was formed. The inhibitors S-nitrobenzyl-glutathione or S-methyl-glutathione competes with Cu(II), suggesting the specificity of the chemical modification reaction. SDS-PAGE analysis of the inactivated enzyme showed that the enzyme is fragmented and two new bands of 13 and 11 kDa are formed. This shows that ZmGSTF1-1 was specifically cleaved at a single site, by the locally generated free radicals, through a Fenton-type reaction. Sequencing of the fragments allowed the identification of the Cu(II) binding site on ZmGSTF1-1. The three-dimensional structure of ZmGSTF1-1 reveals that the Cu(II) binding site is localized within the glutathione-binding site (G-site) and His40 and Gln53 are most likely the residues that provide the coordination sites for the Cu(II) binding. These findings were confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. This copper-induced oxidative cleavage reaction of ZmGSTF1-1 may function as a detoxification route for Cu(II) for protecting plant cells from copper-induced deleterious effects.

The expression of detoxification genes in two maize cultivars by interaction of isoxadifen-ethyl and nicosulfuron

Herbicide safeners protect crop plants from herbicide phytotoxicity, but an understanding of their molecular mechanisms is still lacking. We investigated the effects of the safener isoxadifen-ethyl and/or nicosulfuron on the expression of 10 genes, 8 glutathione transferases (GSTs), 1 glutathione transporter and 1 multidrug resistance protein gene in two maize cultivars. Nicosulfuron and isoxadifen-ethyl induce different detoxification enzyme genes. The expression analyses of the 10 genes revealed that most were expressed much higher in 'Zhengdan958' than those in 'Zhenghuangnuo No.2', both in control and in isoxadifen-ethyl- and/or nicosulfuron-treated plants. The expression levels of ZmGSTIV, ZmGST6, ZmGST31 and ZmMRP1 in two maize cultivars were up-regulated by isoxadifen-ethyl only, or in combination with nicosulfuron, whereas nicosulfuron down-regulated the expression of eight genes. Thus, ZmGSTIV, ZmGST6, ZmGST31 and ZmMRP1 could be considered safener-responsive and may be the core genes responsible for isoxadifen-ethyl increasing the tolerance of maize to nicosulfuron.

Testing a chemical series inspired by plant stress oxylipin signalling agents for herbicide safening activity

BACKGROUND

Herbicide safening in cereals is linked to a rapid xenobiotic response (XR), involving the induction of glutathione transferases (GSTs). The XR is also invoked by oxidized fatty acids (oxylipins) released during plant stress, suggesting a link between these signalling agents and safening. To examine this relationship, a series of compounds modelled on the oxylipins 12-oxophytodienoic acid and phytoprostane 1, varying in lipophilicity and electrophilicity, were synthesized. Compounds were then tested for their ability to invoke the XR in Arabidopsis and protect rice seedlings exposed to the herbicide pretilachlor, as compared with the safener fenclorim.

RESULTS

Of the 21 compounds tested, three invoked the rapid GST induction associated with fenclorim. All compounds possessed two electrophilic carbon centres and a lipophilic group characteristic of both oxylipins and fenclorim. Minor effects observed in protecting rice seedlings from herbicide damage positively correlated with the XR, but did not provide functional safening.

CONCLUSION

The design of safeners based on the characteristics of oxylipins proved successful in deriving compounds that invoke a rapid XR in Arabidopsis but not in providing classical safening in a cereal. The results further support a link between safener and oxylipin signalling, but also highlight species-dependent differences in the responses to these compounds. © 2018 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Biochemical characterization of metabolism-based atrazine resistance in Amaranthus tuberculatus and identification of an expressed GST associated with resistance

Rapid detoxification of atrazine in naturally tolerant crops such as maize (Zea mays) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) results from glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. In previous research, two atrazine-resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) populations from Illinois, U.S.A. (designated ACR and MCR), displayed rapid formation of atrazine-glutathione (GSH) conjugates, implicating elevated rates of metabolism as the resistance mechanism. Our main objective was to utilize protein purification combined with qualitative proteomics to investigate the hypothesis that enhanced atrazine detoxification, catalysed by distinct GSTs, confers resistance in ACR and MCR. Additionally, candidate AtuGST expression was analysed in an F₂ population segregating for atrazine resistance. ACR and MCR showed higher specific activities towards atrazine in partially purified ammonium sulphate and GSH affinity-purified fractions compared to an atrazine-sensitive population (WCS). One-dimensional electrophoresis of these fractions displayed an approximate 26-kDa band, typical of GST subunits. Several phi- and tau-class GSTs were identified by LC-MS/MS from each population, based on peptide similarity with GSTs from Arabidopsis. Elevated constitutive expression of one phi-class GST, named AtuGSTF2, correlated strongly with atrazine resistance in ACR and MCR and segregating F₂ population. These results indicate that AtuGSTF2 may be linked to a metabolic mechanism that confers atrazine resistance in ACR and MCR.

Unexpected Metabolic Reactions and Secondary Targets of Pesticide Action

Pesticides provide a fascinating combination of substituents not present in other environmental chemicals, leading to unexpected metabolites and toxicological effects in pests, mammals, and other organisms. The parent compound and/or metabolites of some pesticides have multiple targets, requiring identification of the causal agents and their modes of action. This review considers a few of the author's observations in the past six decades, some solved and others still puzzling. It illustrates that a new substituent combination not only confers specific chemical and physical properties to a class of compounds but often yields metabolites with a surprising variety of biological activities. Examples considered include proinsecticides, procyclic phosphates, CYP inhibitors as synergists, thiocarbamate sulfoxides, promutagens, carcinogens, and hepatotoxins, and stress tolerance inducers in plants. Although the discoveries considered are based on pesticide toxicology, they are broadly applicable to environmental toxicology and xenobiotics in animals, plants, and microorganisms.

RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis to identify genes involved in metabolism-based diclofop resistance in Lolium rigidum

Weed control failures due to herbicide resistance are an increasing and worldwide problem that significantly affect crop yields. Metabolism-based herbicide resistance (referred to as metabolic resistance) in weeds is not well characterized at the genetic level. An RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis was used to find candidate genes that conferred metabolic resistance to the herbicide diclofop in a diclofop-resistant population (R) of the major global weed Lolium rigidum. A reference cDNA transcriptome (19 623 contigs) was assembled and assigned putative annotations. Global gene expression was measured using Illumina reads from untreated control, adjuvant-only control, and diclofop treatment of R and susceptible (S). Contigs that showed constitutive expression differences between untreated R and untreated S were selected for further validation analysis, including 11 contigs putatively annotated as cytochrome P450 (CytP450), glutathione transferase (GST), or glucosyltransferase (GT), and 17 additional contigs with annotations related to metabolism or signal transduction. In a forward genetics validation experiment, nine contigs had constitutive up-regulation in R individuals from a segregating F2 population, including three CytP450, one nitronate monooxygenase (NMO), three GST, and one GT. Principal component analysis using these nine contigs differentiated F2 -R from F2 -S individuals. In a physiological validation experiment in which 2,4-D pre-treatment induced diclofop protection in S individuals due to increased metabolism, seven of the nine genetically validated contigs were induced significantly. Four contigs (two CytP450, NMO, and GT) were consistently highly expressed in nine field-evolved metabolic resistant L. rigidum populations. These four contigs were strongly associated with the resistance phenotype and are major candidates for contributing to metabolic diclofop resistance.

Proteomic analysis of the low mutation rate of diploid male gametes induced by colchicine in Ginkgo biloba L

Colchicine treatment of G. biloba microsporocytes results in a low mutation rate in the diploid (2n) male gamete. The mutation rate is significantly lower as compared to other tree species and impedes the breeding of new economic varieties. Proteomic analysis was done to identify the proteins that influence the process of 2n gamete formation in G. biloba. The microsporangia of G. biloba were treated with colchicine solution for 48 h and the proteins were analyzed using 2-D gel electrophoresis and compared to protein profiles of untreated microsporangia. A total of 66 proteins showed difference in expression levels. Twenty-seven of these proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. Among the 27 proteins, 14 were found to be up-regulated and the rest 13 were down-regulated. The identified proteins belonged to five different functional classes: ATP generation, transport and carbohydrate metabolism; protein metabolism; ROS scavenging and detoxifying enzymes; cell wall remodeling and metabolism; transcription, cell cycle and signal transduction. The identification of these differentially expressed proteins and their function could help in analysing the mechanism of lower mutation rate of diploid male gamete when the microsporangium of G. biloba was induced by colchicine.

Effect of safeners on damage of human erythrocytes treated with chloroacetamide herbicides

Chloroacetamides are used as pre-emergent substances for growth control of annual grasses and weeds. Since they can be harmful for crop plants, protective compounds (safeners) are used along with herbicides. So far, their effects on human blood cells have not been evaluated, and this study is the very first one devoted to this subject. We examined the harmful effects of chloroacetamides, their metabolites and safeners, used alone or in combination with herbicides, on human erythrocytes measuring the extent of hemolysis, lipid peroxidation and catalase activity. Higher impact of herbicides than their metabolites on all of the investigated parameters was found. Safeners alone did not produce any damage to erythrocytes and did not elicit any changes in oxidative stress parameters. Combination of safener with herbicide did not attenuate hemolysis of erythrocytes compared to the herbicide alone. Safeners reduced lipid peroxidation induced by herbicides, which suggest the role of safeners as antioxidants.

Co-induction of a glutathione-S-transferase, a glutathione transporter and an ABC transporter in maize by xenobiotics

Glutathione conjugation reactions are one of the principal mechanisms that plants utilize to detoxify xenobiotics. The induction by four herbicides (2,4-D, atrazine, metolachlor and primisulfuron) and a herbicide safener (dichlormid) on the expression of three genes, ZmGST27, ZmGT1 and ZmMRP1, encoding respectively a glutathione-S-transferase, a glutathione transporter and an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter was studied in maize. The results demonstrate that the inducing effect on gene expression varies with both chemicals and genes. The expression of ZmGST27 and ZmMRP1 was up-regulated by all five compounds, whereas that of ZmGT1 was increased by atrazine, metolachlor, primisulfuron and dichlormid, but not by 2,4-D. For all chemicals, the inducing effect was first detected on ZmGST27. The finding that ZmGT1 is activated alongside ZmGST27 and ZmMRP1 suggests that glutathione transporters are an important component in the xenobiotic detoxification system of plants.

Safeners recruit multiple signalling pathways for the orchestrated induction of the cellular xenobiotic detoxification machinery in Arabidopsis

Safeners enhance herbicide tolerance in crop plants but not in target weeds, thus improving herbicide selectivity. The safeners isoxadifen-ethyl and mefenpyr-diethyl protect cereal crops from sulfonyl urea herbicides in postemergence application. The two safeners were shown here to induce the cellular xenobiotic detoxification machinery in Arabidopsis thaliana when applied to leaves in a way mimicking field application. Gene expression profiling revealed the induction of 446 genes potentially involved in the detoxification process. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing a reporter gene under control of a safener-responsive maize promoter were used as a model system to study the safener signalling pathway. Reporter gene analysis in the tga2/3/5/6, sid2-2 and npr1 mutants as compared with the wild-type background showed that safener inducibility required TGA transcription factors and salicylic acid (SA) in a NON-EXPRESSOR of PR-1 (NPR1)-independent pathway converging on two as-1 promoter elements. For the majority of the safener-responsive Arabidopsis genes, a similar dependence on TGA transcription factors and/or SA was shown by gene expression profiling in wild-type plants as compared with the tga2/3/5/6 and sid2-2 mutants. Thirty-eight percent of the genes, however, were induced by safeners in a TGA/SA-independent manner. These genes are likely to be controlled by WRKY transcription factors and cognate W-boxes in their promoters.

