A soybean coproporphyrinogen oxidase gene is highly expressed in root nodules

Identification and regulation of host genes related to Rice stripe virus symptom production

Viral infections cause plant chlorosis, stunting, necrosis or other symptoms. The down-regulation of chloroplast-related genes (ChRGs) is assumed to be responsible for chlorosis. We identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Rice stripe virus (RSV)-infected Nicotiana benthamiana, and examined the contribution of 75 down-regulated DEGs to RSV symptoms by silencing them one by one using Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-induced gene silencing. Silencing of 11 of the 75 down-regulated DEGs caused plant chlorosis, and nine of the 11 were ChRGs. Silencing of a down-regulated DEG encoding the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) caused leaf-twisting and stunting that were visible on RSV-infected N. benthamiana. A region of RSV RNA4 was complementary to part of eIF4A mRNA and virus-derived small interfering (vsiRNAs) from that region were present in infected N. benthamiana. When expressed as artificial microRNAs, those vsiRNAs could target NbeIF4A mRNA for regulation. We provide experimental evidence supporting the association of ChRGs with chlorosis and show that eIF4A is involved in RSV symptom development. This is also the first report demonstrating that siRNA derived directly from a plant virus can target a host gene for regulation.

Comparative proteomic analysis of seedling leaves of cold-tolerant and -sensitive spring soybean cultivars

Cold stress adversely affects the growth and development of seedling of spring soybean. Revealing responses in seedling to cold stress at proteomic level will help us to breed cold-tolerant spring soybean cultivars. In this study, to understand the responses, a proteomic analysis on the leaves of seedlings of one cold-tolerant soybean cultivar and one cold-sensitive soybean cultivar at 5°C for different times (12 and 24 h) was performed, with some proteomic results being further validated by physiological and biochemical analysis. Our results showed that 57 protein spots were found to be significantly changed in abundance and identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. All the identified proteins were found to be involved in 13 metabolic pathways and cellular processes, including photosynthesis, protein folding and assembly, cell rescue and defense, cytoskeletal proteins, transcription and translation regulation, amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, protein degradation, storage proteins, signal transduction, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, and unknown. Based on the majority of the identified cold-responsive proteins, the effect of cold stress on seedling leaves of the two spring soybean cultivars was discussed. The reason that soybean cv. Guliqing is more cold-tolerant than soybean cv. Nannong 513 was due to its more protein, lipid and polyamine biosynthesis, more effective sulfur-containing metabolite recycling, and higher photosynthetic rate, as well as less ROS production and lower protein proteolysis and energy depletion under cold stress. Such a result will provide more insights into cold stress responses and for further dissection of cold tolerance mechanisms in spring soybean.

Proteome reference maps of the Lotus japonicus nodule and root

Legume symbiosis with rhizobia results in the formation of a specialized organ, the root nodule, where atmospheric dinitrogen is reduced to ammonia. In Lotus japonicus (Lotus), several genes involved in nodule development or nodule function have been defined using biochemistry, genetic approaches, and high-throughput transcriptomics. We have employed proteomics to further understand nodule development. Two developmental stages representing nodules prior to nitrogen fixation (white) and mature nitrogen fixing nodules (red) were compared with roots. In addition, the proteome of a spontaneous nodule formation mutant (snf1) was determined. From nodules and roots, 780 and 790 protein spots from 2D gels were identified and approximately 45% of the corresponding unique gene accessions were common. Including a previous proteomics set from Lotus pod and seed, the common gene accessions were decreased to 7%. Interestingly, an indication of more pronounced PTMs in nodules than in roots was determined. Between the two nodule developmental stages, higher levels of pathogen-related 10 proteins, HSPs, and proteins involved in redox processes were found in white nodules, suggesting a higher stress level at this developmental stage. In contrast, protein spots corresponding to nodulins such as leghemoglobin, asparagine synthetase, sucrose synthase, and glutamine synthetase were prevalent in red nodules. The distinct biochemical state of nodules was further highlighted by the conspicuous presence of several nitrilases, ascorbate metabolic enzymes, and putative rhizobial effectors.

