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Santos N, Brandstetter H, Dall E. Arabidopsis thaliana Phytocystatin 6 Forms Functional Oligomer and Amyloid Fibril States. Biochemistry 2023; 62:3420-3429. [PMID: 37989209 PMCID: PMC10702442 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Cystatins encode a high functional variability not only because of their ability to inhibit different classes of proteases but also because of their propensity to form oligomers and amyloid fibrils. Phytocystatins, essential regulators of protease activity in plants, specifically inhibit papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) and legumains through two distinct cystatin domains. Mammalian cystatins can form amyloid fibrils; however, the potential for amyloid fibril formation of phytocystatins remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that Arabidopsis thaliana phytocystatin 6 (AtCYT6) exists as a mixture of monomeric, dimeric, and oligomeric forms in solution. Noncovalent oligomerization was facilitated by the N-terminal cystatin domain, while covalent dimerization occurred through disulfide bond formation in the interdomain linker. The noncovalent dimeric form of AtCYT6 retained activity against its target proteases, papain and legumain, albeit with reduced inhibitory potency. Additionally, we observed the formation of amyloid fibrils by AtCYT6 under acidic pH conditions and upon heating. The amyloidogenic potential could be attributed to the AtCYT6's N-terminal domain (AtCYT6-NTD). Importantly, AtCYT6 amyloid fibrils harbored inhibitory activities against both papain and legumain. These findings shed light on the oligomerization and amyloidogenic behavior of AtCYT6, expanding our understanding of phytocystatin biology and its potential functional implications for plant protease regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiá
P. Santos
- Department of Biosciences and Medical
Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Hans Brandstetter
- Department of Biosciences and Medical
Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Elfriede Dall
- Department of Biosciences and Medical
Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
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2
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Santos NP, Soh WT, Demir F, Tenhaken R, Briza P, Huesgen PF, Brandstetter H, Dall E. Phytocystatin 6 is a context-dependent, tight-binding inhibitor of Arabidopsis thaliana legumain isoform β. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 116:1681-1695. [PMID: 37688791 PMCID: PMC10952133 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Plant legumains are crucial for processing seed storage proteins and are critical regulators of plant programmed cell death. Although research on legumains boosted recently, little is known about their activity regulation. In our study, we used pull-down experiments to identify AtCYT6 as a natural inhibitor of legumain isoform β (AtLEGβ) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Biochemical analysis revealed that AtCYT6 inhibits both AtLEGβ and papain-like cysteine proteases through two separate cystatin domains. The N-terminal domain inhibits papain-like proteases, while the C-terminal domain inhibits AtLEGβ. Furthermore, we showed that AtCYT6 interacts with legumain in a substrate-like manner, facilitated by a conserved asparagine residue in its reactive center loop. Complex formation was additionally stabilized by charged exosite interactions, contributing to pH-dependent inhibition. Processing of AtCYT6 by AtLEGβ suggests a context-specific regulatory mechanism with implications for plant physiology, development, and programmed cell death. These findings enhance our understanding of AtLEGβ regulation and its broader physiological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiá P. Santos
- Department of Biosciences and Medical BiologyUniversity of Salzburg5020SalzburgAustria
| | - Wai Tuck Soh
- Department of Biosciences and Medical BiologyUniversity of Salzburg5020SalzburgAustria
- Present address:
Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesD‐37077GöttingenGermany
| | - Fatih Demir
- Central Institute for Engineering, Electronics and Analytics52428JülichZEA‐3, Forschungszentrum JülichGermany
- Present address:
Department of BiomedicineAarhus University8000Aarhus CDenmark
| | - Raimund Tenhaken
- Department of Environment and BiodiversityUniversity of Salzburg5020SalzburgAustria
| | - Peter Briza
- Department of Biosciences and Medical BiologyUniversity of Salzburg5020SalzburgAustria
| | - Pitter F. Huesgen
- Central Institute for Engineering, Electronics and Analytics52428JülichZEA‐3, Forschungszentrum JülichGermany
- CECADMedical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Cologne50931CologneGermany
- Institute for Biochemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesUniversity of Cologne50674CologneGermany
| | - Hans Brandstetter
- Department of Biosciences and Medical BiologyUniversity of Salzburg5020SalzburgAustria
| | - Elfriede Dall
- Department of Biosciences and Medical BiologyUniversity of Salzburg5020SalzburgAustria
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3
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de Souza EP, Ferro M, Pelá VT, Fernanda-Carlos T, Borges CGG, Taira EA, Ventura TMO, Arencibia AD, Buzalaf MAR, Henrique-Silva F. Maquiberry Cystatins: Recombinant Expression, Characterization, and Use to Protect Tooth Dentin and Enamel. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051360. [PMID: 37239031 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Phytocystatins are proteinaceous competitive inhibitors of cysteine peptidases involved in physiological and defensive roles in plants. Their application as potential therapeutics for human disorders has been suggested, and the hunt for novel cystatin variants in different plants, such as maqui (Aristotelia chilensis), is pertinent. Being an understudied species, the biotechnological potential of maqui proteins is little understood. In the present study, we constructed a transcriptome of maqui plantlets using next-generation sequencing, in which we found six cystatin sequences. Five of them were cloned and recombinantly expressed. Inhibition assays were performed against papain and human cathepsins B and L. Maquicystatins can inhibit the proteases in nanomolar order, except MaquiCPIs 4 and 5, which inhibit cathepsin B in micromolar order. This suggests maquicystatins' potential use for treating human diseases. In addition, since we previously demonstrated the efficacy of a sugarcane-derived cystatin to protect dental enamel, we tested the ability of MaquiCPI-3 to protect both dentin and enamel. Both were protected by this protein (by One-way ANOVA and Tukey's Multiple Comparisons Test, p < 0.05), suggesting its potential usage in dental products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Pereira de Souza
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil
| | - Milene Ferro
- Department of General and Applied Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro 13506-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Taioqui Pelá
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil
| | - Thais Fernanda-Carlos
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Even Akemi Taira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil
| | - Talita Mendes Oliveira Ventura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil
| | - Ariel Domingo Arencibia
- Center of Biotechnology in Natural Resources, Faculty of Agrarian and Forestry Sciences, Catholic University of Maule (UCM), Talca 3466706, Chile
| | - Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávio Henrique-Silva
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil
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4
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Balbinott N, Margis R. Review: Unraveling the origin of the structural and functional diversity of plant cystatins. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 321:111342. [PMID: 35696902 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The regulation of protease activity is a critical factor for the physiological balance during plant growth and development. Among the proteins involved in controlling protease activity are the cystatins, well-described inhibitors of cysteine proteases present in viruses, bacteria and most Eukaryotes. Plant cystatins, commonly called phytocystatins, display unique structural and functional diversity and are classified according to their molecular weight as type-I, -II, and -III. Their gene structure is highly conserved across Viridiplantae and provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. Many type-I phytocystatins with introns share sequence similarities with type-II phytocystatins. New data shows that they could have originated from recent losses of the carboxy-terminal extension present in type-II phytocystatins. Intronless type-I phytocystatins originated from a single event shared by flowering plants. Pieces of evidence show multiple events of gene duplications, intron losses, and gains throughout the expansion and diversity of the phytocystatin family. Gene duplication events in Gymnosperms and Eudicots resulted in inhibitors with amino acid substitutions that may modify their interaction with target proteases and other proteins. This review brings a phylogenomic analysis of plant cystatin evolution and contributes to a broader understanding of their origins. A complete functional genomic analysis among phytocystatins and their roles in plant development and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses remains a question to be fully solved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Balbinott
- Laboratório de Genomas e Populações de Plantas, Departamento de Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rogerio Margis
- Laboratório de Genomas e Populações de Plantas, Departamento de Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa INCT Plant Stress Biotech, EMBRAPA, CENARGEN, Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
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Dong C, Li R, Wang N, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Bai S. Apple vacuolar processing enzyme 4 is regulated by cysteine protease inhibitor and modulates fruit disease resistance. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:3758-3773. [PMID: 35259265 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ring rot is a destructive apple disease caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea. The resistance mechanism of apple plants to B. dothidea remains unclear. Here, we show that APPLE VACUOLAR PROCESSING ENZYME 4 (MdVPE4) is involved in resistance to B. dothidea. MdVPE4 silencing reduced fruit disease resistance, whereas its overexpression improved resistance. Gene expression analysis revealed that MdVPE4 influenced the expression of fruit disease resistance-related genes, such as APPLE POLYGALACTURONASE 1 (MdPG1), APPLE POLYGALACTURONASE INHIBITOR PROTEIN 1 (MdPGIP1), APPLE ENDOCHITINASE 1 (MdCHI1), and APPLE THAUMATIN-LIKE PROTEIN 1 (MdTHA1). The expression of the four genes responding to B. dothidea infection decreased in MdVPE4-silenced fruits. Further analysis demonstrated that B. dothidea infection induced MdVPE4 expression and enzyme activation in apple fruits. Moreover, MdVPE4 activity was modulated by apple cysteine proteinase inhibitor 1 (MdCPI1), which also contributed to resistance towards B. dothidea, as revealed by gene overexpression and silencing analysis. MdCPI1 interacted with MdVPE4 and inhibited its activity. However, MdCPI1 expression was decreased by B. dothidea infection. Taken together, our findings indicate that the interaction between MdVPE4 and MdCPI1 plays an important role in modulating fruit disease resistance to B. dothidea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaohua Dong
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ronghui Li
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Nan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingshuang Liu
- College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yugang Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Suhua Bai
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, Qingdao, China
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Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Cystatin Gene Family in Bread Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910264. [PMID: 34638605 PMCID: PMC8508539 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystatins, as reversible inhibitors of papain-like and legumain proteases, have been identified in several plant species. Although the cystatin family plays crucial roles in plant development and defense responses to various stresses, this family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is still poorly understood. In this study, 55 wheat cystatins (TaCystatins) were identified. All TaCystatins were divided into three groups and both the conserved gene structures and peptide motifs were relatively conserved within each group. Homoeolog analysis suggested that both homoeolog retention percentage and gene duplications contributed to the abundance of the TaCystatin family. Analysis of duplication events confirmed that segmental duplications played an important role in the duplication patterns. The results of codon usage pattern analysis showed that TaCystatins had evident codon usage bias, which was mainly affected by mutation pressure. TaCystatins may be regulated by cis-acting elements, especially abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate responsive elements. In addition, the expression of all selected TaCystatins was significantly changed following viral infection and cold stress, suggesting potential roles in response to biotic and abiotic challenges. Overall, our work provides new insights into TaCystatins during wheat evolution and will help further research to decipher the roles of TaCystatins under diverse stress conditions.