Multiple roles for plant glutathione transferases in xenobiotic detoxification

Discovered 40 years ago, plant glutathione transferases (GSTs) now have a well-established role in determining herbicide metabolism and selectivity in crops and weeds. Within the GST superfamily, the numerous and plant-specific phi (F) and tau (U) classes are largely responsible for catalyzing glutathione-dependent reactions with xenobiotics, notably conjugation leading to detoxification and, more rarely, bioactivating isomerizations. In total, the crystal structures of 10 plant GSTs have been solved and a highly conserved N-terminal glutathione binding domain and structurally diverse C-terminal hydrophobic domain identified, along with key coordinating residues. Unlike drug-detoxifying mammalian GSTs, plant enzymes utlilize a catalytic serine in place of a tyrosine residue. Both GSTFs and GSTUs undergo changes in structure during catalysis indicative of an induced fit mechanism on substrate binding, with an understanding of plant GST structure/function allowing these proteins to be engineered for novel functions in detoxification and ligand recognition. Several major crops produce alternative thiols, with GSTUs shown to use homoglutathione in preference to glutathione, in herbicide detoxification reactions in soybeans. Similarly, hydroxymethylglutathione is used, in addition to glutathione in detoxifying the herbicide fenoxaprop in wheat. Following GST action, plants are able to rapidly process glutathione conjugates by at least two distinct pathways, with the available evidence suggesting these function in an organ- and species-specific manner. Roles for GSTs in endogenous metabolism are less well defined, with the enzymes linked to a diverse range of functions, including signaling, counteracting oxidative stress, and detoxifying and transporting secondary metabolites.

Investigation of the role of conserved residues Ser13, Asn48 and Pro49 in the catalytic mechanism of the tau class glutathione transferase from Glycine max

Plant glutathione transferases (GSTs) play a key role in the metabolism of various xenobiotics. In this report, the catalytic mechanism of the tau class GSTU4-4 isoenzyme from Glycine max (GmGSTU4-4) was investigated by site-directed mutagenesis and steady-state kinetic analysis. The catalytic properties of the wild-type enzyme and three mutants of strictly conserved residues (Ser13Ala, Asn48Ala and Pro49Ala) were studied in 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) conjugation reaction. The results showed that the mutations significantly affect substrate binding and specificity. The effect of Ser13Ala mutation on the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme could be explained by assuming the direct involvement of Ser13 to the reaction chemistry and the correct positioning of GSH and CDNB in the ternary catalytic complex. Asn48 and Pro49 were found to have a direct role on the structural integrity of the GSH-binding site (G-site). Moreover, mutation of Asn48 and Pro49 residues may bring about secondary effects altering the thermal stability and the catalytic activity (k(cat)) of the enzyme without affecting the nature of the rate-limiting step of the catalytic reaction.

Crystal structure of Glycine max glutathione transferase in complex with glutathione: investigation of the mechanism operating by the Tau class glutathione transferases

Cytosolic GSTs (glutathione transferases) are a multifunctional group of enzymes widely distributed in Nature and involved in cellular detoxification processes. The three-dimensional structure of GmGSTU4-4 (Glycine max GST Tau 4-4) complexed with GSH was determined by the molecular replacement method at 2.7 A (1 A=0.1 nm) resolution. The bound GSH is located in a region formed by the beginning of alpha-helices H1, H2 and H3 in the N-terminal domain of the enzyme. Significant differences in the G-site (GSH-binding site) as compared with the structure determined in complex with Nb-GSH [S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-glutathione] were found. These differences were identified in the hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interaction pattern and, consequently, GSH was found bound in two different conformations. In one subunit, the enzyme forms a complex with the ionized form of GSH, whereas in the other subunit it can form a complex with the non-ionized form. However, only the ionized form of GSH may form a productive and catalytically competent complex. Furthermore, a comparison of the GSH-bound structure with the Nb-GSH-bound structure shows a significant movement of the upper part of alpha-helix H4 and the C-terminal. This indicates an intrasubunit modulation between the G-site and the H-site (electrophile-binding site), suggesting that the enzyme recognizes the xenobiotic substrates by an induced-fit mechanism. The reorganization of Arg111 and Tyr107 upon xenobiotic substrate binding appears to govern the intrasubunit structural communication between the G- and H-site and the binding of GSH. The structural observations were further verified by steady-state kinetic analysis and site-directed mutagenesis studies.

Crystallographic and functional characterization of the fluorodifen-inducible glutathione transferase from Glycine max reveals an active site topography suited for diphenylether herbicides and a novel L-site

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) from the tau class (GSTU) are unique to plants and have important roles in stress tolerance and the detoxification of herbicides in crops and weeds. A fluorodifen-induced GST isoezyme (GmGSTU4-4) belonging to the tau class was purified from Glycine max by affinity chromatography. This isoenzyme was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and its structural and catalytic properties were investigated. The structure of GmGSTU4-4 was determined at 1.75 A resolution in complex with S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-glutathione (Nb-GSH). The enzyme adopts the canonical GST fold but with a number of functionally important differences. Compared with other plant GSTs, the three-dimensional structure of GmGSTU4-4 primarily shows structural differences in the hydrophobic substrate binding site, the linker segment and the C-terminal region. The X-ray structure identifies key amino acid residues in the hydrophobic binding site (H-site) and provides insights into the substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism of the enzyme. The isoenzyme was highly active in conjugating the diphenylether herbicide fluorodifen. A possible reaction pathway involving the conjugation of glutathione with fluorodifen is described based on site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling studies. A serine residue (Ser13) is present in the active site, at a position that would allow it to stabilise the thiolate anion of glutathione and enhance its nucleophilicity. Tyr107 and Arg111 present in the active site are important structural moieties that modulate the catalytic efficiency and specificity of the enzyme, and participate in k(cat) regulation by affecting the rate-limiting step of the catalytic reaction. A hitherto undescribed ligand-binding site (L-site) located in a surface pocket of the enzyme was also found. This site is formed by conserved residues, suggesting it may have an important functional role in the transfer and delivery of bound ligands, presumably to specific protein receptors.