Tetrapyrrole Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana

Higher plants produce four classes of tetrapyrroles, namely, chlorophyll (Chl), heme, siroheme, and phytochromobilin. In plants, tetrapyrroles play essential roles in a wide range of biological activities including photosynthesis, respiration and the assimilation of nitrogen/sulfur. All four classes of tetrapyrroles are derived from a common biosynthetic pathway that resides in the plastid. In this article, we present an overview of tetrapyrrole metabolism in Arabidopsis and other higher plants, and we describe all identified enzymatic steps involved in this metabolism. We also summarize recent findings on Chl biosynthesis and Chl breakdown. Recent advances in this field, in particular those on the genetic and biochemical analyses of novel enzymes, prompted us to redraw the tetrapyrrole metabolic pathways. In addition, we also summarize our current understanding on the regulatory mechanisms governing tetrapyrrole metabolism. The interactions of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and other cellular processes including the plastid-to-nucleus signal transduction are discussed.

Comparative proteomic analysis of Typha angustifolia leaf under chromium, cadmium and lead stress

The present study investigated Typha angustifolia leaf proteome in response to Cr, Cd and Pb stress. T. angustifolia of 90 (D90) and 130d (D130) old plants were subjected to 1mM Cr, Cd and Pb and samples were collected 30d after treatment. 2-DE coupled with MS (mass spectrometry) was used to analyze and identify Cr, Cd and Pb-responsive proteins. More than 1600 protein spots were reproducibly detected on each gel, wherein 44, 46, 66 and 33, 26, 62 spots in D90 and D130 samples were differentially expressed by Cr, Cd, Pb over the control, respectively. Of these differentially expressed proteins, 3, 1, 8 overlapped in D90 and D130; while 5, 8, 5 with regulation factors above 3 in one of D90 or D130 samples. Total of 22 and 4 up- and down-regulated proteins were identified using MS and data bank analysis. Cr-induced expression of ATP synthase, RuBisCO small subunit and coproporphyrinogen III oxidase; Cd-induced RuBisCO large subunit; Pb up-regulated carbohydrate metabolic pathway enzymes of fructokinase, and improved RuBisCO activase and large subunit, Mg-protoporphyrin IX chelatase. Contrarily, elF4F was inhibited by Cr/Pb, chloroplast FtsZ-like protein and GF14 omega impeded by Cd and Pb, respectively.

Divergence of duplicated genes in maize: evolution of contrasting targeting information for enzymes in the porphyrin pathway

The divergence of sequence and expression pattern of duplicated genes provides a means for genetic innovation to occur without sacrificing an essential function. The cpx1 and cpx2 genes of maize are a singular example of duplicated genes that have diverged by deletion and creation of protein targeting information. The cpx genes encode coproporphyrinogen III oxidase ('coprogen oxidase'), which catalyzes a step in the synthesis of chlorophyll and heme. In plants, this enzyme has been found exclusively in the plastids. The cpx1 and cpx2 genes encode almost identical, catalytically active enzymes with distinctive N-terminal peptide sequences. The cpx1 gene encodes the expected plastid transit peptide, but this region is deleted from the cpx2 gene. While the 5' regions of both messenger RNAs are highly similar, the cpx2 gene has an open-reading frame that could encode a new targeting signal. GFP fused with CPX1 localized to the plastids. In contrast, the GFP fusion with CPX2 did not target plastids and appeared to localize to mitochondria. Both cpx genes are expressed ubiquitously but, based on mutant phenotype, they seem to have discrete biological roles. Seedlings homozygous for a null mutation in the cpx1 gene completely lack chlorophyll and develop necrotic lesions in the light. However, the mutant seedlings and callus cultures will grow in tissue culture in the dark, implying that they retain a capacity to produce heme. We discuss models for the evolution of the cpx genes and possible roles of mitochondrion-localized coprogen oxidase activity in maize.