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Li J, Liu X, Wang Q, Sun J, He D. Genome-wide identification and analysis of cystatin family genes in Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). PeerJ 2021; 9:e10617. [PMID: 33552717 PMCID: PMC7827979 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To set a systematic study of the Sorghum cystatins (SbCys) gene family, a genome-wide analysis of the SbCys family genes was performed by bioinformatics-based methods. In total, 18 SbCys genes were identified in Sorghum, which were distributed unevenly on chromosomes, and two genes were involved in a tandem duplication event. All SbCys genes had similar exon/intron structure and motifs, indicating their high evolutionary conservation. Transcriptome analysis showed that 16 SbCys genes were expressed in different tissues, and most genes displayed higher expression levels in reproductive tissues than in vegetative tissues, indicating that the SbCys genes participated in the regulation of seed formation. Furthermore, the expression profiles of the SbCys genes revealed that seven cystatin family genes were induced during Bipolaris sorghicola infection and only two genes were responsive to aphid infestation. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed that 17 SbCys genes were induced by one or two abiotic stresses (dehydration, salt, and ABA stresses). The interaction network indicated that SbCys proteins were associated with several biological processes, including seed development and stress responses. Notably, the expression of SbCys4 was up-regulated under biotic and abiotic stresses, suggesting its potential roles in mediating the responses of Sorghum to adverse environmental impact. Our results provide new insights into the structural and functional characteristics of the SbCys gene family, which lay the foundation for better understanding the roles and regulatory mechanism of Sorghum cystatins in seed development and responses to different stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- College of Agronomy, Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, Xinyang, Henan Province, China
| | - Xinhao Liu
- Central Laboratory, Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, Xinyang, Henan Province, China
| | - Qingmei Wang
- Central Laboratory, Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, Xinyang, Henan Province, China
| | - Junyan Sun
- College of Agronomy, Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, Xinyang, Henan Province, China
| | - Dexian He
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops/National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
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Lima AM, Barros NLF, Freitas ACO, Tavares LSC, Pirovani CP, Siqueira AS, Gonçalves EC, de Souza CRB. A new Piper nigrum cysteine proteinase inhibitor, PnCPI, with antifungal activity: molecular cloning, recombinant expression, functional analyses and molecular modeling. PLANTA 2020; 252:16. [PMID: 32661769 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-020-03425-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A new Piper nigrum cysteine proteinase inhibitor, PnCPI, belonging to group I of phytocystatins, with inhibitory activity against papain and growth of Fusarium solani f. sp. piperis, was isolated and characterized. Previous studies (de Souza et al. 2011) have identified a partial cDNA sequence of putative cysteine proteinase inhibitor differentially expressed in roots of black pepper (P. nigrum L.) infected by F. solani f. sp. piperis. Here, we aimed to isolate the full-length cDNA and genomic sequences of the P. nigrum cysteine proteinase inhibitor gene, named PnCPI. Sequence analyses showed that the PnCPI gene encodes a deduced protein of 108 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 12.3 kDa and isoelectric point of 6.51. Besides the LARFAV-like sequence, common to all phytocystatins, PnCPI contains three conserved motifs of the superfamily cystatin: a glycine residue at the N-terminal region, the QxVxG reactive site more centrally positioned, and one tryptophan in the C-terminal region. PnCPI, belonging to group I of phytocystatins, showed high identity with cystatins isolated from several plant species. Sequence analyses also revealed no putative signal peptide at the N-terminal of PnCPI, as well as no introns within the genomic sequence corresponding to the PnCPI coding region. Molecular modeling showed the ability of PnCPI to interact with papain, while its inhibitory activity against this protease was confirmed after heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The effects of heat treatments on the inhibitory activity of recombinant PnCPI, rPnCPI, were evaluated. In addition, rPnCPI exhibited in vitro activity against F. solani f. sp. piperis, revealing a new cystatin with the potential antifungal application. The identification of PnCPI as a functional cystatin able to inhibit the in vitro growth of F. solani f. sp. piperis indicates other factors contributing to in vivo susceptibility of black pepper to root rot disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Medeiros Lima
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
- Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Tomé-Açu, PA, 68680-000, Brazil
| | - Nicolle Louise Ferreira Barros
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Ana Camila Oliveira Freitas
- Laboratório de Proteômica, Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Priminho Pirovani
- Laboratório de Proteômica, Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil
| | - Andrei Santos Siqueira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
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9
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Cloning, expression and enzymatic characterization of a cystatin gene involved in herbivore defense in tea plant (Camellia sinensis). CHEMOECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-020-00312-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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10
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Recombinant expression, characterization and phylogenetic studies of novels cystatins-like proteins of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and clementine (Citrus clementina). Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 152:546-553. [PMID: 32109474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.02.280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Phytocystatins are plant cystatins that are related to several physiological processes regulating endogenous cysteine proteases involved in seed development and germination, programmed cell death and response to stress conditions. In addition, phytocystatins can act in plant defense against exogenous peptidases from herbivorous insects, pathogens and nematodes. Considering that Citrus fruits are important to human nutrition and represent a high value crop in worldwide agriculture, in the present work, we performed the identification of putative cystatins from Citrus sinensis and from Citrus clementine and submitted them to phylogenetic analysis. Six cystatins from each species were identified as orthologous and classified into three well supported phylogenetic groups. Five cystatins representative of the phylogenetic groups were recombinantly expressed and the in vitro studies revealed them to be potent inhibitors against the cysteine peptidases papain, legumain, human cathepsins (B, L, S, K) and a cathepsin B-like from Diaphorina citri (the Asian Citrus psyllid). Our findings provide the C. clementina and C. sinensis cystatins classification and an enzyme-inhibitor interactions profile, which may reflect an evolutionary process of Citrus cystatins related to gene functions as initial germination rates and seedlings development as well associated to plant defense against pathogens, as insects and nematodes.
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11
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Xue Q, Wu XQ. Characteristics and function of a novel cystatin gene in the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.042655. [PMID: 31511247 PMCID: PMC6777362 DOI: 10.1242/bio.042655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is the pathogen that causes pine wilt disease (PWD). The disease has caused significant economic losses and damage to forests. However, the pathogenic mechanism of B. xylophilus remains unclear. Cystatins are involved in various biological processes where they regulate normal proteolysis and also play a role in pathogenicity, but their functions in B. xylophilus are unknown. Therefore, we cloned the full-length cDNA of a cystatin gene of B. xylophilus (Bx-cpi-1) by rapid-amplification of cDNA ends and analyzed its characteristics with bioinformatic methods. In situ mRNA hybridization analyses showed that transcripts of Bx-cpi-1 were abundantly expressed in the reproductive organs of B. xylophilus. The expression of Bx-cpi-1 was investigated using qPCR. Bx-cpi-1 was expressed during each of the different developmental stages of B. xylophilus. The highest gene expression was at the egg stage. After infection of Pinus massoniana, the expression of Bx-cpi-1 increased. The functions of Bx-cpi-1 were verified by RNA interference. The feeding rate, reproduction and pathogenicity of B. xylophilus all decreased as a result of silencing of the Bx-cpi-1 gene. These results revealed that Bx-cpi-1 may be a variant of a type II cystatin gene which is involved in the development and pathogenic process of B. xylophilus. Summary:Bx-cpi-1, a variant of a type II cystatin gene, was abundantly expressed in the reproductive organs of Bursaphelenchusxylophilus, and involved in the development and pathogenicity of B. xylophilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xue
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Prevention and Management of Invasive Species, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Xiao-Qin Wu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Prevention and Management of Invasive Species, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
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12
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Jutras PV, Grosse‐Holz F, Kaschani F, Kaiser M, Michaud D, van der Hoorn RA. Activity-based proteomics reveals nine target proteases for the recombinant protein-stabilizing inhibitor SlCYS8 in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2019; 17:1670-1678. [PMID: 30742730 PMCID: PMC6662110 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Co-expression of protease inhibitors like the tomato cystatin SlCYS8 is useful to increase recombinant protein production in plants, but key proteases involved in protein proteolysis are still unknown. Here, we performed activity-based protein profiling to identify proteases that are inhibited by SlCYS8 in agroinfiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana. We discovered that SlCYS8 selectively suppresses papain-like cysteine protease (PLCP) activity in both apoplastic fluids and total leaf extracts, while not affecting vacuolar-processing enzyme and serine hydrolase activity. A robust concentration-dependent inhibition of PLCPs occurred in vitro when purified SlCYS8 was added to leaf extracts, indicating direct cystatin-PLCP interactions. Activity-based proteomics revealed that nine different Cathepsin-L/-F-like PLCPs are strongly inhibited by SlCYS8 in leaves. By contrast, the activity of five other Cathepsin-B/-H-like PLCPs, as well as 87 Ser hydrolases, was unaffected by SlCYS8. SlCYS8 expression prevented protein degradation by inhibiting intermediate and mature isoforms of granulin-containing proteases from the Resistant-to-Desiccation-21 (RD21) PLCP subfamily. Our data underline the key role of endogenous PLCPs on recombinant protein degradation and reveal candidate proteases for depletion strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe V. Jutras
- Department of Plant SciencesPlant Chemetics LaboratoryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Farnusch Kaschani
- Chemische BiologieZentrum für Medizinische BiotechnologieFakultät für BiologieUniversität Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Markus Kaiser
- Chemische BiologieZentrum für Medizinische BiotechnologieFakultät für BiologieUniversität Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Dominique Michaud
- Centre de recherche et d'innovation sur les végétauxUniversité LavalQuébecCanada
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13
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Abstract
Dozens of studies have assessed the practical value of plant cystatins as ectopic inhibitors of Cys proteases in biological systems. The potential of these proteins in crop protection to control herbivorous pests and pathogens has been documented extensively over the past 25 years. Their usefulness to regulate endogenous Cys proteases in planta has also been considered recently, notably to implement novel traits of agronomic relevance in crops or to generate protease activity-depleted environments in plants or plant cells used as bioreactors for recombinant proteins. After a brief update on the basic structural characteristics of plant cystatins, we summarize recent advances on the use of these proteins in plant biotechnology. Attention is also paid to the molecular improvement of their structural properties for the improvement of their protease inhibitory effects or the fine-tuning of their biological target range.
