Genetically Modified Heat Shock Protein90s and Polyamine Oxidases in Arabidopsis Reveal Their Interaction under Heat Stress Affecting Polyamine Acetylation, Oxidation and Homeostasis of Reactive Oxygen Species

Subfunctionalization of Parental Polyamine Oxidase (PAO) Genes in the Allopolyploid Tobacco Nicotiana tabacum (L.)

Polyamines play an important role in developmental and environmental stress responses in plants. Polyamine oxidases (PAOs) are flavin-adenine-dinucleotide-dependent enzymes associated with polyamine catabolism. In this study, 14 genes were identified in the tobacco genome that code for PAO proteins being named based on their sequence homology with Arabidopsis PAOs (AtPAO1-5): NtPAO1A-B; NtPAO2A-C, NtPAO4A-D, and NtPAO5A-E. Sequence analysis confirmed that the PAO gene family of the allopolyploid hybrid Nicotiana tabacum is not an exact combination of the PAO genes of the maternal Nicotiana sylvestris and paternal Nicotiana tomentosiformis ones. The loss of the N. sylvestris homeolog of NtPAO5E and the gain of an extra NtPAO2 copy, likely of Nicotiana othophora origin, was revealed. The latter adds to the few pieces of evidence suggesting that the paternal parent of N. tabacum was an introgressed hybrid of N. tomentosiformis and N. othophora. Gene expression analysis indicated that all 14 PAO genes kept their expression following the formation of the hybrid species. The homeologous gene pairs showed similar or opposite regulation depending on the investigated organ, applied stress, or hormone treatment. The data indicate that the expression pattern of the homeologous genes is diversifying in a process of subfunctionalization.

Biochemical and structural basis of polyamine, lysine and ornithine acetylation catalyzed by spermine/spermidine N-acetyl transferase in moss and maize

Polyamines such as spermidine and spermine are essential regulators of cell growth, differentiation, maintenance of ion balance and abiotic stress tolerance. Their levels are controlled by the spermidine/spermine N¹ -acetyltransferase (SSAT) via acetylation to promote either their degradation or export outside the cell as shown in mammals. Plant genomes contain at least one gene coding for SSAT (also named NATA for N-AcetylTransferase Activity). Combining kinetics, HPLC-MS and crystallography, we show that three plant SSATs, one from the lower plant moss Physcomitrium patens and two from the higher plant Zea mays, acetylate various aliphatic polyamines and two amino acids lysine (Lys) and ornithine (Orn). Thus, plant SSATs exhibit a broad substrate specificity, unlike more specific human SSATs (hSSATs) as hSSAT1 targets polyamines, whereas hSSAT2 acetylates Lys and thiaLys. The crystal structures of two PpSSAT ternary complexes, one with Lys and CoA, the other with acetyl-CoA and polyethylene glycol (mimicking spermine), reveal a different binding mode for polyamine versus amino acid substrates accompanied by structural rearrangements of both the coenzyme and the enzyme. Two arginine residues, unique among plant SSATs, hold the carboxyl group of amino acid substrates. The most abundant acetylated compound accumulated in moss was N⁶ -acetyl-Lys, whereas N⁵ -acetyl-Orn, known to be toxic for aphids, was found in maize. Both plant species contain very low levels of acetylated polyamines. The present study provides a detailed biochemical and structural basis of plant SSAT enzymes that can acetylate a wide range of substrates and likely play various roles in planta.

An Undefined Interaction between Polyamines and Heat Shock Proteins Leads to Cellular Protection in Plasmodium falciparum and Proliferating Cells in Various Organisms

Environmental stimuli can distress the internal reaction of cells and their normal function. To react promptly to sudden environmental changes, a cascade of heat shock proteins (Hsps) functions to protect and act as housekeepers inside the cells. In parallel to the heat shock response, the metabolic polyamine (PA) status changes. Here, we discuss possible ways of putative interactions between Hsps and polyamines in a wide lineage of eukaryotic model organisms with a particular focus on parasitic protozoa such as Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). The supposed interaction between polyamines and Hsps may protect the parasite from the sudden change in temperature during transmission from the female Anopheles mosquito to a human host. Recent experiments performed with the spermidine mimetic inhibitor 15-deoxyspergualine in Plasmodium in vitro cultures show that the drug binds to the C-terminal EEVD motif of Hsp70. This leads to inhibition of protein biosynthesis caused by prevention of eIF5A2 phosphorylation and eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) modification. These observations provide further evidence that PAs are involved in the regulation of protein biosynthesis of Hsps to achieve a protective effect for the parasite during transmission.

