An Arabidopsis quiescin-sulfhydryl oxidase regulates cation homeostasis at the root symplast-xylem interface

Modulation of potassium transport to increase abiotic stress tolerance in plants

Potassium is the major cation responsible for the maintenance of the ionic environment in plant cells. Stable potassium homeostasis is indispensable for virtually all cellular functions, and, concomitantly, viability. Plants must cope with environmental changes such as salt or drought that can alter ionic homeostasis. Potassium fluxes are required to regulate the essential process of transpiration, so a constraint on potassium transport may also affect the plant's response to heat, cold, or oxidative stress. Sequencing data and functional analyses have defined the potassium channels and transporters present in the genomes of different species, so we know most of the proteins directly participating in potassium homeostasis. The still unanswered questions are how these proteins are regulated and the nature of potential cross-talk with other signaling pathways controlling growth, development, and stress responses. As we gain knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of potassium homeostasis in plants, we can take advantage of this information to increase the efficiency of potassium transport and generate plants with enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress through genetic engineering or new breeding techniques. Here, we review current knowledge of how modifying genes related to potassium homeostasis in plants affect abiotic stress tolerance at the whole plant level.

Inhibition of SlSKOR by SlCIPK23-SlCBL1/9 uncovers CIPK-CBL-target network rewiring in land plants

Transport of K⁺ to the xylem is a key process in the mineral nutrition of the shoots. Although CIPK-CBL complexes have been widely shown to regulate K⁺ uptake transport systems, no information is available about the xylem ones. Here, we studied the physiological roles of the voltage-gated K⁺ channel SlSKOR and its regulation by the SlCIPK23-SlCBL1/9 complexes in tomato plants. We phenotyped gene-edited slskor and slcipk23 tomato knockout mutants and carried out two-electrode voltage-clamp (TEVC) and BiFC assays in Xenopus oocytes as key approaches. SlSKOR was preferentially expressed in the root stele and was important not only for K⁺ transport to shoots but also, indirectly, for that of Ca²⁺ , Mg²⁺ , Na⁺ , NO₃ ^- , and Cl^- . Surprisingly, the SlCIPK23-SlCBL1/9 complexes turned out to be negative regulators of SlSKOR. Inhibition of SlSKOR by SlCIPK23-SlCBL1/9 was observed in Xenopus oocytes and tomato plants. Regulation of SKOR-like channels by CIPK23-CBL1 complexes was also present in Medicago, grapevine, and lettuce but not in Arabidopsis and saltwater cress. Our results provide a molecular framework for coordinating root K⁺ uptake and its translocation to the shoot by SlCIPK23-SlCBL1/9 in tomato plants. Moreover, they evidenced that CIPK-CBL-target networks have evolved differently in land plants.

Comparative studies on the response of Zostera marina leaves and roots to ammonium stress and effects on nitrogen metabolism

Coastal eutrophication has resulted in the rapid loss and deterioration of seagrass beds worldwide. The high concentration of ammonium in eutrophic aquatic environments has been invoked as the main cause. In this study, leaves and roots of the seagrass Zostera marina were treated with simulated eutrophic seawater with elevated ammonium concentrations. The tolerance to ammonium stress and mechanism of nitrogen metabolism detoxification in different tissues were investigated. The results showed that high ammonium stress significantly affected the growth of leaves and had a negative effect on photosynthesis. The root activity of Z. marina was not inhibited at ammonium concentrations of ≤100 mg/L, indicating that the roots exhibited tolerance to ammonium stress. Increasing ammonium concentrations led to a higher increase of ammonium and free amino acid (FAA) contents in leaves than in roots. However, nitrogen storage decreased in Z. marina leaves after high ammonium treatments. The enzyme activity and gene expression of glutamine synthetase (GS) in roots were significantly higher than in the leaves even under ammonium stress. Meanwhile, ammonium stress increased the enzyme activities and gene expression of glutamate synthase (GOGAT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in roots, which suggested that the roots had a strong ability to assimilate ammonium under ammonium stress. In contrast, although the GOGAT and GDH activity and gene expression in the leaves were initially increased, they significantly decreased when the ammonium concentration exceeded 100 mg/L. These results indicated that the concentration of 100 mg/L might be a threshold marking a transition from tolerance to toxicity for the leaves. Our study demonstrates that Z. marina leaves could be prone to higher damage than roots because the mechanism of ammonium assimilation in leaves is more susceptible to ammonium toxicity.