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14
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Amin F, Khan MS, Bano B. Mammalian cystatin and protagonists in brain diseases. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 38:2171-2196. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1620636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fakhra Amin
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mohd Shahnawaz Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bilqees Bano
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh MuslimUniversity, Aligarh, India
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15
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Vorster BJ, Cullis CA, Kunert KJ. Plant Vacuolar Processing Enzymes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:479. [PMID: 31031794 PMCID: PMC6473326 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Plant proteomes contain hundreds of proteases divided into different families based on evolutionary and functional relationship. In particular, plant cysteine proteases of the C1 (papain-like) and C13 (legumain-like) families play key roles in many physiological processes. The legumain-like proteases, also called vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs), perform a multifunctional role in different plant organs and during different stages of plant development and death. VPEs are similar to animal caspases, and although caspase activity was identified in plants almost 40 years ago, there still remains much research to be done to gain a complete understanding of their various roles and functions in plants. Here we not only summarize the current existing knowledge of plant VPEs, including recent developments in the field, but also highlight the future prospective areas to be investigated to obtain a more detailed understanding of the role of VPEs in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barend Juan Vorster
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Christopher A. Cullis
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Karl J. Kunert
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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16
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Purification and characterization of a cystatin like thiol protease inhibitor from Brassica nigra. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 125:1128-1139. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.12.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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17
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Aceituno-Valenzuela U, Covarrubias MP, Aguayo MF, Valenzuela-Riffo F, Espinoza A, Gaete-Eastman C, Herrera R, Handford M, Norambuena L. Identification of a type II cystatin in Fragaria chiloensis: A proteinase inhibitor differentially regulated during achene development and in response to biotic stress-related stimuli. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2018; 129:158-167. [PMID: 29883898 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The equilibrium between protein synthesis and degradation is key to maintaining efficiency in different physiological processes. The proteinase inhibitor cystatin regulates protease activities in different developmental and physiological contexts. Here we describe for the first time the identification and the biological function of the cysteine protease inhibitor cystatin of Fragaria chiloensis, FchCYS1. Based on primary sequence and 3D-structural homology modelling, FchCYS1 is a type II phytocystatin with high identity to other cystatins of the Fragaria genus. Both the papain-like and the legumain-like protease inhibitory domains are indeed functional, based on in vitro assays performed with Escherichia coli protein extracts containing recombinant FchCYS1. FchCYS1 is differentially-expressed in achenes of F. chiloensis fruits, with highest expression as the fruit reaches the ripened stage, suggesting a role in preventing degradation of storage proteins that will nourish the embryo during seed germination. Furthermore, FchCYS1 responds transcriptionally to the application of salicylic acid and to mechanical injury, strongly suggesting that FchCYS1 could be involved in the response against pathogen attack. Overall these results point to a role for FchCYS1 in diverse physiological processes in F. chiloensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uri Aceituno-Valenzuela
- Plant Molecular Biology Centre, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Paz Covarrubias
- Plant Molecular Biology Centre, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Francisca Aguayo
- Plant Molecular Biology Centre, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Analía Espinoza
- Plant Molecular Biology Centre, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Raúl Herrera
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Michael Handford
- Plant Molecular Biology Centre, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Norambuena
- Plant Molecular Biology Centre, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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18
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Velasco-Arroyo B, Diaz-Mendoza M, Gomez-Sanchez A, Moreno-Garcia B, Santamaria ME, Torija-Bonilla M, Hensel G, Kumlehn J, Martinez M, Diaz I. Silencing barley cystatins HvCPI-2 and HvCPI-4 specifically modifies leaf responses to drought stress. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2018; 41:1776-1790. [PMID: 29486055 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein breakdown and mobilization are some of the major metabolic features associated with abiotic stresses, essential for nutrient recycling and plant survival. Genetic manipulation of protease and/or protease inhibitors may contribute to modulate proteolytic processes and plant responses. The expression analysis of the whole cystatin family, inhibitors of C1A cysteine proteases, after water deprivation in barley leaves highlighted the involvement of Icy-2 and Icy-4 cystatin genes. Artificial microRNA lines independently silencing the two drought-induced cystatins were generated to assess their function in planta. Phenotype alterations at the final stages of the plant life cycle are represented by the stay-green phenotype of silenced cystatin 2 lines. Besides, the enhanced tolerance to drought and differential responses to water deprivation at the initial growing stages are observed. The mutual compensating expression of Icy-2 and Icy-4 genes in the silencing lines pointed to their cooperative role. Proteolytic patterns by silencing these cystatins were concomitant with modifications in the expression of potential target proteases, in particular, HvPap-1, HvPap-12, and HvPap-16 C1A proteases. Metabolomics analysis lines also revealed specific modifications in the accumulation of several metabolites. These findings support the use of plants with altered proteolytic regulation in crop improvement in the face of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Velasco-Arroyo
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Diaz-Mendoza
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Gomez-Sanchez
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Moreno-Garcia
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Estrella Santamaria
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Torija-Bonilla
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Goetz Hensel
- Leibniz Institut fur Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstrasse 3, Stadt Seeland, 06466, Germany
| | - Jochen Kumlehn
- Leibniz Institut fur Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstrasse 3, Stadt Seeland, 06466, Germany
| | - Manuel Martinez
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Diaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
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19
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Radchuk V, Tran V, Radchuk R, Diaz-Mendoza M, Weier D, Fuchs J, Riewe D, Hensel G, Kumlehn J, Munz E, Heinzel N, Rolletschek H, Martinez M, Borisjuk L. Vacuolar processing enzyme 4 contributes to maternal control of grain size in barley by executing programmed cell death in the pericarp. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 218:1127-1142. [PMID: 28836669 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The angiosperm embryo and endosperm are limited in space because they grow inside maternal seed tissues. The elimination of cell layers of the maternal seed coat by programmed cell death (PCD) could provide space and nutrition to the filial organs. Using the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seed as a model, we elucidated the role of vacuolar processing enzyme 4 (VPE4) in cereals by using an RNAi approach and targeting the enzymatic properties of the recombinant protein. A comparative characterization of transgenic versus wild-type plants included transcriptional and metabolic profiling, flow cytometry, histology and nuclear magnetic imaging of grains. The recombinant VPE4 protein exhibited legumain and caspase-1 properties in vitro. Pericarp disintegration was delayed in the transgenic grains. Although the VPE4 gene and enzymatic activity was decreased in the early developing pericarp, storage capacity and the size of the endosperm and embryo were reduced in the mature VPE4-repressed grains. The persistence of the pericarp in the VPE4-affected grains constrains endosperm and embryo growth and leads to transcriptional reprogramming, perturbations in signalling and adjustments in metabolism. We conclude that VPE4 expression executes PCD in the pericarp, which is required for later endosperm filling, and argue for a role of PCD in maternal control of seed size in cereals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volodymyr Radchuk
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Van Tran
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Ruslana Radchuk
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Mercedes Diaz-Mendoza
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, 28223, Spain
| | - Diana Weier
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Joerg Fuchs
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - David Riewe
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Goetz Hensel
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Jochen Kumlehn
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Eberhard Munz
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Nicolas Heinzel
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Hardy Rolletschek
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Manuel Martinez
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, 28223, Spain
| | - Ljudmilla Borisjuk
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
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20
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Chen GQ, Zhang D, Shen XH. Cloning and characterization of ApCystatin, a plant cystatin gene from Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis responds to abiotic stress. Protein Expr Purif 2018; 149:66-74. [PMID: 29684441 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Plant cystatins are involved in the regulation of protein turnover and play important roles in defense mechanisms. We cloned the ApCystatin gene from Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis, a famous ornamental and medical plant. The complete cDNA sequence of ApCystatin is comprised of 1439 nucleotides with a 423 bp ORF encoding 140 amino acids. The mRNA level of ApCystatin was significantly up-regulated under various abiotic stress, such as salt, osmosis, oxidative and cold stresses, which suggested that ApCystatin participated in the plant's resistance to stress. The recombinant ApCystatin fusion protein expressed in E. coli transetta (DE3) cells was approximate 18 kDa. 25 μg of ApCystatin inhibited more than 95% activity of papain, suggesting ApCystatin as a papain-like protease inhibitor. As an exogenous substance, 1.60 μg/mL ApCystatin protein improved the regrowth percentage of Arabidopsis 60-h seedlings after cryopreservation from 30% to 47%. In addition, the relative survival rate of A. praecox embryogenic callus after cryopreservation also increased for 30% with addition of 1.20 μg/mL ApCystatin protein. This indicated that ApCystatin performed protective property against cryoinjury to Arabidopsis 60-h seedlings and A. praecox embryogenic callus during cryopreservation. Under various abiotic stress conditions, the recombinant ApCystatin protein showed significant advantage in growth rates at NaCl, mannitol, PEG6000, cold, acidic and alkaline conditions, compared to control. In conclusion, ApCystatin as a new member of plant cystatins exhibited protective property against cryoinjury in plant cryopreservation and abiotic stress in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Qun Chen
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Di Zhang
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Xiao-Hui Shen
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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21