Proteomic analysis on symbiotic differentiation of mitochondria in soybean nodules

Symbiotic interactions between legume plants and rhizobia induce specific metabolisms and intracellular organelles in nodules. For surveying symbiotic differentiation of a key organelle, mitochondria, protein constituents of soybean nodule and root mitochondria were compared after two-dimensional (2-D) electrophoresis, and the proteins were characterized in combination with matrix-assisted desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and N-terminal amino acid sequencing. Of the proteins that were detected only in nodule mitochondria, phosphoserine aminotransferase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, coproporphyrinogen III oxidase, one ribonucleoprotein and three unknown proteins were identified. Seven up-regulated, eight down-regulated and two strongly suppressed protein spots in nodule mitochondria were also assigned protein identities. The physiological roles of these differential expressions were discussed in relation to nodule-specific metabolisms in soybean nodules.

Novel aspects of symbiotic nitrogen fixation uncovered by transcript profiling with cDNA arrays

An array of 2,304 cDNA clones derived from nitrogen-fixing nodules of Lotus japonicus was produced and used to detect differences in relative gene transcript abundance between nodules and uninfected roots. Transcripts of 83 different genes were found to be more abundant in nodules than in roots. More than 50 of these have never before been identified as nodule-induced in any species. Expression of 36 genes was detected in nodules but not in roots. Several known nodulin genes were included among the nodule-induced genes. Also included were genes involved in sucrose breakdown and glycolysis, CO2 recycling, and amino acid synthesis, processes that are known to be accelerated in nodules compared with roots. Genes involved in membrane transport, hormone metabolism, cell wall and protein synthesis, and signal transduction and regulation of transcription were also induced in nodules. Genes that may subvert normal plant defense responses, including two encoding enzymes involved in detoxification of active oxygen species and one that may prohibit phytoalexin synthesis, were also identified. The data represent a rich source of information for hypothesis building and future exploration of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

A deficiency of coproporphyrinogen III oxidase causes lesion formation in Arabidopsis

We isolated an Arabidopsis lesion initiation 2 (lin2) mutant, which develops lesion formation on leaves and siliques in a developmentally regulated and light-dependent manner. The phenotype of the lin2 plants resulted from a single nuclear recessive mutation, and LIN2 was isolated by a T-DNA tagging approach. LIN2 encodes coproporphyrinogen III oxidase, a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of chlorophyll and heme, a tetrapyrrole pathway, in Arabidopsis. The lin2 plants express cytological and molecular markers associated with the defense responses, usually activated by pathogen infection. These results demonstrate that a porphyrin pathway impairment is responsible for the lesion initiation phenotype, which leads to the activation of defense responses, in Arabidopsis. Lesion formation was not suppressed, and was even enhanced when accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) was prevented in lin2 plants by the expression of an SA-degrading salicylate hydroxylase (nahG) gene. This suggests that the lesion formation triggered in lin2 plants is determined prior to or independently of the accumulation of SA but that the accumulation is required to limit the spread of lesions in lin2 plants.

Induction of coproporphyrinogen oxidase in Chlamydomonas chloroplasts occurs via transcriptional regulation of Cpx1 mediated by copper response elements and increased translation from a copper deficiency-specific form of the transcript

Coproporphyrinogen III oxidase, encoded by a single nuclear gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, produces three distinct transcripts. One of these transcripts is greatly induced in copper-deficient cells by transcriptional activation, whereas the other forms are copper-insensitive. The induced form of the transcript was expressed coordinately with the cytochrome c6-encoding (Cyc6) gene, which is known to be transcriptionally regulated in copper-deficient cells. The sequence GTAC, which forms the core of a copper response element associated with the Cyc6 gene, is also essential for induction of the Cpx1 gene, suggesting that both are targets of the same signal transduction pathway. The constitutive and induced Cpx1 transcripts have the same half-lives in vivo, and all encode the same polypeptide with a chloroplast-targeting transit sequence, but the shortest one representing the induced form is a 2-4-fold better template for translation than are either of the constitutive forms. The enzyme remains localized to a soluble compartment in the chloroplast even in induced cells, and its abundance is not affected when the tetrapyrrole pathway is manipulated either genetically or by gabaculine treatment.

