Isolation and characterization of an extended thioredoxin h from poplar

Thioredoxin h isoforms from rice are differentially reduced by NADPH/thioredoxin or GSH/glutaredoxin systems

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has multiple potential genes encoding thioredoxin (Trx) h and NADP-thioredoxin reductase (NTR). These NTR and Trx h isoforms, known as cytoplasmic NTR/Trx system along with multiple members of glutaredoxin (Grx) family constitute a complex redox control system in rice. In the present study, we investigated the kinetic parameters of two rice NTRs, OsNTRA and OsNTRB, toward three endogenous Trx h isoforms, OsTrx1, OsTrx20, and OsTrx23. The results showed that in contrast with OsTrx1 and OsTrx23, the isoform OsTrx20 was not reduced by OsNTR isoforms. The kcat/Km values of OsNTRB and OsNTRA toward OsTrx1 was six- and 13-fold higher than those values toward OsTrx23, respectively, suggesting that OsNTR isoforms do not reduce different OsTrx h isoforms, equivalently. Furthermore, the possible reduction of OsTrx isoforms by the glutathione (GSH)/Grx system was investigated through the heterologous expression of a gene encoding OsGrx9, a bicysteinic CPYC Grx found in rice. Whereas OsTrx23 was not reduced by GSH, OsTrx20 and with less efficiently OsTrx1 were reduced by GSH or GSH/Grx. Therefore, it seems that OsTrx1 can be reduced either by OsNTR or GSH/Grx. These data for the first time provides an evidence for cross-talking between NTR/Trx and GSH/Grx systems in rice.

Mechanisms of nitrosylation and denitrosylation of cytoplasmic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Arabidopsis thaliana

Nitrosylation is a reversible post-translational modification of protein cysteines playing a major role in cellular regulation and signaling in many organisms, including plants where it has been implicated in the regulation of immunity and cell death. The extent of nitrosylation of a given cysteine residue is governed by the equilibrium between nitrosylation and denitrosylation reactions. The mechanisms of these reactions remain poorly studied in plants. In this study, we have employed glycolytic GAPDH from Arabidopsis thaliana as a tool to investigate the molecular mechanisms of nitrosylation and denitrosylation using a combination of approaches, including activity assays, the biotin switch technique, site-directed mutagenesis, and mass spectrometry. Arabidopsis GAPDH activity was reversibly inhibited by nitrosylation of catalytic Cys-149 mediated either chemically with a strong NO donor or by trans-nitrosylation with GSNO. GSNO was found to trigger both GAPDH nitrosylation and glutathionylation, although nitrosylation was widely prominent. Arabidopsis GAPDH was found to be denitrosylated by GSH but not by plant cytoplasmic thioredoxins. GSH fully converted nitrosylated GAPDH to the reduced, active enzyme, without forming any glutathionylated GAPDH. Thus, we found that nitrosylation of GAPDH is not a step toward formation of the more stable glutathionylated enzyme. GSH-dependent denitrosylation of GAPC1 was found to be linked to the [GSH]/[GSNO] ratio and to be independent of the [GSH]/[GSSG] ratio. The possible importance of these biochemical properties for the regulation of Arabidopsis GAPDH functions in vivo is discussed.

Glutathionylation of cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana is reversed by both glutaredoxins and thioredoxins in vitro

Plants contain both cytosolic and chloroplastic GAPDHs (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases). In Arabidopsis thaliana, cytosolic GAPDH is involved in the glycolytic pathway and is represented by two differentially expressed isoforms (GapC1 and GapC2) that are 98% identical in amino acid sequence. In the present study we show that GapC1 is a phosphorylating NAD-specific GAPDH with enzymatic activity strictly dependent on Cys(149). Catalytic Cys(149) is the only solvent-exposed cysteine of the protein and its thiol is relatively acidic (pK(a)=5.7). This property makes GapC1 sensitive to oxidation by H(2)O(2), which appears to inhibit enzyme activity by converting the thiolate of Cys(149) (-S-) into irreversible oxidized forms (-SO(2)(-) and -SO(3)(-)) via a labile sulfenate intermediate (-SO(-)). GSH (reduced glutathione) prevents this irreversible process by reacting with Cys(149) sulfenates to give rise to a mixed disulfide (Cys(149)-SSG), as demonstrated by both MS and biotinylated GSH. Glutathionylated GapC1 can be fully reactivated either by cytosolic glutaredoxin, via a GSH-dependent monothiol mechanism, or, less efficiently, by cytosolic thioredoxins physiologically reduced by NADPH:thioredoxin reductase. The potential relevance of these findings is discussed in the light of the multiple functions of GAPDH in eukaryotic cells (e.g. glycolysis, control of gene expression and apoptosis) that appear to be influenced by the redox state of the catalytic Cys(149).