Study of Early Leaf Senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana by Quantitative Proteomics Using Reciprocal 14N/15N Labeling and Difference Gel Electrophoresis

Leaf senescence represents the final stage of leaf development and is associated with fundamental changes on the level of the proteome. For the quantitative analysis of changes in protein abundance related to early leaf senescence, we designed an elaborate double and reverse labeling strategy simultaneously employing fluorescent two-dimensional DIGE as well as metabolic (15)N labeling followed by MS. Reciprocal (14)N/(15)N labeling of entire Arabidopsis thaliana plants showed that full incorporation of (15)N into the proteins of the plant did not cause any adverse effects on development and protein expression. A direct comparison of DIGE and (15)N labeling combined with MS showed that results obtained by both quantification methods correlated well for proteins showing low to moderate regulation factors. Nano HPLC/ESI-MS/MS analysis of 21 protein spots that consistently exhibited abundance differences in nine biological replicates based on both DIGE and MS resulted in the identification of 13 distinct proteins and protein subunits that showed significant regulation in Arabidopsis mutant plants displaying advanced leaf senescence. Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large and three of its four small subunits were found to be down-regulated, which reflects the degradation of the photosynthetic machinery during leaf senescence. Among the proteins showing higher abundance in mutant plants were several members of the glutathione S-transferase family class phi and quinone reductase. Up-regulation of these proteins fits well into the context of leaf senescence since they are generally involved in the protection of plant cells against reactive oxygen species which are increasingly generated by lipid degradation during leaf senescence. With the exception of one glutathione S-transferase isoform, none of these proteins has been linked to leaf senescence before.

Applications of EcR gene switch technology in functional genomics

Genetic engineering of plants using transgenic technology is targeted to enhance agronomic performance or improved quality traits in a wide variety of plant species, and has become a fundamental tool for basic research in plant biotechnology. Constitutive promoters are presently the primary means used to express transgenes in plants. However, inducible gene regulation systems based on specific chemicals have many potential applications in agriculture and for enhancing the basic understanding of gene function. As a result, several gene switches have been developed. The ecdysone receptor gene switch is one of the best inducible gene regulation systems available, because the chemical, methoxyfenozide, required for its regulation is registered for field use. An EcR gene switch with a potential for use in large-scale field applications has been developed by adopting a two-hybrid format. In a two-hybrid switch format, the GAL4 DNA binding domain (GAL4 DBD) was fused to the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the Choristoneura fumiferana ecdysone receptor (CfEcR); and, the VP16 activation domain (VP16 AD) was fused to the LBD of Locust migratoria retinoid X receptor (LmRXR). The sensitivity of the CfEcR gene switch was improved from micromolar to nanomolar concentrations of ligand by using the CfEcR:LmRXR two-hybrid switch. In this report, we demonstrate the utility of CfEcR:LmRXR two-hybrid gene switch in functional genomics applications for regulating the expression of a Superman-like single zinc finger protein 11 (ZFP11) gene in both Arabidopsis and tobacco transgenic plants.

Antioxidant gene responses to ROS-generating xenobiotics in developing and germinated scutella of maize

There is circumstantial evidence implicating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the highly ordered temporal and spatial regulation of expression of the Cat and Sod antioxidant genes during seed development and germination in maize. In order to understand and provide experimental data for the regulatory role of ROS, the expression patterns of the Cat1, Cat2, Cat3, GstI, Sod3, Sod4, and Sod4A genes, as well as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity responses, were examined after treatments with ROS-generating xenobiotics in developing and germinated maize scutella. CAT and SOD activities increased at both stages in response to each xenobiotic examined in a dose-dependent and stage-specific manner. Individual Cat gene expression patterns were co-ordinated with isozyme patterns of enzymatic activity in scutella of developing seeds. This was not observed in germinated seeds where, although Cat1 expression was highly induced by ROS, there was not a similar increase of enzymatic CAT1 activity, suggesting the involvement of post-transcriptional regulation. Enhanced enzyme activities were synchronous with increases in steady-state transcript levels of specific Sod genes. The steady-state transcript level of GstI was elevated in all samples examined. Gene expression responses derived from this study along with similar results documented in previous reports were subjected to cluster analysis, revealing that ROS-generating compounds provoke similar effects in the expression patterns of the tested antioxidant genes. This could be attributable to common stress-related motifs present in the promoters of these genes.

Study on the biochemical characterization of herbicide detoxification enzyme, glutathione S-transferase

To gain further insight into herbicide detoxification, we studied the herbicide activity and specificity toward glutathione S-transferases from human and rice. In this study, the genes of the plant specific phi and tau class GST enzymes from Oryza sativa (OsGST) and human pi class GST enzyme (hGSTP1-1) were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli with the pET and pKK vector systems, respectively. The gene products were purified to homogeneity by GSH Sepharose affinity column chromatography. The herbicide specificity of the enzymes was investigated by enzyme-catalyzed conjugation of GSH with chloroacetanilide, diphenylether and chloro-s-triazine herbicides. The hGSTP1-1 showed very high specific activity toward atrazine. On the other hand, the phi class OsGST enzymes showed high specific activity toward chloroacetanilide herbicides, acetochlor, alachlor and metolachlor. The tau class GST enzymes displayed remarkable activity toward the diphenylether herbicide, fluorodifen. From these results, we conclude that the phi and the tau class GST enzymes show herbicide specificities and also they play an important role in the detoxification reaction of plant toward herbicides.