Expression of a soybean gene encoding the tetrapyrrole-synthesis enzyme glutamyl-tRNA reductase in symbiotic root nodules

Heme and chlorophyll accumulate to high levels in legume root nodules and in photosynthetic tissues, respectively, and they are both derived from the universal tetrapyrrole precursor delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). The first committed step in ALA and tetrapyrrole synthesis is catalyzed by glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GTR) in plants. A soybean (Glycine max) root-nodule cDNA encoding GTR was isolated by complementation of an Escherichia coli GTR-defective mutant for restoration of ALA prototrophy. Gtr mRNA was very low in uninfected roots but accumulated to high levels in root nodules. The induction of Gtr mRNA in developing nodules was subsequent to that of the gene Enod2 (early nodule) and coincided with leghemoglobin mRNA accumulation. Genomic analysis revealed two Gtr genes, Gtr1 and a 3' portion of Gtr2, which were isolated from the soybean genome. RNase-protection analysis using probes specific to Gtr1 and Gtr2 showed that both genes were expressed, but Gtr1 mRNA accumulated to significantly higher levels. In addition, the qualitative patterns of expression of Gtr1 and Gtr2 were similar to each other and to total Gtr mRNA in leaves and nodules of mature plants and etiolated plantlets. The data indicate that Gtr1 is universal for tetrapyrrole synthesis and that a Gtr gene specific for a tissue or tetrapyrrole is unlikely. We suggest that ALA synthesis in specialized root nodules involves an altered spatial expression of genes that are otherwise induced strongly only in photosynthetic tissues of uninfected plants.

Evidence that the plant host synthesizes the heme moiety of leghemoglobin in root nodules

Although it is well established that the plant host encodes and synthesizes the apoprotein for leghemoglobin in root nodules, the source of the heme moiety has been uncertain. We recently found that the transcript for coproporphyrinogen III oxidase, one of the later enzymes of heme synthesis, is highly elevated in soybean (Glycine max L.) nodules compared with roots. In this study we measured enzyme activity and carried out western-blot analysis and in situ hybridization of mRNA to investigate the levels during nodulation of the plant-specific coproporphyrinogen oxidase and four other enzymes of the pathway in both soybean and pea (Pisum sativum L.). We compared them with the activity found in leaves and uninfected roots. Our results demonstrate that all of these enzymes are elevated in the infected cells of nodules. Because these are the same cells that express apoleghemoglobin, the data strongly support a role for the plant in the synthesis of the heme moiety of leghemoglobin.

Transcriptional regulation of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase synthesis by oxygen in Bradyrhizobium japonicum and evidence for developmental control of the hemB gene

An increased demand for cytochromes is associated with symbiotic development and microaerobic metabolism in the bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and evidence suggests that hemB, rather than hemA, is the first essential bacterial heme synthesis gene in symbiosis with soybean. Steady-state levels of mRNA and protein encoded by hemB were strongly and rapidly induced by O2 deprivation as determined by RNase protection and immunoblot analyses, but hemH message was not induced. Oxygen limitation resulted in a greater-than-10-fold increase in the rate of hemB mRNA synthesis as determined by transcriptional runoff experiments, whereas hemH transcription was unaffected by the O2 status. Thus, hemB is a regulated gene in B. japonicum and is transcriptionally controlled by O2. Unlike the expression in parent strain I110, hemB expression was not affected by O2 in the fixJ strain 7360, and O2-limited cultures of the mutant contained quantities of hemB mRNA and protein that were comparable to uninduced levels found in aerobic cells. In addition, spectroscopic analysis of cell extracts showed that increases in b- and c-type cytochromes and the disappearance of cytochrome aa3 in response to microaerobic growth in wild-type cells were not observed in the fixJ mutant. FixJ is a key transcriptional regulator that mediates O2-dependent differentiation in rhizobia, and therefore hemB expression is under developmental control. Furthermore, the data suggest a global control of cytochrome expression and heme biosynthesis in response to the cellular O2 status.