Molecular characterization of an h-type thioredoxin gene from grape

Thioredoxins (Trxs), as small ubiquitous proteins, participate in dithiol-disulfide exchange reactions. In contrast to other organisms, plants have a complex family of Trxs, which contains seven different Trx types: f, h, m, o, x, y, and z. The h-type Trx consists of multiple forms that are involved in different processes. A full-length cDNA coding for a Trx h, designated VvTrx h2, was isolated and cloned from grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. White Seedless) berry tissue by RT-PCR technique. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 561 nucleotides in length encoded for a protein of 114 amino acid residues. The deduced polypeptide sequence harbors a typical catalytic site, WCGPC and its calculated molecular mass and its predicted isoelectric point are 12.79 and 5.06 kDa, respectively. The threedimensional modeling and docking studies allow for the proposal that VvTrx h2 could be reduced by a NADP-thioredoxin reductase rather than glutaredoxin, as shown for its ortholog from Arabidopsis. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a high degree of similarity to Trx h isoforms from other sources. Phylogenetic studies indicated that VvTrx h2 gene is related to h-type Trx subgroup I. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the VvTrx h2 gene was expressed in all plant tissues at different developmental stages.

Isolation, identification and sequence analysis of a thioredoxin h gene, a member of subgroup III of h-type Trxs from grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Askari)

Thioredoxins (Trxs) are small ubiquitous proteins which play a regulatory role in a variety of cellular processes. In contrast to other organisms, plants have a great number of Trx types, consisting of six well-defined groups: f, m, x, and y in chloroplasts, o in mitochondria, and h mainly in cytosol. A full-length cDNA, designated VvCxxS2, encoding Trx h polypeptide was isolated and cloned from grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Askari) berries organ by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cDNA was 381 bp nucleotides in length with a deduced amino acid of 126 residues, possessing a WCIPS active site, which belongs to the subgroup III of h-type Trxs based on phylogenetic analysis. The calculated molecular mass and the predicted isoelectric point of the deduced polypeptide are 14.25 kDa and 4.68, respectively. Nucleotide sequence analysis of genomic DNA fragment of VvCxxS2 gene revealed that this gene possesses two introns at positions identical to the previously sequenced Trx h genes. A modeling analysis indicated that VvCxxS2 shares a common structure with other Trxs, and is preferably reduced by Grx rather than NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase (NTR). The deduced protein sequence showed a high similarity to Trx h from other plants, in particular from castor bean (Ricinus communis), Betula pendula and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). Semiquantitative RT-PCR experiments indicated that the transcripts of VvCxxS2 gene are present in all plant organs and different developmental stages. In addition, the higher expression of the VvCxxS2 gene was observed in berry organ as compared to the other organs.

Glutathione transferases of Phanerochaete chrysosporium: S-glutathionyl-p-hydroquinone reductase belongs to a new structural class

The white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, a saprophytic basidiomycete, possesses a large number of cytosolic glutathione transferases, eight of them showing similarity to the Omega class. PcGSTO1 (subclass I, the bacterial homologs of which were recently proposed, based on their enzymatic function, to constitute a new class of glutathione transferase named S-glutathionyl-(chloro)hydroquinone reductases) and PcGSTO3 (subclass II related to mammalian homologs) have been investigated in this study. Biochemical investigations demonstrate that both enzymes are able to catalyze deglutathionylation reactions thanks to the presence of a catalytic cysteinyl residue. This reaction leads to the formation of a disulfide bridge between the conserved cysteine and the removed glutathione from their substrate. The substrate specificity of each isoform differs. In particular PcGSTO1, in contrast to PcGSTO3, was found to catalyze deglutathionylation of S-glutathionyl-p-hydroquinone substrates. The three-dimensional structure of PcGSTO1 presented here confirms the hypothesis that it belongs not only to a new biological class but also to a new structural class that we propose to name GST xi. Indeed, it shows specific features, the most striking ones being a new dimerization mode and a catalytic site that is buried due to the presence of long loops and that contains the catalytic cysteine.