Redox sensor QSOX1 regulates plant immunity by targeting GSNOR to modulate ROS generation

Reactive oxygen signaling regulates numerous biological processes, including stress responses in plants. Redox sensors transduce reactive oxygen signals into cellular responses. Here, we present biochemical evidence that a plant quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase homolog (QSOX1) is a redox sensor that negatively regulates plant immunity against a bacterial pathogen. The expression level of QSOX1 is inversely correlated with pathogen-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Interestingly, QSOX1 both senses and regulates ROS levels by interactingn with and mediating redox regulation of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase, which, consistent with previous findings, influences reactive nitrogen-mediated regulation of ROS generation. Collectively, our data indicate that QSOX1 is a redox sensor that negatively regulates plant immunity by linking reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen signaling to limit ROS production.

Potassium physiology from Archean to Holocene: A higher-plant perspective

In this paper, we discuss biological potassium acquisition and utilization processes over an evolutionary timescale, with emphasis on modern vascular plants. The quintessential osmotic and electrical functions of the K⁺ ion are shown to be intimately tied to K⁺-transport systems and membrane energization. Several prominent themes in plant K⁺-transport physiology are explored in greater detail, including: (1) channel mediated K⁺ acquisition by roots at low external [K⁺]; (2) K⁺ loading of root xylem elements by active transport; (3) variations on the theme of K⁺ efflux from root cells to the extracellular environment; (4) the veracity and utility of the "affinity" concept in relation to transport systems. We close with a discussion of the importance of plant-potassium relations to our human world, and current trends in potassium nutrition from farm to table.

Identification of novel seed longevity genes related to oxidative stress and seed coat by genome-wide association studies and reverse genetics

Seed longevity is a polygenic trait of relevance for agriculture and for understanding the effect of environment on the ageing of biological systems. In order to identify novel longevity genes, we have phenotyped the natural variation of 270 ecotypes of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, for natural ageing and for three accelerated ageing methods. Genome-wide analysis, using publicly available single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) data sets, identified multiple genomic regions associated with variation in seed longevity. Reverse genetics of 20 candidate genes in Columbia ecotype resulted in seven genes positive for seed longevity (PSAD1, SSLEA, SSTPR, DHAR1, CYP86A8, MYB47 and SPCH) and five negative ones (RBOHD, RBOHE, RBOHF, KNAT7 and SEP3). In this uniform genetic background, natural and accelerated ageing methods provided similar results for seed-longevity in knock-out mutants. The NADPH oxidases (RBOHs), the dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR1) and the photosystem I subunit (PSAD1) highlight the important role of oxidative stress on seed ageing. The cytochrome P-450 hydroxylase, CYP86A8, and the transcription factors, MYB47, KNAT7 and SEP3, support the protecting role of the seed coat during seed ageing.

An Arabidopsis Mutant Over-Expressing Subtilase SBT4.13 Uncovers the Role of Oxidative Stress in the Inhibition of Growth by Intracellular Acidification

Intracellular acid stress inhibits plant growth by unknown mechanisms and it occurs in acidic soils and as consequence of other stresses. In order to identify mechanisms of acid toxicity, we screened activation-tagging lines of Arabidopsis thaliana for tolerance to intracellular acidification induced by organic acids. A dominant mutant, sbt4.13-1D, was isolated twice and shown to over-express subtilase SBT4.13, a protease secreted into endoplasmic reticulum. Activity measurements and immuno-detection indicate that the mutant contains less plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase (PMA) than wild type, explaining the small size, electrical depolarization and decreased cytosolic pH of the mutant but not organic acid tolerance. Addition of acetic acid to wild-type plantlets induces production of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) measured by dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. Acid-induced ROS production is greatly decreased in sbt4.13-1D and atrboh-D,F mutants. The latter is deficient in two major NADPH oxidases (NOXs) and is tolerant to organic acids. These results suggest that intracellular acidification activates NOXs and the resulting oxidative stress is important for inhibition of growth. The inhibition of acid-activated NOXs in the sbt4.13-1D mutant compensates inhibition of PMA to increase acid tolerance.