Development of a methoxyfenozide-responsive gene switch for applications in plants

The ecdysone receptor (EcR) has been used to develop gene switches for conditional regulation of transgene expression in plants and humans. All EcR-based gene switches developed to date for use in plants are monopartate and require micromolar concentrations of ligand for activation of the transgene; this has limited the use of these gene switches. We have developed a Choristoneura fumiferana ecdysone receptor (CfEcR)-based two-hybrid gene switch that works through the formation of a functional heterodimer between EcR and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) upon application of the chemical ligand methoxyfenozide. Methoxyfenozide is already registered for field use with an excellent safety profile, and it has potential as a gene switch ligand for applications in the field. The receptor constructs were prepared by fusing DEF domains (hinge region plus ligand-binding domain) of CfEcR to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain and EF domains (ligand-binding domain) of ultraspiracle from Choristoneura fumiferana (CfUSP) or RXR from Locusta migratoria (LmRXR), Mus musculus (MmRXR) or Homo sapiens (HsRXR) to the VP16 activation domain. These receptor constructs were tested for their ability to induce expression of the luciferase gene placed under the control of 5x GAL4 response elements and -46 35S minimal promoter in tobacco, corn and soybean protoplasts and in transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco plants. By adopting the two-hybrid format, the sensitivity of the CfEcR gene switch has been improved from micromolar to nanomolar concentrations of methoxyfenozide. The sensitivity of the CfEcR + LmRXR two-hybrid switch was 25 to 625 times greater than the monopartate gene switch, depending on the plant species tested.

Glutathione S-transferase and aluminum toxicity in maize

Aluminum (Al) toxicity induces changes in the expression of several genes, some of which are involved in plant responses to oxidative stress. Using mRNA differential display, we identified a maize Al-inducible cDNA encoding a glutathione S-transferase (GST). The gene was named GST27.2 owing to its homology to the maize gene GST27, which is known to be induced by xenobiotics. GST27.2 is present in the maize genome as a single copy and analysis of its expression pattern revealed that the gene is expressed mainly in the root tip. Expression was up-regulated in response to various Al and Cd concentrations in both Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive maize lines. Consistent with its role in plants, phylogenetic analysis of theta-type GSTs revealed that GST27.2 belongs to a group of proteins that respond to different stresses. Finally, structural analysis of the polypeptide chain indicates that the two amino acids that differ between GST27.2 and GST27 (E102K and P123L) could be responsible for alterations in activity and / or specificity. Together, these results suggest that GST27.2 may play an important part in plant defenses against Al toxicity.

Benoxacor induction of terbuthylazine detoxification in Zea mays and Festuca arundinacea

The action of safener benoxacor on the detoxification of terbuthylazine (TBA) in Zea mays and Festuca arundinacea was ascertained by the investigation of the effects of benoxacor on the activity of glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) in the shoots of the two plant species. TBA treatment generally reduced GST activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) in corn and did not affect the enzyme activity in festuca. When applied alone, benoxacor stimulated GST activity in both plants; however, when it was applied in mixture with TBA, generally, an enhancement of the enzyme activity was found in corn but not in festuca in comparison with the respective TBA-treated samples. The enhancement of GST activity in response to the benoxacor treatment in both corn and festuca resulted to be concomitant with decreases in apparent K(M) in both the plant species, with V(max) unaffected, and with an increased expression of proteins having molecular masses in the characteristic range of plant GSTs. After the benoxacor treatment, increased GST activity toward TBA as a substrate was observed in both corn and festuca. As a consequence, lesser amounts and persistence of TBA residues were found in shoots of corn and festuca treated with the TBA and benoxacor mixture compared to TBA-only-treated samples. Therefore, benoxacor enhances TBA detoxification in both corn and festuca; the induction of detoxifying activity in a nondomesticated grass is discussed in view of its use in vegetating buffer strips around crops to prevent TBA pollution.

Purification and biochemical properties of glutathione S-transferase from Lactuca sativa

A glutathione S-transferase (GST) from Lactuca sativa was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity approximately 403-fold with a 9.6% activity yield by DEAE-Sephacel and glutathione (GSH)-Sepharose column chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be approximately 23,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 48,000 by gel chromatography, indicating a homodimeric structure. The activity of the enzyme was significantly inhibited by ShexylGSH and S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) glutathione. The enzyme displayed activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, a general GST substrate and high activities towards ethacrynic acid. It also exhibited glutathione peroxidase activity toward cumene hydroperoxide.

Identification and analysis of safener-inducible expressed sequence tags in Populus using a cDNA microarray

Safeners are the chemicals used to protect plants from detrimental effects of herbicides, but their mode of action at the molecular level is not well understood. As an initial step towards understanding the molecular mechanism of safener action in trees, homologous genes in hybrid poplar (Populus nigra x Populus maximowiczii) that were induced by a safener were identified. We here describe the identification of differentially expressed genes in Populus that are induced by Concep-III, a herbicide safener. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) enriched for transcriptionally induced genes were isolated by suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH). The SSH library cDNA inserts were used to construct a cDNA microarray for high-throughput validation of the up-regulated expression of safener-induced genes. Single-pass and partial sequences of 1,344 safener-induced ESTs were assembled into 418 singletons and 328 clusters, but the putative functions of almost 53% of the ESTs are not known. Genes encoding proteins involved in all three different phases of safener action, viz., oxidation, conjugation, and sequestration, were found in the SSH library. Almost 75% of genes that showed greater than 2-fold expression upon safener treatment were redundant in the SSH library. The expression pattern for selected genes was validated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A few safener-induced genes that were not previously reported to be induced by safeners, but which may have a role in herbicide metabolism, were identified. The newly identified genes could have potential for application in genetic engineering of plants for herbicide detoxification and tolerance.