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Siddiqui MF, Bano B. Exposure of carbendazim induces structural and functional alteration in garlic phytocystatin: An in vitro multi-spectroscopic approach. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 145:66-75. [PMID: 29482733 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Carbendazim is a broad spectrum benzimidazole fungicide which is used to ensure plants' protection from pest and pathogens' invasion. The present work describes the impact of carbendazim (CAR) on garlic phytocystatin (GPC) which is a crucial plant regulatory protein. Interaction of carbendazim with GPC has been investigated through various biophysical techniques viz. UV absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, far-UV circular dichroism and FTIR spectroscopy which showed binding between them with consequent modulatory effects. Functional activity of GPC was monitored by the anti-papain inhibitory assay which suggests that incubation of GPC with the higher concentration of CAR disrupts the inhibitory function of GPC. UV spectroscopy confirmed the formation of GPC-CAR complex. Intrinsic fluorescence suggests binding of CAR to GPC which reflects the changes in microenvironment around tryptophan residues of GPC. Isothermal titration calorimetry suggests that interaction of CAR to GPC is an exothermic reaction. Secondary structure analysis was also performed which confirmed that binding of CAR decreases the alpha-helical content of GPC. Collectively, these results demonstrated that GPC exhibited significant structural and functional alteration upon interaction with carbendazim. Since GPC is involved in various regulatory processes, therefore, its structural or functional alteration may lead to disruption of physiological and biological balance within the plant. Hence, our study signifies that exposure of carbendazim to plant exerts physicochemical alteration within the plant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bilqees Bano
- Department of Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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22
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Ilgová J, Jedličková L, Dvořáková H, Benovics M, Mikeš L, Janda L, Vorel J, Roudnický P, Potěšil D, Zdráhal Z, Gelnar M, Kašný M. A novel type I cystatin of parasite origin with atypical legumain-binding domain. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17526. [PMID: 29235483 PMCID: PMC5727476 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17598-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasite inhibitors of cysteine peptidases are known to influence a vast range of processes linked to a degradation of either the parasites' own proteins or proteins native to their hosts. We characterise a novel type I cystatin (stefin) found in a sanguinivorous fish parasite Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea). We have identified a transcript of its coding gene in the transcriptome of adult worms. Its amino acid sequence is similar to other stefins except for containing a legumain-binding domain, which is in this type of cystatins rather unusual. As expected, the recombinant form of E. nipponicum stefin (rEnStef) produced in Escherichia coli inhibits clan CA peptidases - cathepsins L and B of the worm - via the standard papain-binding domain. It also blocks haemoglobinolysis by cysteine peptidases in the worm's excretory-secretory products and soluble extracts. Furthermore, we had confirmed its ability to inhibit clan CD asparaginyl endopeptidase (legumain). The presence of a native EnStef in the excretory-secretory products of adult worms, detected by mass spectrometry, suggests that this protein has an important biological function at the host-parasite interface. We discuss the inhibitor's possible role in the regulation of blood digestion, modulation of antigen presentation, and in the regeneration of host tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Ilgová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic.
| | - Lucie Jedličková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, 128 44, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Dvořáková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, 128 44, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Benovics
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Libor Mikeš
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, 128 44, Czech Republic
| | - Lubomír Janda
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Vorel
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Roudnický
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - David Potěšil
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Gelnar
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kašný
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, 128 44, Czech Republic
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23
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Abdelmigid HM, Morsi MM. Cytotoxic and molecular impacts of allelopathic effects of leaf residues of Eucalyptus globulus on soybean ( Glycine max). J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2017; 15:297-302. [PMID: 30647666 PMCID: PMC6296619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Eucalyptus trees litter plays a crucial role in structuring plant populations and regulating crop quality. To help characterize the allelopathic impact of Eucalyptus plantations and understand the interactions between tree litter and understorey plant populations, we performed two different genomic approaches to determine soybean (Glycine max) crop plant response to biotic stress induced by leaf residues of Eucalyptus globulus trees. For assessing cell death, a qualitative method of DNA fragmentation test (comet assay) was employed to detect cleavage of the genomic DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments and help to characterize the apoptotic event among the experimental samples. In addition, quantitative method of genome analysis at the transcriptional level also was conducted to investigate the expression responses of soybean genome to allelochemicals. Expression of specific genes, which are responsible for the breakdown of proteins during programmed cell death PCD (cysteine proteases and their inhibitors), was examined using semi-quantitative RT-PCR (sqPCR). Results of both conducted analyses proved significant genetic effects of Eucalyptus leaf residues on soybean crop genome, revealed by steady increase in DNA damage as well as variation in the transcript levels of cysteine proteases and inhibitors. Further detailed studies using more sensitive methods are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus plantations on crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hala M. Abdelmigid
- Botany Dept., Fac. of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt
- Biotechnology Dept., Fac. of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maissa M. Morsi
- Botany Dept., Faculty of Women for Art, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Egypt
- Biology Dept., Fac. of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
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24
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Prabucka B, Mielecki M, Chojnacka M, Bielawski W, Czarnocki-Cieciura M, Orzechowski S. Structural and functional characterization of the triticale (x Triticosecale Wittm.) phytocystatin TrcC-8 and its dimerization-dependent inhibitory activity. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2017; 142:1-10. [PMID: 28654769 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Phytocystatins are a group of proteins with significant potential to regulate activities of cysteine proteinases of native and pest/pathogen origins. The two-domain triticale (x Triticosecale Wittm.) phytocystatin TrcC-8 was characterized in this study. This protein belongs to the second group of phytocystatins and contains all the conserved sequences and motifs as well as both N-terminal (CY) and C-terminal (CY-L) domains that are characteristic of phytocystatins with the C-terminal extension. We demonstrated that TrcC-8 forms stable dimers with a significantly reduced inhibitory activity against papain compared to the activity of monomers, indicating the regulatory nature of the oligomerization. Moreover, according to our research, only the N-terminal domain possesses the ability to form dimers, indicating that this part of TrcC-8 is involved in the dimerization of the full-length protein. Homology modelling of TrcC-8 strongly suggests distinct specificities for the CY and CY-L domains, confirmed in experiments with inhibition of the papain. Our results suggest that the CY domain of TrcC-8 may, although markedly weakly and suboptimally, interact with papain in an analogous mode to tarocystatin, while the CY-L domain of TrcC-8 has distinct specificity than tarocystatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Prabucka
- Department of Biochemistry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Marcin Mielecki
- Protein Biosynthesis Department, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Chojnacka
- Department of Biochemistry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wiesław Bielawski
- Department of Biochemistry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mariusz Czarnocki-Cieciura
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Functional Genomics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland; Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sławomir Orzechowski
- Department of Biochemistry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
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Botha AM, Kunert KJ, Cullis CA. Cysteine proteases and wheat (Triticum aestivum L) under drought: A still greatly unexplored association. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2017; 40:1679-1690. [PMID: 28664627 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Revised: 05/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) provides about 19% of global dietary energy. Environmental stress, such as drought, affects wheat growth causing premature plant senescence and ultimately plant death. A plant response to drought is an increase in protease-mediated proteolysis with rapid degradation of proteins required for metabolic processes. Among the plant proteases that are increased in their activity following stress, cysteine proteases are the best characterized. Very little is known about particular wheat cysteine protease sequences, their expression and also localization. The current knowledge on wheat cysteine proteases belonging to the five clans (CA, CD, CE, CF and CP) is outlined, in particular their expression and possible function under drought. The first successes in establishing an annotated wheat genome database are further highlighted which has allowed more detailed mining of cysteine proteases. We also share our thoughts on future research directions considering the growing availability of genomic resources of this very important food crop. Finally, we also outline future application of developed knowledge in transgenic wheat plants for environmental stress protection and also as senescence markers to monitor wheat growth under environmental stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Botha
- Department of Genetics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7601, South Africa
| | - Karl J Kunert
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Christopher A Cullis
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA
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Subburaj S, Zhu D, Li X, Hu Y, Yan Y. Molecular Characterization and Expression Profiling of Brachypodium distachyon L. Cystatin Genes Reveal High Evolutionary Conservation and Functional Divergence in Response to Abiotic Stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:743. [PMID: 28536593 PMCID: PMC5423411 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cystatin is a class of proteins mainly involved in cysteine protease inhibition and plant growth and development, as well as tolerance under various abiotic stresses. In this study, we performed the first comprehensive analysis of the molecular characterization and expression profiling in response to various abiotic stresses of the cystatin gene family in Brachypodium distachyon, a novel model plant for Triticum species with huge genomes. Comprehensive searches of the Brachypodium genome database identified 25 B. distachyon cystatin (BdC) genes that are distributed unevenly on chromosomes; of these, nine and two were involved in tandem and segmental duplication events, respectively. All BdC genes had similar exon/intron structural organization, with three conserved motifs similar to those from other plant species, indicating their high evolutionary conservation. Expression profiling of 10 typical BdC genes revealed ubiquitous expression in different organs at varying expression levels. BdC gene expression in seedling leaves was particularly highly induced by various abiotic stresses, including the plant hormone abscisic acid and various environmental cues (cold, H2O2, CdCl2, salt, and drought). Interestingly, most BdC genes were significantly upregulated under multiple abiotic stresses, including BdC15 under all stresses, BdC7-2 and BdC10 under five stresses, and BdC7-1, BdC2-1, BdC14, and BdC12 under four stresses. The putative metabolic pathways of cytastin genes in response to various abiotic stresses mainly involve the aberrant protein degradation pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-triggered programmed cell death signaling pathways. These observations provide a better understanding of the structural and functional characteristics of the plant cystatin gene family.