AtERO1 and AtERO2 Exhibit Differences in Catalyzing Oxidative Protein Folding in the Endoplasmic Reticulum

Disulfide bonds are essential for the folding of the eukaryotic secretory and membrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and ER oxidoreductin-1 (Ero1) and its homologs are the major disulfide donors that supply oxidizing equivalents in the ER. Although Ero1 homologs in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammals have been extensively studied, the mechanisms of plant Ero1 functions are far less understood. Here, we found that both Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ERO1 and its homolog AtERO2 are required for oxidative protein folding in the ER. The outer active site, the inner active site, and a long-range noncatalytic disulfide bond are required for AtERO1's function. Interestingly, AtERO1 and AtERO2 also exhibit significant differences. The ero1 plants are more sensitive to reductive stress than the ero2 plants. In vivo, both AtERO1 and AtERO2 have two distinct oxidized isoforms (Ox1 and Ox2), which are determined by the formation or breakage of the putative regulatory disulfide. AtERO1 is mainly present in the Ox1 redox state, while more AtERO2 exists in the Ox2 state. Furthermore, AtERO1 showed much stronger oxidative protein-folding activity than AtERO2 in vitro. Taken together, both AtERO1 and AtERO2 are required to regulate efficient and faithful oxidative protein folding in the ER, but AtERO1 may serves as the primary sulfhydryl oxidase relative to AtERO2.

Oxidative protein folding: state-of-the-art and current avenues of research in plants

Contents Summary 1230 I. Introduction 1230 II. Formation and isomerization of disulfides in the ER and the Golgi apparatus 1231 III. The disulfide relay in the mitochondrial intermembrane space: why are plants different? 1236 IV. Disulfide bond formation on luminal proteins in thylakoids 1240 V. Conclusion 1242 Acknowledgements 1242 References 1242 SUMMARY: Disulfide bonds are post-translational modifications crucial for the structure and function of thousands of proteins. Their formation and isomerization, referred to as oxidative folding, require specific protein machineries found in oxidizing subcellular compartments, namely the endoplasmic reticulum and the associated endomembrane system, the intermembrane space of mitochondria and the thylakoid lumen of chloroplasts. At least one protein component is required for transferring electrons from substrate proteins to an acceptor that is usually molecular oxygen. For oxidation reactions, incoming reduced substrates are oxidized by thiol-oxidoreductase proteins (or domains in case of chimeric proteins), which are usually themselves oxidized by a single thiol oxidase, the enzyme generating disulfide bonds de novo. By contrast, the description of the molecular actors and pathways involved in proofreading and isomerization of misfolded proteins, which require a tightly controlled redox balance, lags behind. Herein we provide a general overview of the knowledge acquired on the systems responsible for oxidative protein folding in photosynthetic organisms, highlighting their particularities compared to other eukaryotes. Current research challenges are discussed including the importance and specificity of these oxidation systems in the context of the existence of reducing systems in the same compartments.

Polyamines interfere with protein ubiquitylation and cause depletion of intracellular amino acids: a possible mechanism for cell growth inhibition

Spermidine is a polyamine present in eukaryotes with essential functions in protein synthesis. At high concentrations spermidine and norspermidine inhibit growth by unknown mechanisms. Transcriptomic analysis of the effect of norspermidine on the plant Arabidopsis thaliana indicates upregulation of the response to heat stress and denatured proteins. Accordingly, these polyamines inhibit protein ubiquitylation, both in vivo (in yeast, Arabidopsis, and human Hela cells) and in vitro (with recombinant ubiquitin ligase). This interferes with protein degradation by the proteasome, a situation known to deplete cells of amino acids. Norspermidine treatment of yeast cells induces amino acid depletion, and supplementation of media with amino acids counteracts growth inhibition and cellular amino acid depletion but not inhibition of protein polyubiquitylation.