Forced evolution of a herbicide detoxifying glutathione transferase

Plant Tau class glutathione transferases (GSTUs) detoxify diphenylether herbicides such as fluorodifen, determining their selectivity in crops and weeds. Using reconstructive PCR, a series of mutant GSTUs were generated from in vitro recombination and mutagenesis of the maize sequences ZmGSTU1 and ZmGSTU2 (with the prefix Zm designating Zea mays L.). A screen of 5000 mutant GSTUs identified seven enzymes with enhanced fluorodifen detoxifying activity. The best performing enhanced fluorodifen detoxifying mutant (EFD) had activity 19-fold higher than the parent enzymes, with a single point mutation conferring this enhancement. Further mutagenesis of this residue generated an EFD with a 29-fold higher catalytic efficiency toward fluorodifen as compared with the parents but with unaltered catalysis toward other substrates. When expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana, the optimized EFD, but not the parent enzymes, conferred enhanced tolerance to fluorodifen. Molecular modeling predicts that the serendipitous mutation giving the improvement in detoxification is due to the removal of an unfavorable interaction together with the introduction of a favorable change in conformation of residues 107-119, which contribute to herbicide binding.

Binding and protection of porphyrins by glutathione S-transferases of Zea mays L

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multi-functional enzymes, known to conjugate xenobiotics and degrade peroxides. Herein, we report on the potential of four Zea mays GST isoforms (Zm GST I-I, Zm GST I-II, Zm GST II-II and Zm GST III-III) to act as binding and protection proteins. These isoforms bind protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), mesoporphyrin, coproporphyrin, uroporphyrin and Mg-protoporpyhrin, but do not form a glutathione conjugate. The binding is non-covalent and inhibits GSTs enzymatic activity, dependent on the type of the porphyrin and GST isoform tested. I(50) values are in the range of 1 to 10 microM for PPIX, the inhibition by mesoporphyrin and Mg-protoporphyrin (Mg-PPIX) is two to five times less. The mode of binding is non-competitive for the hydrophobic substrate and competitive for glutathione. Binding affinities (K(D) values) of the GST isoforms are between 0.3 and 0.8 microM for coproporphyrin and about 2 microM for mesoporphyrin.Zm GST III-III prevents the nonenzymatic autoxidation of protoporphyrinogen to the phytotoxic PPIX. Zm GST II-II can reduce the oxidative degradation of hemin. This points to a specific ligand role of distinct GST isoforms to protect tetrapyrroles in the plant cell.

Fatty acid elongation is important in the activity of thiocarbamate herbicides and in safening by dichlormid

The thiocarbamates, such as pebulate (S-propyl butyl (ethyl) thiocarbamate) are a well-established class of herbicides. They inhibit fatty acid elongation, which is necessary for the biosynthesis of constituents of surface waxes and suberin and this has been proposed to be important for their toxicity. In this study lipid metabolism was investigated in herbicide-treated barley (Hordeum vulgare) and a pernicious weed, wild oats (Avena ludoviciana), to test the hypothesis that inhibitory effects on fatty acid elongation could be counteracted by the safer, dichlormid. Pebulate and its sulphoxide derivative (thought to be the active metabolite in vivo) were tested against lipid metabolism in barley or wild oat shoots. In both plants there was a significant inhibition of very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) synthesis at herbicide concentrations > or =25 micro M. The extent to which safener dichlormid could prevent the inhibition of VLCFA synthesis was different in the two species. Previous treatment of barley with dichlormid (N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloroacetamide) enabled fatty acid elongation in the presence of pebulate or pebulate sulphoxide, but had no effect on wild oats. The effects on fatty acid elongation mimicked the differential safening action of dichlormid observed on shoot elongation and growth in the two species. These data provide further evidence that inhibition of VLCFA formation is important for the mechanism of action of thiocarbamates.

Co-induction of glutathione-S-transferases and multidrug resistance associated protein by xenobiotics in wheat

Herbicide safeners are known to protect monocotyledonous crops from herbicide injury by accelerating the metabolism of herbicides. We have investigated the effects of the safener cloquintocetmexyl, which protects small-grain cereals against the graminicidal herbicide, clodinafop-propargyl. Subtractive suppression hybridisation was used to identify wheat genes which are up-regulated by treatment not only with cloquintocet-mexyl but also with phenobarbital, which is known to stimulate xenobiotic metabolism in animals and plants. DNA sequences of five glutathione transferases (GSTs) belonging to three different classes and a multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP) homologue were identified in the screen. The chemical inducibility of these clones was confirmed by Northern analysis. The MRP protein was shown to be induced by treatments with cloquintocet-mexyl and phenobarbital and to be localised to the tonoplast. Since clodinafop-propargyl is not known to be metabolised by glutathionylation, the significance of GST induction is interpreted in terms of a generalised response to chemical stress, particularly the generation of active oxygen species. This work establishes herbicide safeners as useful tools for the identification of genes encoding herbicide-metabolising enzymes.