Identification and characterization of thioredoxin h isoforms differentially expressed in germinating seeds of the model legume Medicago truncatula

Thioredoxins (Trxs) h, small disulfide reductases, and NADP-thioredoxin reductases (NTRs) have been shown to accumulate in seeds of different plant species and play important roles in seed physiology. However, little is known about the identity, properties, and subcellular location of Trx h isoforms that are abundant in legume seeds. To fill this gap, in this work, we characterized the Trx h family of Medicago truncatula, a model legume, and then explored the activity and localization of Trx h isoforms accumulating in seeds. Twelve Trx h isoforms were identified in M. truncatula. They belong to the groups previously described: h1 to h3 (group I), h4 to h7 (group II), and h8 to h12 (group III). Isoforms of groups I and II were found to be reduced by M. truncatula NTRA, but with different efficiencies, Trxs of group II being more efficiently reduced than Trxs of group I. In contrast, their insulin disulfide-reducing activity varies greatly and independently of the group to which they belong. Furthermore, Trxs h1, h2, and h6 were found to be present in dry and germinating seeds. Trxs h1 and, to a lesser extent, h2 are abundant in both embryonic axes and cotyledons, while Trx h6 is mainly present in cotyledons. Thus, M. truncatula seeds contain distinct isoforms of Trx h that differ in spatial distribution and kinetic properties, suggesting that they play different roles. Because we show that Trx h6 is targeted to the tonoplast, the possible role of this isoform during germination is finally discussed.

Ascorbate peroxidase-thioredoxin interaction

Proteomics data have suggested ascorbate peroxidase (APX) to be a potential thioredoxin-interacting protein. Using recombinant enzymes, we observed that incubation of pea cytosolic APX with reduced poplar thioredoxins h drastically inactivated the peroxidase. A similar inactivation is induced by reduced glutathione and dithiothreitol, whereas diamide and oxidized glutathione have no effect. Oxygen consumption measurements, modifications of the APX visible spectrum and protection by hydrogen peroxide scavenging enzymes suggest that APX oxidizes thiols leading to the generation of thiyl radicals. These radicals can in turn react with thiyl anions to produce the disulfide radical anions, which are responsible for oxygen reduction and subsequent hydrogen peroxide production. The APX inactivation is not due solely to hydrogen peroxide since fluorimetry indicates that the environment of the APX tryptophan residues is dramatically modified only in the presence of thiol groups. The physiological implications of this interaction are discussed.

A specific form of thioredoxin h occurs in plant mitochondria and regulates the alternative oxidase

The plant mitochondrial thioredoxin (Trx) system has been described as containing an NADPH-dependent Trx reductase and Trx o. In addition to the mitochondrial isoform, Trx o, plants are known to contain several chloroplastic Trx isoforms and the cytosolic Trx h isoforms. We report here the presence in plant mitochondria of a Trx isoform (PtTrxh2) belonging to the Trx h group. Western blot analyses with mitochondrial proteins isolated from both poplar and GFP fusion constructs indicate that PtTrxh2 is targeted to plant mitochondria. The recombinant protein, PtTrxh2, has been shown to be reduced efficiently by the mitochondrial Trx reductase AtNTRA. PtTrxh2 is also able to reduce alternative oxidase homodimers and to allow its activation by pyruvate. In contrast, neither PtTrxh2 nor AtTrxo1 exhibits activity with several poplar glutathione peroxidases and especially a putative mitochondrial isoform. Incubation of PtTrxh2 with glutathione disulfide led to the formation of glutathionylated Trx, identified by mass spectrometry. The formation of a glutathione adduct increases the redox potential of PtTrxh2 from -290 to -225 mV. In addition to Trx o, this study shows that Trx h could also be present in mitochondria. This previously unrecognized complexity is not unexpected, considering the multiple redox-regulated processes found in plant mitochondria.

The thioredoxin h system of higher plants

In plants, thioredoxins h are encoded by a multigenic family of genes (eight in Arabidopsis thaliana, at least five in Populus sp.). The multiplicity of these isoforms raises the question of their specificity. This review focuses on thioredoxins h in two plant models: Arabidopsis and poplar. Thioredoxins h can be divided into three different subgroups according to the analysis of their primary structure. This paper describes the biochemical properties of each subgroup. Recent data in the field indicate that subgroup members differ by their subcellular localization as well as their reduction pathways suggesting specific functions for each subgroup. The development of proteomic tools has also increased considerably the number of potential thioredoxin targets, showing the importance of thioredoxins h in plants.