Arabidopsis COGWHEEL1 links light perception and gibberellins with seed tolerance to deterioration

Light is a major regulator of plant growth and development by antagonizing gibberellins (GA), and we provide evidence for a role of light perception and GA in seed coat formation and seed tolerance to deterioration. We have identified two activation-tagging mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, cog1-2D and cdf4-1D, with improved seed tolerance to deterioration linked to increased expression of COG1/DOF1.5 and CDF4/DOF2.3, respectively. These encode two homologous DOF transcription factors, with COG1 most highly expressed in seeds. Improved tolerance to seed deterioration was reproduced in transgenic plants overexpressing these genes, and loss of function from RNA interference resulted in opposite phenotypes. Overexpressions of COG1 and CDF4 have been described to attenuate various light responses mediated by phytochromes. Accordingly, we found that phyA and phyB mutants exhibit increased seed tolerance to deterioration. The phenotype of tolerance to deterioration conferred by gain of function of COG1 and by loss of function of phytochromes is of maternal origin, is also observed under natural aging conditions and correlates with a seed coat with increased suberin and reduced permeability. In developing siliques of the cog1-2D mutant the expression of the GA biosynthetic gene GA3OX3 and levels of GA1 are higher than in the wild type. These results explain the antagonism between phytochromes and COG1 in terms of the inhibition and the activation, respectively, of GA action.

Polyamine Resistance Is Increased by Mutations in a Nitrate Transporter Gene NRT1.3 (AtNPF6.4) in Arabidopsis thaliana

Polyamines are small basic compounds present in all living organisms and act in a variety of biological processes. However, the mechanism of polyamine sensing, signaling and response in relation to other metabolic pathways remains to be fully addressed in plant cells. As one approach, we isolated Arabidopsis mutants that show increased resistance to spermine in terms of chlorosis. We show here that two of the mutants have a point mutation in a nitrate transporter gene of the NRT1/PTR family (NPF), NRT1.3 (AtNPF6.4). These mutants also exhibit increased resistance to putrescine and spermidine while loss-of-function mutants of the two closest homologs of NRT1.3, root-specific NRT1.1 (AtNPF6.3) and petiole-specific NRT1.4 (AtNPF6.2), were shown to have a normal sensitivity to polyamines. When the GUS reporter gene was expressed under the control of the NRT1.3 promoter, GUS staining was observed in leaf mesophyll cells and stem cortex cells but not in the epidermis, suggesting that NRT1.3 specifically functions in parenchymal tissues. We further found that the aerial part of the mutant seedling has normal levels of polyamines but shows reduced uptake of norspermidine compared with the wild type. These results suggest that polyamine transport or metabolism is associated with nitrate transport in the parenchymal tissue of the shoot.

A fungal transcription factor gene is expressed in plants from its own promoter and improves drought tolerance

MAIN CONCLUSION

A fungal gene encoding a transcription factor is expressed from its own promoter in Arabidopsis phloem and improves drought tolerance by reducing transpiration and increasing osmotic potential. Horizontal gene transfer from unrelated organisms has occurred in the course of plant evolution, suggesting that some foreign genes may be useful to plants. The CtHSR1 gene, previously isolated from the halophytic yeast Candida tropicalis, encodes a heat-shock transcription factor-related protein. CtHSR1, with expression driven by its own promoter or by the Arabidopsis UBQ10 promoter, was introduced into the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation and the resulting transgenic plants were more tolerant to drought than controls. Fusions of the CtHSR1 promoter with β-glucuronidase reporter gene indicated that this fungal promoter drives expression to phloem tissues. A chimera of CtHSR1 and green fluorescence protein is localized at the cell nucleus. The physiological mechanism of drought tolerance in transgenic plants is based on reduced transpiration (which correlates with decreased opening of stomata and increased levels of jasmonic acid) and increased osmotic potential (which correlates with increased proline accumulation). Transcriptomic analysis indicates that the CtHSR1 transgenic plants overexpressed a hundred of genes, including many relevant to stress defense such as LOX4 (involved in jasmonic acid synthesis) and P5CS1 (involved in proline biosynthesis). The promoters of the induced genes were enriched in upstream activating sequences for water stress induction. These results demonstrate that genes from unrelated organisms can have functional expression in plants from its own promoter and expand the possibilities of useful transgenes for plant biotechnology.