Human coproporphyrinogen oxidase is not a metalloprotein

Coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPO) (EC 1.3.3.3), the antepenultimate enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway, catalyzes the conversion of coproporphyrinogen III to protoporphyrinogen IX. Previously, based upon metal analysis and site-directed mutagenesis of purified recombinant enzyme, it has been suggested that CPO contains and requires copper for activity (Kohno, H., Furukawa, T., Tokunaga, R., Taketani, S., and Yoshinaga, T. (1996) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1292, 156-162). To examine this putative metal site in human CPO, the cDNA encoding human CPO was engineered into an expression vector with a His6 tag at its amino terminus, and the protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to apparent homogeneity using nickel-nitroliotriacetic acid resin. Activity of the purified protein was monitored by a coupled fluorometric assay that employed purified protoporphyrinogen oxidase to convert protoporphyrinogen to protoporphyrin, thereby allowing the direct fluorescent determination of protoporphyrin IX produced. CPO has an apparent Km of 0.6 microM and an apparent Kcat of 16 min-1 with coproporphyrinogen III as substrate. Metal analysis of the enzyme was carried out via ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy metal analysis, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The data presented demonstrate that human CPO contains no metal center, that it is not stimulated in vitro by iron or copper, and that addition of these metals to cultures expressing the protein has no effect.

The regulation of enzymes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis

All living organisms contain tetrapyrroles. In plants, chlorophyll (chlorophyll a plus chlorophyll b) is the most abundant and probably most important tetrapyrrole. It is involved in light absorption and energy transduction during photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is synthesized from the intact carbon skeleton of glutamate via the C5 pathway. This pathway takes place in the chloroplast. It is the aim of this review to summarize the current knowledge on the biochemistry and molecular biology of the C5-pathway enzymes, their regulated expression in response to light, and the impact of chlorophyll biosynthesis on chloroplast development. Particular emphasis will be placed on the key regulatory steps of chlorophyll biosynthesis in higher plants, such as 5-aminolevulinic acid formation, the production of Mg(2+)-protoporphyrin IX, and light-dependent protochlorophyllide reduction.

Structural genes for Mg-chelatase subunits in barley: Xantha-f, -g and -h

Barley mutants in the loci Xantha-f, Xantha-g and Xantha-h, when fed with 5-aminolevulinate in the dark, accumulate protoporphyrin IX. Mutant alleles at these loci that are completely blocked in protochlorophyllide synthesis are also blocked in development of prolamellar bodies in etioplasts. In contrast to wild type, the xan-f, -g and -h mutants had no detectable Mg-chelatase activity, whereas they all had methyltransferase activity for synthesis of Mg-protoporphyrin monomethyl ester. Antibodies recognising the CH42 protein of Arabidopsis thaliana and the OLIVE (OLI) protein of Antirrhinum majus immunoreacted in wild-type barley with 42 and 150 kDa proteins, respectively. The xan-h mutants lacked the protein reacting with antibodies raised against the CH42 protein. Two xan-f mutants lacked the 150 kDa protein recognised by the anti-OLI antibody. Barley genes homologous to the A. majus olive and the A. thaliana Ch-42 genes were cloned using PCR and screening of cDNA and genomic libraries. Probes for these genes were applied to Northern blots of RNA from the xantha mutants and confirmed the results of the Western analysis. The mutants xan-f27, -f40, -h56 and -h57 are defective in transcript accumulation while -h38 is defective in translation. Southern blot analysis established that h38 has a deletion of part of the gene. Mutants xan-f10 and -f41 produce both transcript and protein and it is suggested that these mutations are in the catalytic sites of the protein. It is concluded that X an-f -h genes encode two subunits of the barley Mg-chelatase and that X an-g is likely to encode a third subunit. The XAN-F protein displays 82% amino acid sequence identity to the OLI protein of Antirrhinum, 66% to the Synechocystis homologue and 34% identity to the Rhodobacter BchH subunit of Mg-chelatase. The XAN-H protein has 85% amino acid sequence identity to the Arabidopsis CH42 protein, 69% identity to the Euglena CCS protein, 70% identity to the Cryptomonas BchA and Olisthodiscus CssA proteins, as well as 49% identity to the Rhodobacter BchI subunit of Mg-chelatase. Identification of the barley X an-f and X an-h encoded proteins as subunits required for Mg-chelatase activity supports the notion that the Antirrhinum OLI protein and the Arabidopsis Ch42 protein are subunits of Mg-chelatase in these plants. The expression of both thet X an-f and -h genes in wild-type barley is light induced in leaves of greening seedlings, and in green tissue the genes are under the control of a circadian clock.