CsPAO2 Improves Salt Tolerance of Cucumber through the Interaction with CsPSA3 by Affecting Photosynthesis and Polyamine Conversion

Polyamine oxidases (PAOs) are key enzymes in polyamine metabolism and are related to the tolerance of plants to abiotic stresses. In this study, overexpression of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) PAO2 (CsPAO2) in Arabidopsis resulted in increased activity of the antioxidant enzyme and accelerated conversion from Put to Spd and Spm, while malondialdehyde content (MDA) and electrolyte leakage (EL) was decreased when compared with wild type, leading to enhanced plant growth under salt stress. Photosystem Ⅰ assembly 3 in cucumber (CsPSA3) was revealed as an interacting protein of CsPAO2 by screening yeast two-hybrid library combined with in vitro and in vivo methods. Then, CsPAO2 and CsPSA3 were silenced in cucumber via virus-mediated gene silencing (VIGS) with pV190 as the empty vector. Under salt stress, net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr) of CsPAO2-silencing plants were lower than pV190-silencing plants, and EL in root was higher than pV190-silencing plants, indicating that CsPAO2-silencing plants suffered more serious salt stress damage. However, photosynthetic parameters of CsPSA3-silencing plants were all higher than those of CsPAO2 and pV190-silencing plants, thereby enhancing the photosynthesis process. Moreover, CsPSA3 silencing reduced the EL in both leaves and roots when compared with CsPAO2-silencing plants, but the EL only in leaves was significantly lower than the other two gene-silencing plants, and conversion from Put to Spd and Spm in leaf was also promoted, suggesting that CsPSA3 interacts with CsPAO2 in leaves to participate in the regulation of salt tolerance through photosynthesis and polyamine conversion.

HSP90 Contributes to chs3-2D-Mediated Autoimmunity

Plants employ multi-layered immune system to fight against pathogen infections. Different receptors are able to detect the invasion activities of pathogens, transduce signals to downstream components, and activate defense responses. Among those receptors, nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing proteins (NLRs) are the major intracellular ones. CHILLING SENSITIVE 3 (CHS3) is an Arabidopsis NLR with an additional Lin-11, Isl-1 and Mec-3 (LIM) domain at its C terminus. The gain-of-function mutant, chs3-2D, exhibiting severe dwarfism and constitutively activated defense responses, was selected as a genetic background in this study for a forward genetic screen. A mutant allele of hsp90.2 was isolated as a partial suppressor of chs3-2D, suggesting that HSP90 is required for CHS3-mediated defense signaling. In addition, HSP90 is also required for the autoimmunity of the Dominant Negative (DN)-SNIPER1 and gain-of-function ADR1-L2 D484V transgenic lines, suggesting a broad role for HSP90 in NLR-mediated defense. Overall, our work indicates a larger contribution of HSP90 not only at the sensor, but also the helper NLR levels.

Arabidopsis N-acetyltransferase activity 2 preferentially acetylates 1,3-diaminopropane and thialysine

Polyamine acetylation has an important regulatory role in polyamine metabolism. It is catalysed by GCN5-related N-acetyltransferases, which transfer acetyl groups from acetyl-coenzyme A to the primary amino groups of spermidine, spermine (Spm), or other polyamines and diamines, as was shown for the human Spermidine/Spermine N¹-acetyltransferase 1 (HsSSAT1). SSAT homologues specific for thialysine, a cysteine-derived lysine analogue, were also identified (e.g., HsSSAT2). Two HsSSAT1 homologues are present in Arabidopsis, namely N-acetyltransferase activity (AtNATA) 1 and 2. AtNATA1 was previously shown to be specific for 1,3-diaminopropane, ornithine, putrescine and thialysine, rather than Spm and spermidine. In the present study, in an attempt to find a plant Spm-specific SSAT, AtNATA2 was expressed in a heterologous bacterial system and catalytic properties of the recombinant protein were determined. Data indicate that recombinant AtNATA2 preferentially acetylates 1,3-diaminopropane and thialysine, throwing further light on AtNATA1 substrate specificity. Structural analyses evidenced that the preference of AtNATA1, AtNATA2 and HsSSAT2 for short amine substrates can be ascribed to different main-chain conformation or substitution of HsSSAT1 residues interacting with Spm distal regions. Moreover, gene expression studies evidenced that AtNATA1 gene, but not AtNATA2, is up-regulated by cytokinins, thermospermine and Spm, suggesting the existence of a link between AtNATAs and N¹-acetyl-Spm metabolism. This study provides insights into polyamine metabolism and structural determinants of substrate specificity of non Spm-specific SSAT homologues.