Disulfide bond formation activity of soybean quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase

Multiple enzymatic systems can catalyse protein disulfide bond formation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of eukaryotic cells. The enzyme quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase (QSOX) catalyses disulfide bond formation in unfolded proteins via the reduction of oxygen. We found two QSOX homologues in the soybean genome database, Glycine max QSOX (GmQSOX)1 and GmQSOX2, which encode proteins composed of an N-terminal signal peptide, a thioredoxin-like domain, an FAD-binding domain, Erv/ALR, and a transmembrane region near the C terminus. We subsequently cloned two GmQSOX1 cDNAs, GmQSOX1a and GmQSOX1b, which may be generated by alternative splicing. The GmQSOX1a, GmQSOX1b and GmQSOX2 mRNA levels increased during seed storage protein synthesis in the cotyledon, and were also upregulated under conditions causing ER stress. Recombinant GmQSOX1 expressed in Escherichia coli formed disulfide bonds on reduced and denatured RNase A, but did not show any refolding activity. The reduced and denatured RNase A was effectively refolded by recombinant GmQSOX1 in the presence of the soybean protein disulfide isomerase family protein GmPDIL-2 in the absence of glutathione redox buffer, suggesting that GmQSOX1 plays a role in protein folding in the ER.

DATABASES

The nucleotide sequence data for the GmQSOX1a, GmQSOX1b, GmQSOX2a, GmQSOX2b and glycinin AaB1b cDNAs are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers AB196647, AB195548, XM-006589586, XM-003536592, and AB113349, respectively.

A forward genetic approach in Arabidopsis thaliana identifies a RING-type ubiquitin ligase as a novel determinant of seed longevity

Seed longevity is important to preserve crops and wild plants and it is limited by progressive cellular damage (aging) during storage. The induction of cellular stress defenses and the formation of the seed coat are crucial protecting events during seed development, a process mediated in Arabidopsis thaliana by the transcription factors LEC1, LEC2, FUS3 and the abscisic acid-activated ABI3. In order to identify novel determinants of seed longevity we have screened an activation-tagging mutant collection of Arabidopsis and isolated a dominant mutant with increased seed longevity under both natural and accelerated aging conditions. Molecular characterization indicates that the mutant phenotype is caused by over-expression of the At2g26130 gene encoding a RING-type zinc finger putative ubiquitin ligase. Loss of function of this gene in a T-DNA insertion mutant resulted in decreased seed longevity. We named this important gene for seed longevity RSL1 (from Ring finger of Seed Longevity1) and we could demonstrate ubiquitin ligase activity with the recombinant protein. Morphological alterations in shoot tissues of the RSL1 over-expressing plants and analysis of gibberellins levels suggest that RSL1 may increase gibberellins responses by some unknown mechanism. These results validate the forward genetic approach to seed longevity and anticipate the identification of many novel determinants of this important trait.

ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX25 uncovers a role for Gibberellins in seed longevity

Seed longevity is crucial for agriculture and plant genetic diversity, but it is limited by cellular damage during storage. Seeds are protected against aging by cellular defenses and by structures such as the seed coat. We have screened an activation-tagging mutant collection of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and selected four dominant mutants with improved seed longevity (isl1-1D to isl4-1D) under both natural and accelerated aging conditions. In the isl1-1D mutant, characterized in this work, overexpression of the transcription factor ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX25 (ATHB25; At5g65410) increases the expression of GIBBERELLIC ACID3-OXIDASE2, encoding a gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic enzyme, and the levels of GA1 and GA4 are higher (3.2- and 1.4-fold, respectively) in the mutant than in the wild type. The morphological and seed longevity phenotypes of the athb25-1D mutant were recapitulated in transgenic plants with moderate (4- to 6-fold) overexpression of ATHB25. Simultaneous knockdown of ATHB25, ATHB22, and ATHB31 expression decreases seed longevity, as does loss of ATHB25 and ATHB22 function in a double mutant line. Seeds from wild-type plants treated with GA and from a quintuple DELLA mutant (with constitutive GA signaling) are more tolerant to aging, providing additional evidence for a role of GA in seed longevity. A correlation was observed in several genotypes between seed longevity and mucilage formation at the seed surface, suggesting that GA may act by reinforcing the seed coat. This mechanism was supported by the observation of a maternal effect in reciprocal crosses between the wild type and the athb25-1D mutant.