Mouse coproporphyrinogen oxidase is a copper-containing enzyme: expression in Escherichia coli and site-directed mutagenesis

We previously isolated cDNA for mouse coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPO) and provided evidence for the induction of mRNA during differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells (Kohno et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 21359-21363). To better understand the structure and the mechanisms of reaction of the enzyme, we expressed mouse CPO in Escherichia. coli and purified it to a homogeneity. Analysis of the metal content revealed that the recombinant mouse CPO contains one copper atom per polypeptide chain. When the bacterial cells were treated with D-penicillamine, a copper chelator, formation of the active CPO was partially reduced. Addition of Cu2+ in minimal medium resulted in 6-fold higher level of CPO activity. These results suggest that expression of active mouse CPO in E. coli depended on the presence of Cu2+ in the culture medium. To elucidate the apparent involvement of Cu2+ in enzyme function, a series of mutant enzymes, whose highly conserved histidine and cysteine residues were individually converted to alanine residue, were prepared by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutant enzymes were expressed in E. coli and their activities examined. Mutation at histidine 158 resulted in a complete loss of enzyme activity, yet the enzyme protein was expressed at a comparable level. Concomitantly, only a trace amount of Cu2+ was detected in the purified H158A enzyme. We propose that mouse CPO is copper-containing enzyme and Cu2+ interacts with a conserved histidine residue.

A mutant Bradyrhizobium japonicum delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase with an altered metal requirement functions in situ for tetrapyrrole synthesis in soybean root nodules

The tetrapyrrole synthesis enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) dehydratase requires Mg2+ for catalytic activity in photosynthetic organisms and in Bradyrhizobium japonicum, a bacterium that can reside symbiotically within plant cells of soybean root nodules or as a free-living organism. ALA dehydratase from animals and other non-photosynthetic organisms is a Zn(2+)-dependent enzyme. A modified B. japonicum ALA dehydratase, ALAD*, was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis of hemB in which three proximal amino acids conserved in plant dehydratases were changed to cysteine residues as is found in the Zn(2+)-dependent enzyme of animals. These substitutions resulted in an enzyme that required Zn2+ rather than Mg2+ for catalytic activity, and therefore a region of the ALA dehydratase from B. japonicum, and probably from plants, was identified that is involved in Mg2+ dependence. In addition, the data show that a change in only a few residues is sufficient to change a Mg(2+)-dependent ALA dehydratase to a Zn(2+)-dependent one. B. japonicum strains were constructed that contained a single copy of either hemB or the altered gene hemB* integrated into the genome of a hemB- mutant. Cultures of the hemB* strain KPZn3 had Zn(2+)-dependent ALA dehydratase activity that functioned in vivo as discerned by its heme prototrophy and expression of wild type levels of cellular hemes. Strain KPZn3 elicited root nodules on soybean that contained viable bacteria and exhibited traits of normally developed nodules, and the symbiotic bacteria expressed nearly wild type levels of cellular hemes. We conclude that the Zn(2+)-dependent ALAD* can function and support bacterial tetrapyrrole synthesis within the plant milieu of root nodules.