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Siddiqui MF, Ahmed A, Bano B. Insight into the biochemical, kinetic and spectroscopic characterization of garlic (Allium sativum) phytocystatin: Implication for cardiovascular disease. Int J Biol Macromol 2017; 95:734-742. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.11.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Szewińska J, Simińska J, Bielawski W. The roles of cysteine proteases and phytocystatins in development and germination of cereal seeds. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 207:10-21. [PMID: 27771502 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2016.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Proteolysis is an important process for development and germination of cereal seeds. Among the many types of proteases identified in plants are the cysteine proteases (CPs) of the papain and legumain families, which play a crucial role in hydrolysing storage proteins during seed germination as well as in processing the precursors of these proteins and the inactive forms of other proteases. Moreover, all of the tissues of cereal seeds undergo progressive degradation via programed cell death, which is integral to their growth. In view of the important roles played by proteases, their uncontrolled activity could be harmful to the development of seeds and young seedlings. Thus, the activities of these enzymes are regulated by intracellular inhibitors called phytocystatins (PhyCys). The phytocystatins inhibit the activity of proteases of the papain family, and the presence of an additional motif in their C-termini allows them to also regulate the activity of members of the legumain family. A balance between the levels of cysteine proteases and phytocystatins is necessary for proper cereal seed development, and this is maintained through the antagonistic activities of gibberellins (GAs) and abscisic acid (ABA), which regulate the expression of the corresponding genes. Transcriptional regulation of cysteine proteases and phytocystatins is determined by cis-acting elements located in the promoters of these genes and by the expression of their corresponding transcription factors (TFs) and the interactions between different TFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Szewińska
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Nowoursynowska 159 street, Warsaw 02-776, Poland.
| | - Joanna Simińska
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Nowoursynowska 159 street, Warsaw 02-776, Poland
| | - Wiesław Bielawski
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Nowoursynowska 159 street, Warsaw 02-776, Poland
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Labudda M, Różańska E, Szewińska J, Sobczak M, Dzik JM. Protease activity and phytocystatin expression in Arabidopsis thaliana upon Heterodera schachtii infection. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2016; 109:416-429. [PMID: 27816823 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The activity of plant proteases is important for amino acids recycling, removal of damaged proteins as well as defence responses. The second-stage juvenile of the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii penetrates host roots and induces the feeding site called a syncytium. To determine whether infection by H. schachtii affects proteolysis, the protease activity was studied in Arabidopsis roots and shoots at the day of inoculation and 3, 7 and 15 days post inoculation (dpi). Nematode infection caused a decrease of protease activities in infected roots over the entire examination period at all studied pH values. In contrast, the activities of the low molecular mass as well as Ca2+-dependent cysteine proteases were found to be stimulated. In shoots of infected plants, the protease activity was diminished only at 15 dpi at all tested pH values. It was accompanied by changes in total soluble protein content, a higher protein carbonylation and a total polyphenol content. To go deeper into proteolysis regulation, the expression of phytocystatin genes, endogenous inhibitors of cysteine proteases, was examined in syncytia, roots and shoots. Expression of AtCYS1, AtCYS5 and AtCYS6 genes was enhanced upon cyst nematode infection. Our results suggest that changes in protease activities in roots and shoots and altered cystatin expression patterns in syncytia, roots and shoots are important for protein metabolism during cyst nematode infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Labudda
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Elżbieta Różańska
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Joanna Szewińska
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Mirosław Sobczak
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jolanta Maria Dzik
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
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30
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Zamyatnin AA. Plant Proteases Involved in Regulated Cell Death. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2016; 80:1701-15. [PMID: 26878575 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297915130064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Each plant genome encodes hundreds of proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes can be divided into five distinct classes: cysteine-, serine-, aspartic-, threonine-, and metalloproteinases. Despite the differences in their structural properties and activities, members of all of these classes in plants are involved in the processes of regulated cell death - a basic feature of eukaryotic organisms. Regulated cell death in plants is an indispensable mechanism supporting plant development, survival, stress responses, and defense against pathogens. This review summarizes recent advances in studies of plant proteolytic enzymes functioning in the initiation and execution of distinct types of regulated cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Zamyatnin
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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31
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Martinez M, Santamaria ME, Diaz-Mendoza M, Arnaiz A, Carrillo L, Ortego F, Diaz I. Phytocystatins: Defense Proteins against Phytophagous Insects and Acari. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:E1747. [PMID: 27775606 PMCID: PMC5085774 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17101747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
This review deals with phytocystatins, focussing on their potential role as defence proteins against phytophagous arthropods. Information about the evolutionary, molecular and biochemical features and inhibitory properties of phytocystatins are presented. Cystatin ability to inhibit heterologous cysteine protease activities is commented on as well as some approaches of tailoring cystatin specificity to enhance their defence function towards pests. A general landscape on the digestive proteases of phytophagous insects and acari and the remarkable plasticity of their digestive physiology after feeding on cystatins are highlighted. Biotechnological approaches to produce recombinant cystatins to be added to artificial diets or to be sprayed as insecticide-acaricide compounds and the of use cystatins as transgenes are discussed. Multiple examples and applications are included to end with some conclusions and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Martinez
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid 28223, Spain.
| | - Maria Estrella Santamaria
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid 28223, Spain.
| | - Mercedes Diaz-Mendoza
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid 28223, Spain.
| | - Ana Arnaiz
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid 28223, Spain.
| | - Laura Carrillo
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid 28223, Spain.
| | - Felix Ortego
- Departamento de Biologia Medioambiental, Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Isabel Diaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid 28223, Spain.
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Christoff AP, Passaia G, Salvati C, Alves-Ferreira M, Margis-Pinheiro M, Margis R. Rice bifunctional phytocystatin is a dual modulator of legumain and papain-like proteases. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 92:193-207. [PMID: 27325119 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-016-0504-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Phytocystatins are well-known inhibitors of C1A cysteine proteinases. However, previous research has revealed legumain (C13) protease inhibition via a carboxy-extended phytocystatin. Among the 12 phytocystatins genes in rice, OcXII is the only gene possessing this carboxy-terminal extension. The specific legumain inhibition activity was confirmed, in our work, using a recombinant OcXII harboring only the carboxy-terminal domain and this part did not exhibit any effect on papain-like activities. Meanwhile, rice plants silenced at the whole OcXII gene presented higher legumain and papain-like proteolytic activities, resulting in a faster initial seedling growth. However, when germinated under stressful alkaline conditions, OcXII-silenced plants exhibited impaired root formation and delayed shoot growth. Interestingly, the activity of OcXII promoter gene was detected in the rice seed scutellum region, and decreases with seedling growth. Seeds from these plants also exhibited slower growth at germination under ABA or alkaline conditions, while maintaining very high levels of OcXII transcriptional activation. This likely reinforces the proteolytic control necessary for seed germination and growth. In addition, increased legumain activity was detected in OcXII RNAi plants subjected to a fungal elicitor. Overall, the results of this study highlight the association of OcXII with not only plant development processes, but also with stress response pathways. The results of this study reinforce the bifunctional ability of carboxy-extended phytocystatins in regulating legumain proteases via its carboxy-extended domain and papain-like proteases by its amino-terminal domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Christoff
- PPGBM, Departamento de Genetica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rs, Brazil
| | - Gisele Passaia
- PPGBM, Departamento de Genetica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rs, Brazil
| | - Caroline Salvati
- PPGBCM, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Sala 213, Prédio 43431, PO Box 15005, Porto Alegre, Rs, CEP 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Márcio Alves-Ferreira
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro-UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Rj, Brazil
| | - Marcia Margis-Pinheiro
- PPGBM, Departamento de Genetica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rs, Brazil
- PPGBCM, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Sala 213, Prédio 43431, PO Box 15005, Porto Alegre, Rs, CEP 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Rogerio Margis
- PPGBM, Departamento de Genetica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rs, Brazil.
- PPGBCM, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Sala 213, Prédio 43431, PO Box 15005, Porto Alegre, Rs, CEP 91501-970, Brazil.
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rs, Brazil.