Oxidative protein-folding systems in plant cells

Plants are unique among eukaryotes in having evolved organelles: the protein storage vacuole, protein body, and chloroplast. Disulfide transfer pathways that function in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and chloroplasts of plants play critical roles in the development of protein storage organelles and the biogenesis of chloroplasts, respectively. Disulfide bond formation requires the cooperative function of disulfide-generating enzymes (e.g., ER oxidoreductase 1), which generate disulfide bonds de novo, and disulfide carrier proteins (e.g., protein disulfide isomerase), which transfer disulfides to substrates by means of thiol-disulfide exchange reactions. Selective molecular communication between disulfide-generating enzymes and disulfide carrier proteins, which reflects the molecular and structural diversity of disulfide carrier proteins, is key to the efficient transfer of disulfides to specific sets of substrates. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms and functions of the various disulfide transfer pathways involved in oxidative protein folding in the ER, chloroplasts, and mitochondria of plants.

The oxidative protein folding machinery in plant cells

Formation of intra-molecular disulfides and concomitant oxidative protein folding is essential for stability and catalytic function of many soluble and membrane-bound proteins in the endomembrane system, the mitochondrial inter-membrane space and the thylakoid lumen. Disulfide generation from free cysteines in nascent polypeptide chains is generally a catalysed process for which distinct pathways exist in all compartments. A high degree of similarities between highly diverse eukaryotic and bacterial systems for generation of protein disulfides indicates functional conservation of key processes throughout evolution. However, while many aspects about molecular function of enzymatic systems promoting disulfide formation have been demonstrated for bacterial and non-plant eukaryotic organisms, it is now clear that the plant machinery for oxidative protein folding displays distinct details, suggesting that the different pathways have been adapted to plant-specific requirements in terms of compartmentation, molecular function and regulation. Here, we aim to evaluate biological diversity by comparing the plant systems for oxidative protein folding to the respective systems from non-plant eukaryotes.

A dominant-negative form of Arabidopsis AP-3 β-adaptin improves intracellular pH homeostasis

Intracellular pH (pHi ) is a crucial parameter in cellular physiology but its mechanisms of homeostasis are only partially understood. To uncover novel roles and participants of the pHi regulatory system, we have screened an Arabidopsis mutant collection for resistance of seed germination to intracellular acidification induced by weak organic acids (acetic, propionic, sorbic). The phenotypes of one identified mutant, weak acid-tolerant 1-1D (wat1-1D) are due to the expression of a truncated form of AP-3 β-adaptin (encoded by the PAT2 gene) that behaves as a as dominant-negative. During acetic acid treatment the root epidermal cells of the mutant maintain a higher pHi and a more depolarized plasma membrane electrical potential than wild-type cells. Additional phenotypes of wat1-1D roots include increased rates of acetate efflux, K(+) uptake and H(+) efflux, the latter reflecting the in vivo activity of the plasma membrane H(+) -ATPase. The in vitro activity of the enzyme was not increased but, as the H(+) -ATPase is electrogenic, the increased ion permeability would allow a higher rate of H(+) efflux. The AP-3 adaptor complex is involved in traffic from Golgi to vacuoles but its function in plants is not much known. The phenotypes of the wat1-1D mutant can be explained if loss of function of the AP-3 β-adaptin causes activation of channels or transporters for organic anions (acetate) and for K(+) at the plasma membrane, perhaps through miss-localization of tonoplast proteins. This suggests a role of this adaptin in trafficking of ion channels or transporters to the tonoplast.