A chimeric ecdysone receptor facilitates methoxyfenozide-dependent restoration of male fertility in ms45 maize

A mutation in the maize Ms45 gene results in abortion of microspore development and a male-sterile phenotype. MS45 protein has been localized to the tapetum and maximally expressed in anthers at the early vacuolate stage of microspore development. Molecular complementation analysis determined that a transformed copy of the gene fully restored fertility to ms45 maize. In this report, using phenotypic complementation as an assay, chimeric transcriptional activators were expressed to regulate a gal:MS45 gene and test the ability of a multi-component system to restore male fertility. A high frequency of phenotypic complementation was observed when either C1-GAL4 or VP16-GAL4 activators were transcribed by promoters that expressed at a stage of anther development that precedes the early vacuolate stage of microsporogenesis. For the conditional regulation of male fertility, these transcriptional activators were modified by the addition of regions that include the ligand-binding domain from the European corn borer ecdysone receptor to generate the nuclear receptors C1-GAL4-EcR (CGEcR) and VP16-GAL4-EcR (VGEcR). These chimeric receptors were introduced with the gal:MS45 gene into ms45 maize, and in the absence of ligand, these plants were male sterile. In contrast, application of the ecdysone agonist, methoxyfenozide, to plants containing either a constitutive (Ubiquitin1) or anther-specific (maize 5126) VGEcR resulted in the restoration of fertility to ms45 plants grown in either the greenhouse or in the field.

Tandemly duplicated Safener-induced glutathione S-transferase genes from Triticum tauschii contribute to genome- and organ-specific expression in hexaploid wheat

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene expression was examined in several Triticum species, differing in genome constitution and ploidy level, to determine genome contribution to GST expression in cultivated, hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). Two tandemly duplicated tau class GST genes (TtGSTU1 and TtGSTU2) were isolated from a single bacterial artificial chromosome clone in a library constructed from the diploid wheat and D genome progenitor to cultivated wheat, Triticum tauschii. The genes are very similar in genomic structure and their encoded proteins are 95% identical. Gene-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed differential transcript accumulation of TtGSTU1 and TtGSTU2 in roots and shoots. Expression of both genes was induced by herbicide safeners, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and abscisic acid, in the shoots of T. tauschii; however, expression of TtGSTU1 was always higher than TtGSTU2. In untreated seedlings, TtGSTU1 was expressed in both shoots and roots, whereas TtGSTU2 expression was only detected in roots. RNA gel-blot analysis of ditelosomic, aneuploid lines that are deficient for 6AS, 6BS, or 6DS chromosome arms of cultivated, hexaploid bread wheat showed differential genome contribution to safener-induced GST expression in shoots compared with roots. The GST genes from the D genome of hexaploid wheat contribute most to safener-induced expression in the shoots, whereas GSTs from the B and D genomes contribute to safener-induced expression in the roots.

Herbicide safeners: uses, limitations, metabolism, and mechanisms of action

Several methods were examined to minimize crops injury caused by herbicides. Thus increase their selectivity. A selective herbicide is one that controls weeds at rates that do not injure the crop. Herbicides are selective in a particular crop within certain limits imposed by the herbicide, the plant, the application rate, the method and time of application, and environment conditions. Herbicide safeners are compounds of diverse chemical families. They are applied with herbicides to protect crops against their injury. Using chemical safeners offer practical, efficient and simple method of improving herbicide selectivity. This method has been applied successfully in cereal crops such as maize, rice and sorghum, against pre-emergence thiocarbamate and chloroacetanilide herbicides. Some reports indicate promising results for the development of safeners for post-emergence herbicides in broadleaved crops. Various hypotheses were proposed explaining mechanisms of action of herbicide safeners: interference with uptake and translocation of the herbicide, alteration in herbicide metabolism, and competition at site of action of the herbicide. Even though progress was made in the development of herbicide safeners and in understanding their mechanisms of action, more research is needed to elucidate clearly how these chemicals act and why their activity is restricted to particular crops and herbicides.

Mining the enzymes involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in sugarcane

Summary Adopting the sequencing of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of a sugarcane database derived from libraries induced and not induced by pathogens, we identified EST clusters homologous to genes corresponding to enzymes involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species. The predicted amino acids of these enzymes are superoxide dismutases (SODs), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalases. Three MnSOD mitochondrial precursors and 10 CuZnSOD were identified in sugarcane: the MnSOD mitochondrial precursor is 96% similar to the maize MnSOD mitochondrial precursor and, of the 10 CuZnSOD identified, seven were 98% identical to maize cytosolic CuZnSOD4 and one was 67% identical to putative peroxisomal CuZnSOD from Arabidopsis. Three homologues to class Phi GST were 87-88% identical to GST III from maize. Five GPX homologues were identified: three were homologous to cytosolic GPX from barley, one was 88% identical to phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) from rice, and the last was 71% identical to GPX from A. thaliana. Three enzymes similar to maize catalase were identified in sugarcane: two were similar to catalase isozyme 3 and catalase chain 3 from maize, which are mitochondrial, and one was similar to catalase isozyme 1 from maize, whose location is peroxisomal subcellular. All enzymes were induced in all sugarcane libraries (flower, seed, root, callus, leaves) and also in the pathogen-induced libraries, except for CuZnSOD whose cDNA was detected in none of the libraries induced by pathogens (Acetobacter diazotroficans and Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans). The expression of the enzymes SOD, GST, GPX, and catalases involved in the detoxification was examined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in cDNA from leaves of sugarcane under biotic stress conditions, inoculated with Puccinia melanocephala, the causal agent of sugarcane rust disease.

Exploiting plant metabolism for the phytoremediation of persistent herbicides

Weed control by herbicides has helped us to create the green revolution and to provide food for at least the majority of human beings living today. However, some herbicides remain in the environment and pose an ecological problem. The present review describes the properties and fate of four representative herbicides known to be presistent in ecosystems. Metabolic networks are depicted and it is concluded that removal of these compounds by the ecologically friendly technique of phytoremediation is possible. The largest problem is seen in the uptake of the compounds into suitable plants and the time needed for such an approach.