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van Wyk SG, Kunert KJ, Cullis CA, Pillay P, Makgopa ME, Schlüter U, Vorster BJ. Review: The future of cystatin engineering. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 246:119-127. [PMID: 26993242 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2015] [Revised: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Plant cystatins are naturally occurring protease inhibitors that prevent proteolysis by papain-like cysteine proteases. Their protective action against environmental stresses has been relatively well characterised. Still, there is a need to greatly improve both potency and specificity based on the current rather poor performance of cystatins in biotechnological applications. Research in creating more potent and specific cystatins, including amino acid substitutions in either conserved cystatin motifs and/or at variable amino acid sites, is reviewed. Existing gaps for better understanding of cystatin-protease interactions are further explored. Current knowledge on multi-cystatins or hybrid protease inhibitors involving cystatins as an additional option for cystatin engineering is further outlined along with the nuances of how cystatins with rather unusual amino acid sequences might actually help in cystatin engineering. Finally, future opportunities for application of cystatins are highlighted which include applications in genetically modified transgenic plants for environmental stress protection and also as nutraceuticals, as part of more nutritious food. Further opportunities might also include the possible management of diseases and disorders, often associated with lifestyle changes, and the most immediate and promising application which is inclusion into plant-based recombinant protein production platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan G van Wyk
- Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Karl J Kunert
- Department of Plant Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
| | - Christopher A Cullis
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7080, USA
| | - Priyen Pillay
- Department of Plant Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Matome E Makgopa
- Department of Plant Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Urte Schlüter
- Department of Plant Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Barend J Vorster
- Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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Grosse-Holz FM, van der Hoorn RAL. Juggling jobs: roles and mechanisms of multifunctional protease inhibitors in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2016; 210:794-807. [PMID: 26800491 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Multifunctional protease inhibitors juggle jobs by targeting different enzymes and thereby often controlling more than one biological process. Here, we discuss the biological functions, mechanisms and evolution of three types of multifunctional protease inhibitors in plants. The first type is double-headed inhibitors, which feature two inhibitory sites targeting proteases with different specificities (e.g. Bowman-Birk inhibitors) or even different hydrolases (e.g. α-amylase/protease inhibitors preventing both early germination and seed predation). The second type consists of multidomain inhibitors which evolved by intragenic duplication and are released by processing (e.g. multicystatins and potato inhibitor II, implicated in tuber dormancy and defence, respectively). The third type consists of promiscuous inhibitory folds which resemble mouse traps that can inhibit different proteases cleaving the bait they offer (e.g. serpins, regulating cell death, and α-macroglobulins). Understanding how multifunctional inhibitors juggle biological jobs increases our knowledge of the connections between the networks they regulate. These examples show that multifunctionality evolved independently from a remarkable diversity of molecular mechanisms that can be exploited for crop improvement and provide concepts for protein design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike M Grosse-Holz
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Renier A L van der Hoorn
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
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35
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Ahmed A, Shamsi A, Bano B. Purification and biochemical characterization of phytocystatin from Brassica alba. J Mol Recognit 2016; 29:223-31. [PMID: 26748819 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2015] [Revised: 10/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Phytocystatins belong to the family of cysteine proteinases inhibitors. They are ubiquitously found in plants and carry out various significant physiological functions. These plant derived inhibitors are gaining wide consideration as potential candidate in engineering transgenic crops and in drug designing. Hence it is crucial to identify these inhibitors from various plant sources. In the present study a phytocystatin has been isolated and purified by a simple two-step procedure using ammonium sulfate saturation and gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-100HR from Brassica alba seeds (yellow mustard seeds).The protein was purified to homogeneity with 60.3% yield and 180-fold of purification. The molecular mass of the mustard seed cystatin was estimated to be nearly 26,000 Da by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as well as by gel filtration chromatography. The stokes radius and diffusion coefficient of the mustard cystatin were found to be 23A° and 9.4 × 10(-7) cm(2) s(-1) respectively. The isolated phytocystatin was found to be stable in the pH range of 6-8 and is thermostable up to 60 °C. Kinetic analysis revealed that the phytocystatin exhibited non-competitive type of inhibition and inhibited papain more efficiently (K(i) = 3 × 10(-7) M) than ficin (K(i) = 6.6 × 10(-7) M) and bromelain (K(i) = 7.7 × 10(-7) M respectively). CD spectral analysis shows that it possesses 17.11% alpha helical content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azaj Ahmed
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Anas Shamsi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Bilqees Bano
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
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36
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Yuan S, Li R, Wang L, Chen H, Zhang C, Chen L, Hao Q, Shan Z, Zhang X, Chen S, Yang Z, Qiu D, Zhou X. Search for Nodulation and Nodule Development-Related Cystatin Genes in the Genome of Soybean ( Glycine max). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1595. [PMID: 27826313 PMCID: PMC5078837 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Nodulation, nodule development and senescence directly affects nitrogen fixation efficiency, and previous studies have shown that inhibition of some cysteine proteases delay nodule senescence, so their nature inhibitors, cystatin genes, are very important in nodulation, nodule development, and senescence. Although several cystatins are actively transcribed in soybean nodules, their exact roles and functional diversities in legume have not been well explored in genome-wide survey studies. In this report, we performed a genome-wide survey of cystatin family genes to explore their relationship to nodulation and nodule development in soybean and identified 20 cystatin genes that encode peptides with 97-245 amino acid residues, different isoelectric points (pI) and structure characteristics, and various putative plant regulatory elements in 3000 bp putative promoter fragments upstream of the 20 soybean cystatins in response to different abiotic/biotic stresses, hormone signals, and symbiosis signals. The expression profiles of these cystatin genes in soybean symbiosis with rhizobium strain Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain 113-2 revealed that 7 cystatin family genes play different roles in nodulation as well as nodule development and senescence. However, these genes were not root nodule symbiosis (RNS)-specific and did not encode special clade cystatin protein with structures related to nodulation and nodule development. Besides, only two of these soybean cystatins were not upregulated in symbiosis after ABA treatment. The functional analysis showed that a candidate gene Glyma.15G227500 (GmCYS16) was likely to play a positive role in soybean nodulation. Besides, evolutionary relationships analysis divided the cystatin genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, rice, barley and four legume plants into three groups. Interestingly, Group A cystatins are special in legume plants, but only include one of the above-mentioned 7 cystatin genes related to nodulation and nodule development. Overall, our results provide useful information or clues for our understanding of the functional diversity of legume cystatin family proteins in soybean nodulation and nodule development and for finding nodule-specific cysteine proteases in soybean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songli Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Rong Li
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal UniversityXinyang, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Chanjuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Limiao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Qingnan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Zhihui Shan
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Shuilian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Zhonglu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Dezhen Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Xinan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of AgricultureWuhan, China
- Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture SciencesWuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Xinan Zhou
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Liang J, Wang Y, Ding G, Li W, Yang G, He N. Biotic stress-induced expression of mulberry cystatins and identification of cystatin exhibiting stability to silkworm gut proteinases. PLANTA 2015; 242:1139-1151. [PMID: 26070440 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-015-2345-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Biotic stresses induce the expression of mulberry cystatins. MaCPI-4 protein is stable in silkworm digestive fluid and accumulates in gut food debris and frass. Plant cystatins are considered to be involved in defense responses to insect herbivores though little is known about how cystatins from the natural host respond to a specialist herbivory and the following postingestive interaction is also poorly understood. Here, we studied the biotic stress-mediated inductions of cystatins from mulberry tree, and examined the stability of mulberry cystatin proteins in the gut of silkworm, Bombyx mori, a specialist insect feeding on mulberry leaf. First, we cloned and characterized six cystatin genes from a mulberry cultivar, Morus atropurpurea Roxb., named as MaCPI-1 to MaCPI-6. The recombinant MaCPI-1, MaCPI-3 and MaCPI-4 proteins, which showed inhibitory effects against papain in vitro, were produced. Silkworm herbivory as well as methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment induced the expression of five mulberry cystatin genes, and the highest inductions were observed from MaCPI-1 and MaCPI-6. Mechanical wounding led to the inductions of four cystatin genes. The differential induction occurred in MaCPI-2. The induced protein changes were detected from three mulberry cystatins comprising MaCPI-1, MaCPI-3 and MaCPI-4. In vivo and in vitro assays showed that MaCPI-1 and MaCPI-3 proteins were susceptible to silkworm digestive fluid and MaCPI-4 had an antidigestive stability, and was detected in silkworm gut and frass. Collectively, our data indicated that biotic stresses resulted in the transcriptional inductions and protein changes of mulberry cystatins (MaCPIs), and identified MaCPI-4 with stability in the gut of its specialist herbivore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiubo Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Yupeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Guangyu Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Wensheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Guangwei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Ningjia He
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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Hu YJ, Irene D, Lo CJ, Cai YL, Tzen TC, Lin TH, Chyan CL. Resonance assignments and secondary structure of a phytocystatin from Sesamum indicum. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2015; 9:309-11. [PMID: 25673506 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-015-9598-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
A cDNA encoding a cysteine protease inhibitor, cystatin was cloned from sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed. This clone was constructed into an expression vector and expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneous. The recombinant sesame cystatin (SiCYS) showed effectively inhibitory activity toward C1 cysteine proteases. In order to unravel its inhibitory action from structural point of view, multidimensional heteronuclear NMR techniques were used to characterize the structure of SiCYS. The full (1)H, (15)N, and (13)C resonances of SiCYS were assigned. The secondary structure of SiCYS was identified by using the assigned chemical shifts of (1)H(α), (13)C(α), (13)C(β), and (13)CO through the consensus chemical shift index (CSI). The results of CSI analysis of SiCYS suggest eight β-strands (residues 33-46, 51-61, 63-75, 80-87, 150-155, 157-169, 172-183, and 192-195) and two α-helices (residues 16-30, and 120-135).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jun Hu
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 974, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Deli Irene
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 974, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chi-Jen Lo
- Department of Biochemistry, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yong-Liang Cai
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 974, Taiwan, ROC
| | - T-C Tzen
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ta-Hsien Lin
- Department of Biochemistry, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan, ROC
- Basic Research Division, Medical Research Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chia-Lin Chyan
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 974, Taiwan, ROC.
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Structure and function of legumain in health and disease. Biochimie 2015; 122:126-50. [PMID: 26403494 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The last years have seen a steady increase in our understanding of legumain biology that is driven from two largely uncoupled research arenas, the mammalian and the plant legumain field. Research on legumain, which is also referred to as asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) or vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE), is slivered, however. Here we summarise recent important findings and put them into a common perspective. Legumain is usually associated with its cysteine endopeptidase activity in lysosomes where it contributes to antigen processing for class II MHC presentation. However, newly recognized functions disperse previously assumed boundaries with respect to their cellular compartmentalisation and enzymatic activities. Legumain is also found extracellularly and even translocates to the cytosol and the nucleus, with seemingly incompatible pH and redox potential. These different milieus translate into changes of legumain's molecular properties, including its (auto-)activation, conformational stability and enzymatic functions. Contrasting its endopeptidase activity, legumain can develop a carboxypeptidase activity which remains stable at neutral pH. Moreover, legumain features a peptide ligase activity, with intriguing mechanistic peculiarities in plant and human isoforms. In pathological settings, such as cancer or Alzheimer's disease, the proper association of legumain activities with the corresponding cellular compartments is breached. Legumain's increasingly recognized physiological and pathological roles also indicate future research opportunities in this vibrant field.