Poplar peroxiredoxin Q. A thioredoxin-linked chloroplast antioxidant functional in pathogen defense

Peroxiredoxins are ubiquitous thioredoxin- or glutaredoxin-dependent peroxidases, the function of which is to destroy peroxides. Peroxiredoxin Q, one of the four plant subtypes, is a homolog of the bacterial bacterioferritin comigratory proteins. We show here that the poplar (Populus tremula x Populus tremuloides) protein acts as a monomer with an intramolecular disulfide bridge between two conserved cysteines. A wide range of electron donors and substrates was tested. Unlike type II peroxiredoxin, peroxiredoxin Q cannot use the glutaredoxin or cyclophilin isoforms tested, but various cytosolic, chloroplastic, and mitochondrial thioredoxins are efficient electron donors with no marked specificities. The redox midpoint potential of the peroxiredoxin Q catalytic disulfide is -325 mV at pH 7.0, explaining why the wild-type protein is reduced by thioredoxin but not by glutaredoxin. Additional evidence that thioredoxin serves as a donor comes from the formation of heterodimers between peroxiredoxin Q and monocysteinic mutants of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) thioredoxin m. Peroxiredoxin Q can reduce various alkyl hydroperoxides, but with a better efficiency for cumene hydroperoxide than hydrogen peroxide and tertiary butyl hydroperoxide. The use of immunolocalization and of a green fluorescence protein fusion construct indicates that the transit sequence efficiently targets peroxiredoxin Q to the chloroplasts and especially to those of the guard cells. The expression of this protein and of type II peroxiredoxin is modified in response to an infection by two races of Melampsora larici-populina, the causative agent of the poplar rust. In the case of an hypersensitive response, the peroxiredoxin expression increased, whereas it decreased during a compatible interaction.

Evidence for a subgroup of thioredoxin h that requires GSH/Grx for its reduction

Poplar thioredoxin h4 (popTrxh4) and a related CXXS type (popCXXS3) are both members of a plant thioredoxin h subgroup. PopTrxh4 exhibits the usual catalytic site WCGPC, whereas popCXXS3 harbors the non-typical active site WCMPS. Recombinant popTrxh4 and popCXXS3 are not reduced either by Arabidopsis thaliana NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductases (NTR) A and B or by Escherichia coli NTR. We report here evidence that a poplar glutaredoxin as well as three E. coli Grxs are able to reduce popTrxh4. PopTrxh4 is able to reduce several thioredoxin targets as peroxiredoxins or methionine sulfoxide reductases. On the other hand, popCXXS3 exhibits an activity in the presence of glutathione and hydroxyethyldisulfide. Except for examples of glutathiolation, these are the first two examples of a direct interconnection between the thioredoxin and glutathione/glutaredoxin systems.

Identification, cloning and characterization of two thioredoxin h isoforms, HvTrxh1 and HvTrxh2, from the barley seed proteome

Two thioredoxin h isoforms, HvTrxh1 and HvTrxh2, were identified in two and one spots, respectively, in a proteome analysis of barley (Hordeum vulgare) seeds based on 2D gel electrophoresis and MS. HvTrxh1 was observed in 2D gel patterns of endosperm, aleurone layer and embryo of mature barley seeds, and HvTrxh2 was present mainly in the embryo. During germination, HvTrxh2 decreased in abundance and HvTrxh1 decreased in the aleurone layer and endosperm but remained at high levels in the embryo. On the basis of MS identification of the two isoforms, expressed sequence tag sequences were identified, and cDNAs encoding HvTrxh1 and HvTrxh2 were cloned by RT-PCR. The sequences were 51% identical, but showed higer similarity to thioredoxin h isoforms from other cereals, e.g. rice Trxh (74% identical with HvTrxh1) and wheat TrxTa (90% identical with HvTrxh2). Recombinant HvTrxh1, HvTrxh2 and TrxTa were produced in Escherichia coli and purified using a three-step procedure. The activity of the purified recombinant thioredoxin h isoforms was demonstrated using insulin and barley alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor as substrates. HvTrxh1 and HvTrxh2 were also efficiently reduced by Arabidopsis thaliana NADP-dependent thioredoxin reductase (NTR). The biochemical properties of HvTrxh2 and TrxTa were similar, whereas HvTrxh1 had higher insulin-reducing activity and was a better substrate for Arabidopsis NTR than HvTrxh2, with a Km of 13 micro m compared with 44 micro m for HvTrxh2. Thus, barley seeds contain two distinct thioredoxin h isoforms which differ in temporal and spatial distribution and kinetic properties, suggesting that they may have different physiological roles.