O-Glucosyltransferase activities toward phenolic natural products and xenobiotics in wheat and herbicide-resistant and herbicide-susceptible black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides)

Herbicide safeners manipulate herbicide selectivity by enhancing the activities of detoxifying enzymes, such as glutathione transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases (CYPs) in cereal crops. As part of a study examining the importance of O-glucosyltransferases (OGTs) in pesticide metabolism in hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), seedlings were grown in the presence of dichlormid, a safener used in maize and cloquintocet mexyl, a wheat safener. The efficacy of the treatments was confirmed by monitoring changes in the abundance of phi and tau class GSTs. OGT activities in the root and shoot tissue were assayed using phenolics of natural and xenobiotic origin to determine if they were enhanced by safeners. Cloquintocet mexyl selectively increased OGT activities toward xenobiotics (4-nitrophenol and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol) and flavonoids, (quercetin, luteolin, genistein and coumestrol) in both the roots and shoots. However, OGT activity towards simple phenols and phenylpropanoids was not enhanced by cloquintocet mexyl. Dichlormid was a much weaker enhancer of OGT activity, with the same subset of OGT activities increased as determined with cloquintocet mexyl, but with the effect being largely restricted to the roots. OGT activities were also determined in black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides L.), an agronomically important weed in wheat. Two populations of black-grass differing in their sensitivity to herbicides were analysed. The population Peldon, which is resistant to multiple classes of herbicides due in part to the elevated expression of CYPs and GSTs active in herbicide detoxification, contained higher OGT activities than herbicide sensitive black-grass. Unlike wheat, treatment with cloquintocet mexyl or dichlormid, had no effect on OGT activities in either black-grass population.

A genomics approach to the comprehensive analysis of the glutathione S-transferase gene family in soybean and maize

By BLAST searching a large expressed sequence tag database for glutathione S-transferase (GST) sequences we have identified 25 soybean (Glycine max) and 42 maize (Zea mays) clones and obtained accurate full-length GST sequences. These clones probably represent the majority of members of the GST multigene family in these species. Plant GSTs are divided according to sequence similarity into three categories: types I, II, and III. Among these GSTs only the active site serine, as well as another serine and arginine in or near the "G-site" are conserved throughout. Type III GSTs have four conserved sequence patches mapping to distinct structural features. Expression analysis reveals the distribution of GSTs in different tissues and treatments: Maize GSTI is overall the most highly expressed in maize, whereas the previously unknown GmGST 8 is most abundant in soybean. Using DNA microarray analysis we observed increased expression among the type III GSTs after inducer treatment of maize shoots, with different genes responding to different treatments. Protein activity for a subset of GSTs varied widely with seven substrates, and any GST exhibiting greater than marginal activity with chloro-2,4 dinitrobenzene activity also exhibited significant activity with all other substrates, suggesting broad individual enzyme substrate specificity.

Transgene expression systems in plant, a natural bioreactor

Plants are important resources that have been providing us food from the earliest times. The rapid advances that have taken place in plant genetic engineering have made it possible to modify plants to increase food production and contribute to environmental purification. Transgenic plants are gaining increasing attention from the industry as a natural bioreactor for the production of industrial and chemical products. Useful expression systems based on promoters to optimize transgene expression in plant cells, hold the key to maximizing the potential of this concept of molecular-farming or industrial plants. This review, which is devoted to the use of plants for heterologous protein production, is divided into three parts. First, we introduce the nature of plant promoters and strategies for the isolation of novel promoters. In the second part, various promoters showing high-level constitutive, organ-specific, or inducible expression, are summarized as useful tools for realizing the efficient transcription of transgenes. Finally, problems in the expression of foreign gene in plant cells and future prospects in plant biotechnology are discussed.

Isolation of a zeta class wheat glutathione S-transferase gene

A new Zeta class glutathione S-transferases (GST) gene, pGST, has been cloned from wheat for the first time by the differential display PCR (DD-PCR) method. The genomic sequence of pGST, TA-GSTZ1, contains nine exons that encode a polypeptide of 213 amino acids and eight introns. The deduced amino acid sequence of TA-GSTZ1 as well as the exon:intron placement are more similar to the GSTs of the Zeta class than to the two wheat GSTs reported earlier. The pGST cDNA gene product expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography showed typical Zeta class GST and glutathione peroxidase activities. Sequence polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of TA-GSTZ1 gene in wheat has been discovered. In this study, an 89 bp sequence is present in the 3' UTR of TA-GSTZ1gene in 16 wheat cultivars but absent in the other five. Although the biological importance of this polymorphism is unknown, it can be useful as a genetic marker in wheat breeding.

Structures of herbicides in complex with their detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase - explanations for the selectivity of the enzyme in plants

BACKGROUND

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are detoxifying enzymes present in all aerobic organisms. These enzymes catalyse the conjugation of glutathione with a variety of electrophilic compounds. In plants, GSTs catalyse the first step in the degradation of several herbicides, such as triazines and acetamides, thus playing an important role in herbicide tolerance.

RESULTS

We have solved the structures of GST-I from maize in complex with an atrazine-glutathione conjugate (at 2.8 A resolution) and GST from Arabidopsis thaliana (araGST) in complex with an FOE-4053-glutathione conjugate (at 2.6 A resolution). These ligands are products of the detoxifying reaction and are well defined in the electron density. The herbicide-binding site (H site) is different in the two structures. The architecture of the glutathione-binding site (G site) of araGST is different to that of the previously described structure of GST in complex with two S-hexylglutathione molecules, but is homologous to that of GST-I.

CONCLUSIONS

Three features are responsible for the differences in the H site of the two GSTs described here: the exchange of hydrophobic residues of different degrees of bulkiness; a slight difference in the location of the H site; and a difference in the degree of flexibility of the upper side of the H site, which is built up by the loop between helices alpha4 and alpha5. Taking these two structures as a model, the different substrate specificities of other plant GSTs may be explained. The structures reported here provide a basis for the design of new, more selective herbicides.