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Wang W, Zhao P, Zhou XM, Xiong HX, Sun MX. Genome-wide identification and characterization of cystatin family genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.). PLANT CELL REPORTS 2015; 34:1579-92. [PMID: 26007238 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-015-1810-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
11 Cystatin genes in rice were identified, and their expression patterns were comprehensively analyzed, which reveals multiple roles in both seed development and plant response to environmental variations. Cystatin is a group of small proteins and known to inhibit the activities of cysteine proteases in the papain C1A and legumain C13 peptidase families in plants. Cystatin family genes have only been well characterized recently in a few plant species such as Hordeum vulgare and Nicotiana tabacum, which show their critical roles in programmed cell death and responses to biotic stresses. Up to now, little is known about cystatin family genes and their roles in Oryza sativa, a model plant for cereal biology study. Here, we identified 11 cystatin genes in rice genome. Comprehensive expression profile analysis reveals that cystatin family genes in rice display diverse expression pattern. They are temporally regulated at different developmental stages during the process of seed production and germination. Our experiments also reveal that the majority of cystatin genes are responsive to plant hormones and different environmental cues including cold, drought and other abiotic stresses, while some others are very stable under different stresses, indicating their fundamental roles in normal plant development. In addition, their distribution in rice chromosomes and their evolutionary relation to the members of Cystatin family in A. thaliana and N. tabacum have also been analyzed. These works suggest multiple roles of cystatin family genes in both seed development and plant response to environmental variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
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Lu H, Chandrasekar B, Oeljeklaus J, Misas-Villamil JC, Wang Z, Shindo T, Bogyo M, Kaiser M, van der Hoorn RAL. Subfamily-Specific Fluorescent Probes for Cysteine Proteases Display Dynamic Protease Activities during Seed Germination. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 168:1462-75. [PMID: 26048883 PMCID: PMC4528725 DOI: 10.1104/pp.114.254466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Cysteine proteases are an important class of enzymes implicated in both developmental and defense-related programmed cell death and other biological processes in plants. Because there are dozens of cysteine proteases that are posttranslationally regulated by processing, environmental conditions, and inhibitors, new methodologies are required to study these pivotal enzymes individually. Here, we introduce fluorescence activity-based probes that specifically target three distinct cysteine protease subfamilies: aleurain-like proteases, cathepsin B-like proteases, and vacuolar processing enzymes. We applied protease activity profiling with these new probes on Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) protease knockout lines and agroinfiltrated leaves to identify the probe targets and on other plant species to demonstrate their broad applicability. These probes revealed that most commercially available protease inhibitors target unexpected proteases in plants. When applied on germinating seeds, these probes reveal dynamic activities of aleurain-like proteases, cathepsin B-like proteases, and vacuolar processing enzymes, coinciding with the remobilization of seed storage proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Lu
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
| | - Balakumaran Chandrasekar
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
| | - Julian Oeljeklaus
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
| | - Johana C Misas-Villamil
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
| | - Zheming Wang
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
| | - Takayuki Shindo
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
| | - Matthew Bogyo
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
| | - Markus Kaiser
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
| | - Renier A L van der Hoorn
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, 50829 Cologne, Germany (H.L., B.C., J.C.M.-V., T.S., R.A.L.v.d.H.);Center for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany (J.O., Z.W., M.K.); andDepartment of Pathology, Stanford School for Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324 (M.B.)
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Santamaría ME, González-Cabrera J, Martínez M, Grbic V, Castañera P, Díaz L, Ortego F. Digestive proteases in bodies and faeces of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 78:69-77. [PMID: 25960286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Digestive proteases of the phytophagous mite Tetranychus urticae have been characterised by comparing their activity in body and faecal extracts. Aspartyl, cathepsin B- and L-like and legumain activities were detected in both mite bodies and faeces, with a specific activity of aspartyl and cathepsin L-like proteases about 5- and 2-fold higher, respectively, in mite faeces than in bodies. In general, all these activities were maintained independently of the host plant where the mites were reared (bean, tomato or maize). Remarkably, this is the first report in a phytophagous mite of legumain-like activity, which was characterised for its ability to hydrolyse the specific substrate Z-VAN-AMC, its activation by DTT and inhibition by IAA but not by E-64. Gel free nanoLC-nanoESI-QTOF MS/MS proteomic analysis of mite faeces resulted in the identification of four cathepsins L and one aspartyl protease (from a total of the 29 cathepsins L, 27 cathepsins B, 19 legumains and two aspartyl protease genes identified the genome of this species). Gene expression analysis reveals that four cathepsins L and the aspartyl protease identified in the mite faeces, but also two cathepsins B and two legumains that were not detected in the faeces, were expressed at high levels in the spider mite feeding stages (larvae, nymphs and adults) relative to embryos. Taken together, these results indicate a digestive role for cysteine and aspartyl proteases in T. urticae. The expression of the cathepsins B and L, legumains and aspartyl protease genes analysed in our study increased in female adults after feeding on Arabidopsis plants over-expressing the HvCPI-6 cystatin, that specifically targets cathepsins B and L, or the CMe trypsin inhibitor that targets serine proteases. This unspecific response suggests that in addition to compensation for inhibitor-targeted enzymes, the increase in the expression of digestive proteases in T. urticae may act as a first barrier against ingested plant defensive proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- María E Santamaría
- Departamento de Biología Medioambiental, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Montegancedo, Autovía M40 (Km 38), 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain; Department of Biology WSC 339/341, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Joel González-Cabrera
- Departamento de Biología Medioambiental, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Martínez
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Montegancedo, Autovía M40 (Km 38), 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vojislava Grbic
- Department of Biology WSC 339/341, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Pedro Castañera
- Departamento de Biología Medioambiental, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lsabel Díaz
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Montegancedo, Autovía M40 (Km 38), 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Ortego
- Departamento de Biología Medioambiental, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Molecular cloning and characterization of novel phytocystatin gene from turmeric, Curcuma longa. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2014:973790. [PMID: 25853138 PMCID: PMC4122150 DOI: 10.1155/2014/973790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Phytocystatin, a type of protease inhibitor (PI), plays major roles in plant defense mechanisms and has been reported to show antipathogenic properties and plant stress tolerance. Recombinant plant PIs are gaining popularity as potential candidates in engineering of crop protection and in synthesizing medicine. It is therefore crucial to identify PI from novel sources like Curcuma longa as it is more effective in combating against pathogens due to its novelty. In this study, a novel cDNA fragment encoding phytocystatin was isolated using degenerate PCR primers, designed from consensus regions of phytocystatin from other plant species. A full-length cDNA of the phytocystatin gene, designated CypCl, was acquired using 5'/3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends method and it has been deposited in NCBI database (accession number KF545954.1). It has a 687 bp long open reading frame (ORF) which encodes 228 amino acids. BLAST result indicated that CypCl is similar to cystatin protease inhibitor from Cucumis sativus with 74% max identity. Sequence analysis showed that CypCl contains most of the motifs found in a cystatin, including a G residue, LARFAV-, QxVxG sequence, PW dipeptide, and SNSL sequence at C-terminal extension. Phylogenetic studies also showed that CypCl is related to phytocystatin from Elaeis guineensis.