Cloning and characterization of the Escherichia coli hemN gene encoding the oxygen-independent coproporphyrinogen III oxidase

Coproporphyrinogen III oxidase, an enzyme involved in heme biosynthesis, catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of coproporphyrinogen III to form protoporphyrinogen IX. Genetic and biochemical studies suggested the presence of two different coproporphyrinogen III oxidases, one for aerobic (HemF) and one for anaerobic (HemN) conditions. Here we report the cloning of the hemN gene encoding the oxygen-independent coproporphyrinogen III oxidase from Escherichia coli by complementation of a Salmonella typhimurium hemF hemN double mutant. An open reading frame of 1,371 bp encoding a protein of 457 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 52.8 kDa was identified. Sequence comparisons revealed 92% amino acid sequence identity to the recently cloned S. typhimurium hemN gene and 35% identity to the Rhodobacter sphaeroides gene. The hemN gene was mapped to 87.3 min of the E. coli chromosome and found identical to open reading frame o459 previously discovered during the genome sequencing project. Complementation of S. typhimurium hemF hemN double mutants with the E. coli hemN gene was detected under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, indicating an aerobic function for HemN. The previously cloned E. coli hemF gene encoding the oxygen-dependent enzyme complemented exclusively under aerobic conditions. Primer extension experiments revealed a strong transcription initiation site 102 bp upstream of the translational start site. DNA sequences with homology to a sigma 70-dependent promoter were detected. Expression of the hemN gene in response to changing environmental conditions was evaluated by using lacZ reporter gene fusions. Under anaerobic conditions, hemN expression was threefold greater than under aerobic growth conditions. Removal of iron from the growth medium resulted in an approximately fourfold decrease of aerobic hemN expression. Subsequent addition of iron restored normal expression.

Molecular abnormalities of coproporphyrinogen oxidase in patients with hereditary coproporphyria

Genetic defects of coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPO) lead to hereditary coproporphyria, an inherited autosomal dominant porphyria. The recent cloning of human cDNAs and of the gene encoding CPO permits deducing the primary structure of the CPO protein and elucidating the molecular basis of HC in some families.

gsa1 is a universal tetrapyrrole synthesis gene in soybean and is regulated by a GAGA element

Expression of plant tetrapyrroles is high in photosynthetic tissues and in legume root nodules in the form of chlorophyll and heme, respectively. The universal tetrapyrrole precursor delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is synthesized from glutamate 1-semialdehyde (GSA) by GSA aminotransferase in plants, which is encoded by gsa. Immunoblot analysis showed that GSA aminotransferase was expressed in soybean leaves and nodules, but not in roots, and that protein correlated with enzyme activity. These observations indicate that GSA aminotransferase expression is controlled in tetrapyrrole formation and argue against significant activity of an enzyme other than the well described aminotransferase for GSA-dependent ALA formation. gas mRNA and protein were induced in soybean nodules, and their activation was temporally intermediate between those of the respective early and late genes endo2 and lb. A GSA aminotransferase gene, designated gsa1, was isolated and appears to be one of two gsa genes in the soybean genome. gsa1 mRNA accumulated to high levels in leaves and nodules, but not in uninfected roots as discerned with a gsa1-specific probe. Message levels were higher in leaves from etiolated plantlets than in mature plants, and expression in the former was slightly elevated by light. The expression pattern of gsa1 mRNA was qualitatively similar to that of total gsa. The data strongly suggest that gsa1 is a universal tetrapyrrole synthesis gene and that a gsa gene specific for a tissue, tetrapyrrole, or light condition is unlikely. The gsa1 promoter contained a genetic element found in numerous Drosophila melanogaster genes; the so-called GAGA element displayed single-stranded character in vitro and formed a complex with nuclear factors from nodules and leaves but not from roots. From these observations we infer that the GAGA element is involved in the transcriptional control of gsa1.

Uptake of iron by symbiosomes and bacteroids from soybean nodules

Symbiosomes and bacteroids isolated from soybean nodules are able to take up the iron-citrate complex. The kinetics are characterized by initial high rates of iron internalization, and ATPase inhibitors significantly lower the uptake. This is consistent with an energy-dependent process on both membranes, although the involvement of a simultaneous facilitated diffusion can not be completely ruled out. Citrate alone is poorly absorbed by symbiosomes; this uptake is greatly enhanced by addition of iron. Iron-citrate was found both in the nodule cytosol and in the bacteroids. These results provide the first experimental evidence for the existence, at least in young nodules, of an important iron trafficking system from the plant host cell to the microsymbiont, through the peribacteroid membrane.