Diversification of quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase in a preserved framework for redox relay

BACKGROUND

The enzyme family Quiescin Sulfhydryl Oxidase (QSOX) is defined by the presence of an amino-terminal thioredoxin-fold (Trx) domain and a carboxy-terminal Erv family sulfhydryl oxidase domain. QSOX enzymes, which generate disulfide bonds and transfer them to substrate proteins, are present in a wide variety of eukaryotic species including metazoans and plants, but are absent from fungi. Plant and animal QSOXs differ in their active-site amino acid sequences and content of non-catalytic domains. The question arises, therefore, whether the Trx-Erv fusion has the same mechanistic significance in all QSOX enzymes, and whether shared features distinguish the functional domains of QSOX from other instances in which these domains occur independently. Through a study of QSOX phylogeny and an analysis of QSOX sequence diversity in light of recently determined three-dimensional structures, we sought insight into the origin and evolution of this multi-domain redox alliance.

RESULTS

An updated collection of QSOX enzymes was used to confirm and refine the differences in domain composition and active-site sequence motif patterns of QSOXs belonging to various eukaryotic phyla. Beyond the expected phylogenetic distinction of animal and plant QSOX enzymes, trees based on individual redox-active QSOX domains show a particular distinction of the Trx domain early in plant evolution. A comparison of QSOX domains with Trx and Erv domains from outside the QSOX family revealed several sequence and structural features that clearly differentiate QSOXs from other enzymes containing either of these domains. Notably, these features, present in QSOXs of various phyla, localize to the interface between the Trx and Erv domains observed in structures of QSOX that model interdomain redox communication.

CONCLUSIONS

The infrastructure for interdomain electron relay, previously identified for animal and parasite QSOXs, is found broadly across the QSOX family, including the plant enzymes. We conclude that the conserved three-dimensional framework of the QSOX catalytic domains accommodates lineage-specific differences and paralog diversification in the amino acid residues surrounding the redox-active cysteines. Our findings indicate that QSOX enzymes are characterized not just by the presence of the two defining domain folds but also by features that promote coordinated activity.

Phylogenetics and enzymology of plant quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase

Quiescin Sulfhydryl Oxidase (QSOX), a catalyst of disulfide bond formation, is found in both plants and animals. Mammalian, avian, and trypanosomal QSOX enzymes have been studied in detail, but plant QSOX has yet to be characterized. Differences between plant and animal QSOXs in domain composition and active-site sequences raise the question of whether these QSOXs function by the same mechanism. We demonstrate that Arabidopsis thaliana QSOX produced in bacteria is folded and functional as a sulfhydryl oxidase but does not exhibit the interdomain electron transfer observed for its animal counterpart. Based on this finding, further exploration into the respective roles of the redox-active sites in plant QSOX and the reason for their concatenation is warranted.

Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase ROF2 modulates intracellular pH homeostasis in Arabidopsis

Intracellular pH must be kept close to neutrality to be compatible with cellular functions, but the mechanisms of pH homeostasis and the responses to intracellular acidification are mostly unknown. In the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we found that intracellular acid stress generated by weak organic acids at normal external pH induces expression of several chaperone genes, including ROF2, which encodes a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase of the FK506-binding protein class. Loss of function of ROF2, and especially double mutation of ROF2 and the closely related gene ROF1, results in acid sensitivity. Over-expression of ROF2 confers tolerance to intracellular acidification by increasing proton extrusion from cells. The activation of the plasma membrane proton pump (H(+) -ATPase) is indirect: over-expression of ROF2 activates K(+) uptake, causing depolarization of the plasma membrane, which activates the electrogenic H(+) pump. The depolarization of ROF2 over-expressing plants explains their tolerance to toxic cations such as lithium, norspermidine and hygromycin B, whose uptake is driven by the membrane potential. As ROF2 induction and intracellular acidification are common consequences of many stresses, this mechanism of pH homeostasis may be of general importance for stress tolerance.