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Quain MD, Makgopa ME, Cooper JW, Kunert KJ, Foyer CH. Ectopic phytocystatin expression increases nodule numbers and influences the responses of soybean (Glycine max) to nitrogen deficiency. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2015; 112:179-87. [PMID: 25659749 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Cysteine proteases and cystatins have many functions that remain poorly characterised, particularly in crop plants. We therefore investigated the responses of these proteins to nitrogen deficiency in wild-type soybeans and in two independent transgenic soybean lines (OCI-1 and OCI-2) that express the rice cystatin, oryzacystatin-I (OCI). Plants were grown for four weeks under either a high (5 mM) nitrate (HN) regime or in the absence of added nitrate (LN) in the absence or presence of symbiotic rhizobial bacteria. Under the LN regime all lines showed similar classic symptoms of nitrogen deficiency including lower shoot biomass and leaf chlorophyll. However, the LN-induced decreases in leaf protein and increases in root protein tended to be smaller in the OCI-1 and OCI-2 lines than in the wild type. When LN-plants were grown with rhizobia, OCI-1 and OCI-2 roots had significantly more crown nodules than wild-type plants. The growth nitrogen regime had a significant effect on the abundance of transcripts encoding vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs), LN-dependent increases in VPE2 and VPE3 transcripts in all lines. However, the LN-dependent increases of VPE2 and VPE3 transcripts were significantly lower in the leaves of OCI-1 and OCI-2 plants than in the wild type. These results show that nitrogen availability regulates the leaf and root cysteine protease, VPE and cystatin transcript profiles in a manner that is in some cases influenced by ectopic OCI expression. Moreover, the OCI-dependent inhibition of papain-like cysteine proteases favours increased nodulation and enhanced tolerance to nitrogen limitation, as shown by the smaller LN-dependent decreases in leaf protein observed in the OCI-1 and OCI-2 plants relative to the wild type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian D Quain
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Matome E Makgopa
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Plant Science Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - James W Cooper
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Karl J Kunert
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Plant Science Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Christine H Foyer
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
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Freitas ACO, Souza CF, Monzani PS, Garcia W, de Almeida AAF, Costa MGC, Pirovani CP. The activity of TcCYS4 modified by variations in pH and temperature can affect symptoms of witches' broom disease of cocoa, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121519. [PMID: 25830226 PMCID: PMC4382335 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The phytocystatins regulate various physiological processes in plants, including responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, mainly because they act as inhibitors of cysteine proteases. In this study, we have analyzed four cystatins from Theobroma cacao L. previously identified in ESTs libraries of the interaction with the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa and named TcCYS1, TcCYS2, TcCYS3 and TcCYS4. The recombinant cystatins were purified and subjected to the heat treatment, at different temperatures, and their thermostabilities were monitored using their ability to inhibit papain protease. TcCYS1 was sensitive to temperatures above 50°C, while TcCYS2, TcCYS3, and TcCYS4 were thermostable. TcCYS4 presented a decrease of inhibitory activity when it was treated at temperatures between 60 and 70°C, with the greater decrease occurring at 65°C. Analyses by native gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion chromatography showed that TcCYS4 forms oligomers at temperatures between 60 and 70°C, condition where reduction of inhibitory activity was observed. TcCYS4 oligomers remain stable for up to 20 days after heat treatment and are undone after treatment at 80°C. TcCYS4 presented approximately 90% of inhibitory activity at pH values between 5 and 9. This protein treated at temperatures above 45°C and pH 5 presented reduced inhibitory activity against papain, suggesting that the pH 5 enhances the formation of TcCYS4 oligomers. A variation in the titratable acidity was observed in tissues of T. cacao during the symptoms of witches’ broom disease. Our findings suggest that the oligomerization of TcCYS4, favored by variations in pH, is an endergonic process. We speculate that this process can be involved in the development of the symptoms of witches’ broom disease in cocoa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristiane Ferreira Souza
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sérgio Monzani
- Centro de Biologia e Ciêncais da Saúde, Universidade do Norte do Paraná, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Wanius Garcia
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Santo André, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Carlos Priminho Pirovani
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Valdés-Rodríguez S, Galván-Ramírez JP, Guerrero-Rangel A, Cedro-Tanda A. Multifunctional amaranth cystatin inhibits endogenous and digestive insect cysteine endopeptidases: A potential tool to prevent proteolysis and for the control of insect pests. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2015; 62:634-41. [DOI: 10.1002/bab.1313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Valdés-Rodríguez
- Cinvestav-Unidad Irapuato; Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato León; Irapuato Guanajuato México
| | - Juan Pablo Galván-Ramírez
- Cinvestav-Unidad Irapuato; Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato León; Irapuato Guanajuato México
| | - Armando Guerrero-Rangel
- Cinvestav-Unidad Irapuato; Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato León; Irapuato Guanajuato México
| | - Alberto Cedro-Tanda
- Cinvestav-Unidad Irapuato; Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato León; Irapuato Guanajuato México
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47
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Chojnacka M, Szewińska J, Mielecki M, Nykiel M, Imai R, Bielawski W, Orzechowski S. A triticale water-deficit-inducible phytocystatin inhibits endogenous cysteine proteinases in vitro. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 174:161-165. [PMID: 25462979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2014.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 09/28/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Water-deficit is accompanied by an increase in proteolysis. Phytocystatins are plant inhibitors of cysteine proteinases that belong to the papain and legumain family. A cDNA encoding the protein inhibitor TrcC-8 was identified in the vegetative organs of triticale. In response to water-deficit, increases in the mRNA levels of TrcC-8 were observed in leaf and root tissues. Immunoblot analysis indicated that accumulation of the TrcC-8 protein occurred after 72h of water-deficit in the seedlings. Using recombinant protein, inhibitory activity of TrcC-8 against cysteine proteases from triticale and wheat tissues was analyzed. Under water-deficit conditions, there are increases in cysteine proteinase activities in both plant tissues. The cysteine proteinase activities were inhibited by addition of the recombinant TrcC-8 protein. These results suggest a potential role for the triticale phytocystatin in modulating cysteine proteinase activities during water-deficit conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Chojnacka
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Joanna Szewińska
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Marcin Mielecki
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Nykiel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ryozo Imai
- Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Hitsujigaoka 1, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo 062-8555, Japan.
| | - Wiesław Bielawski
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Sławomir Orzechowski
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
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48
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Cheng ML, Tzen JTC, Shyu DJH, Chou WM. Functional characterization of the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of a sesame group II phytocystatin. BOTANICAL STUDIES 2014; 55:18. [PMID: 28510930 PMCID: PMC5432954 DOI: 10.1186/1999-3110-55-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phytocystatins are natural inhibitors of cysteine protease, and may regulate endo- or exo-genous proteolytic activities in plants. They are classified into Group I and II differing by the presence of C-terminal extension of Group II. A cDNA fragment encoding a Group II phytosystatin, SiCYS was previously obtained from sesame seeds. RESULTS SiCYS as well as its two structural domains, N-terminal and C-terminal domains (SiCYS-N and SiCYS-C), was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant SiCYS and SiCYS-N showed inhibitory activity against papain. The K i values of SiCYS and SiCYS-N were ~1.9 ×10-8 M and ~7.9 ×10-8 M, respectively. All the three recombinants possessed comparable ability to inhibit spore germination of Trichoderma reesei, Aspergillus sydowii, and Helminthosporium sesamum. Similar protein profile including proteases in germinating seeds was found in proteins purified by the SiCYS, SiCYS-N or SiCYS-C coupling affinity column. CONCLUSION SiCYS exhibited more effective papain-inhibitory activity than SiCYS-N; while SiCYS-C had almost no inhibitory activity. All displayed similar antifungal activities indicating that there is no correlation between antifungal and papain-inhibitory activities. Structural and sequence analyses suggest that the C-terminal domain of SiCYS may be originated from gene duplication to enhance its inhibitory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Ling Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 412 Taiwan
| | - Jason T C Tzen
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 412 Taiwan
| | - Douglas J H Shyu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 912 Taiwan
| | - Wing-Ming Chou
- Department of Biotechnology, National Formosa University, Yunlin, 632 Taiwan
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49
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van Wyk SG, Du Plessis M, Cullis CA, Kunert KJ, Vorster BJ. Cysteine protease and cystatin expression and activity during soybean nodule development and senescence. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2014; 14:294. [PMID: 25404209 PMCID: PMC4243279 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-014-0294-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nodules play an important role in fixing atmospheric nitrogen for soybean growth. Premature senescence of nodules can negatively impact on nitrogen availability for plant growth and, as such, we need a better understanding of nodule development and senescence. Cysteine proteases are known to play a role in nodule senescence, but knowledge is still fragmented regarding the function their inhibitors (cystatins) during the development and senescence of soybean nodules. This study provides the first data with regard to cystatin expression during nodule development combined with biochemical characterization of their inhibition strength. RESULTS Seventy nine non-redundant cysteine protease gene sequences with homology to papain, belonging to different subfamilies, and several legumain-like cysteine proteases (vacuole processing enzymes) were identified from the soybean genome assembly with eighteen of these cysteine proteases actively transcribed during nodule development and senescence. In addition, nineteen non-redundant cystatins similar to oryzacystatin-I and belonging to cystatin subgroups A and C were identified from the soybean genome assembly with seven actively transcribed in nodules. Most cystatins had preferential affinity to cathepsin L-like cysteine proteases. Transcription of cystatins Glyma05g28250, Glyma15g12211, Glyma15g36180 particularly increased during onset of senescence, possibly regulating proteolysis when nodules senesce and undergo programmed cell death. Both actively transcribed and non-actively transcribed nodule cystatins inhibited cathepsin-L- and B-like activities in different age nodules and they also inhibited papain and cathepsin-L activity when expressed and purified from bacterial cells. CONCLUSIONS Overlap in activities and specificities of actively and non-actively transcribed cystatins raises the question if non-transcribed cystatins provide a reservoir for response to particular environments. This data might be applicable to the development of strategies to extend the active life span of nodules or prevent environmentally induced senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan George van Wyk
- />Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 South Africa
| | - Magdeleen Du Plessis
- />Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 South Africa
| | | | - Karl Josef Kunert
- />Department of Plant Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 South Africa
| | - Barend Juan Vorster
- />Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 South Africa
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50
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Zhao P, Zhou XM, Zou J, Wang W, Wang L, Peng XB, Sun MX. Comprehensive analysis of cystatin family genes suggests their putative functions in sexual reproduction, embryogenesis, and seed formation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2014; 65:5093-107. [PMID: 24996653 PMCID: PMC4144781 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eru274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Cystatins are tightly bound and reversible inhibitors of cysteine proteases in C1A and C13 peptidase families, which have been identified in several species and shown to function in vegetative development and response to biotic/abiotic stresses in plants. Recent work revealed their critical role in regulating programmed cell death during embryogenesis in tobacco and suggested their more comprehensive roles in the process of sexual plant reproduction, although little is known about cystatin family genes in the processes. Here, 10 cystatin family genes in Nicotiana tabacum were identified using an expressed sequence tag (EST)-based gene clone strategy. Analysis of their biochemical properties showed that nine of them have the potency to inhibit the activities of both commercial cathepsin L-like proteases and extracted cysteine proteases from seeds, but with different K i values depending on the types of proteases and the developmental stages of the seed tested. This suggests that cystatin-dependent cathepsin L-like proteolytic pathways are probably important for early seed development. Comprehensive expression profile analysis revealed that cystatin family genes showed manifold variations in their transcription levels in different plant cell types, including the sperm, egg, and zygote, especially in the embryo and seed at different developmental stages. More interestingly, intracellular localization analysis of each cystatin revealed that most members of cystatin families are recognized as secretory proteins with signal peptides that direct them to the endoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest their widespread roles in cell fate determination and cell-cell communication in the process of sexual reproduction, especially in gamete and embryo development, as well as in seed formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Plant Hybrid rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xue-mei Zhou
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Plant Hybrid rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jie Zou
- Molecular Genetics Key Laboratory of China Tobacco, Guizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Plant Hybrid rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiong-bo Peng
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Plant Hybrid rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Meng-xiang Sun
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Plant Hybrid rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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