Coproporphyrinogen III oxidase from barley and tobacco--sequence analysis and initial expression studies

Coproporphyrinogen III oxidase (coprogen oxidase; EC 1.3.3.3) is part of the pathway from 5-amino-levulinate to protoporphyrin IX which is common in all organisms and catalyses oxidative decarboxylation at two tetrapyrrole side chains. We cloned and sequenced full-length cDNAs encoding coprogen oxidase from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). They code for precursor peptides of 43.6 kDa and 44.9 kDa, respectively. Import into pea plastids resulted in a processed tobacco protein of approx. 39 kDa, which accumulated in the stroma fraction. Induction of synthesis of recombinant putative tobacco mature coprogen oxidase consisting of 338 amino-acid residues in Escherichia coli at 20 degrees C result in a catalytically active protein of approx. 39 kDa, while induction of its formation at 37 degrees C immediately terminated bacterial growth, possibly due to toxic effects on the metabolic balance of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis. The plant coprogen oxidase gene was expressed to different extents in all tissues investigated. This is most likely due to the differing requirements for tetrapyrroles in different organs. The steady-state level of mRNA did not significantly differ in etiolated and greening barley leaves. The content of coprogen oxidase RNA reached its maximum in developing cells and decreased drastically when cells were completely differentiated. Functioning of the two photosystems apparatus requires the synthesis of all pigment and protein components during plant development. It is speculated that the enzymes involved in tetrapyrrole synthesis are developmentally rather than light-dependently regulated. Regulation of these enzymes also guarantees a constant flux of metabolic intermediates and avoids photodynamic damage by accumulating porphyrins.

Bacillus subtilis HemY is a peripheral membrane protein essential for protoheme IX synthesis which can oxidize coproporphyrinogen III and protoporphyrinogen IX

The hemY gene of the Bacillus subtilis hemEHY operon is essential for protoheme IX biosynthesis. Two previously isolated hemY mutations were sequenced. Both mutations are deletions affecting the hemY reading frame, and they cause the accumulation of coproporphyrinogen III or coproporphyrin III in the growth medium and the accumulation of trace amounts of other porphyrinogens or porphyrins intracellularly. HemY was found to be a 53-kDa peripheral membrane-bound protein. In agreement with recent findings by Dailey et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 269:813-815, 1994) B. subtilis HemY protein synthesized in Escherichia coli oxidized coproporphyrinogen III and protoporphyrinogen IX to coproporphyrin and protoporphyrin, respectively. The protein is not a general porphyrinogen oxidase since it did not oxidize uroporphyrinogen III. The apparent specificity constant, kcat/Km, for HemY was found to be about 12-fold higher with coproporphyrinogen III as a substrate compared with protoporphyrinogen IX as a substrate. The protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase activity is consistent with the function of HemY in a late step of protoheme IX biosynthesis, i.e., HemY catalyzes the penultimate step of the pathway. However, the efficient coproporphyrinogen III to coproporphyrin oxidase activity is unexplained in the current view of protoheme IX biosynthesis.

Molecular cloning, sequencing, and functional expression of a cDNA encoding human coproporphyrinogen oxidase

Coproporphyrinogen oxidase (EC 1.3.3.3) catalyzes the sixth step in the heme biosynthetic pathway, the oxidation of coproporphyrinogen III to protoporphyrinogen IX. The activity of this enzyme is deficient in the disease hereditary coproporphyria. The sequence of the cDNA and predicted amino acid sequence of the human coproporphyrinogen oxidase are presented. The human protein sequence contains a region completely homologous to that we obtained by sequencing an 11-amino acid peptide fragment from purified murine liver coproporphyrinogen oxidase. Results of Southern blotting were consistent with the presence of a single human coproporphyrinogen oxidase gene, and Northern blotting demonstrated one transcript of similar size in erythroid and nonerythroid cell lines. Expression of the cDNA coding for the putative mature human coproporphyrinogen oxidase in Escherichia coli resulted in a 17-fold increase in coproporphyrinogen activity over endogenous activity.