Unfinished story of polyamines: Role of conjugation, transport and light-related regulation in the polyamine metabolism in plants

Polyamines play a fundamental role in the functioning of all cells. Their regulatory role in plant development, their function under stress conditions, and their metabolism have been well documented as regards both synthesis and catabolism in an increasing number of plant species. However, the majority of these studies concentrate on the levels of the most abundant polyamines, sometimes providing data on the enzyme activity or gene expression levels during polyamine synthesis, but generally making no mention of the fact that changes in the polyamine pool are very dynamic, and that other processes are also involved in the regulation of actual polyamine levels. Differences in the distribution of individual polyamines and their conjugation with other compounds were described some time ago, but these have been given little attention. In addition, the role of polyamine transporters in plants is only now being recognised. The present review highlights the importance of conjugated polyamines and also points out that investigations should not only deal with the polyamine metabolism itself, but should also cover other important questions, such as the relationship between light perception and the polyamine metabolism, or the involvement of polyamines in the circadian rhythm.

Update on the Roles of Polyamines in Fleshy Fruit Ripening, Senescence, and Quality

Ripening of fleshy fruits involves complex physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes that coincide with various changes of the fruit, including texture, color, flavor, and aroma. The processes of ripening are controlled by ethylene in climacteric fruits and abscisic acid (ABA) in non-climacteric fruits. Increasing evidence is also uncovering an essential role for polyamines (PAs) in fruit ripening, especially in climacteric fruits. However, until recently breakthroughs have been made in understanding PA roles in the ripening of non-climacteric fruits. In this review, we compare the mechanisms underlying PA biosynthesis, metabolism, and action during ripening in climacteric and non-climacteric fruits at the physiological and molecular levels. The PA putrescine (Put) has a role opposite to that of spermidine/spermine (Spd/Spm) in cellular metabolism. Arginine decarboxylase (ADC) is crucial to Put biosynthesis in both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) catalyzes the conversion of Put to Spd/Spm, which marks a metabolic transition that is concomitant with the onset of fruit ripening, induced by Spd in climacteric fruits and by Spm in non-climacteric fruits. Once PA catabolism is activated by polyamine oxidase (PAO), fruit ripening and senescence are facilitated by the coordination of mechanisms that involve PAs, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), ABA, ethylene, nitric oxide (NO), and calcium ions (Ca²⁺). Notably, a signal derived from PAO5-mediated PA metabolism has recently been identified in strawberry, a model system for non-climacteric fruits, providing a deeper understanding of the regulatory roles played by PAs in fleshy fruit ripening.

Antisense-mediated S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase silencing affects heat stress responses of tobacco plants

Understanding the molecular mode(s) of plant tolerance to heat stress (HS) is crucial since HS is a potential threat to sustainable agriculture and global crop production. Polyamines (PAs) seem to exert multifaceted effects in plant growth and development and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, presumably via their homeostasis, chemical interactions and contribution to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) cellular 'signatures'. Downregulation of the apoplastic POLYAMINE OXIDASE (PAO) gene improved thermotolerance in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) transgenics. However, in the present work we show that transgenic tobacco plants with antisense-mediated S-ADENOSYL-L-METHIONINE DECARBOXYLASE silencing (AS-NtSAMDC) exhibited enhanced sensitivity and delayed responses to HS which was accompanied by profound injury upon HS removal (recovery), as assessed by phenological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. In particular, the AS-NtSAMDC transgenics exhibited significantly reduced rate of photosynthesis, as well as enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. These transgenics suffered irreversible damage, which significantly reduced their growth potential upon return to normal conditions. These data reinforce the contribution of increased PA homeostasis to tolerance, and can move forward our understanding on the PA-mediated mechanism(s) conferring tolerance to HS that might be targeted via traditional or biotechnological breeding for developing HS tolerant plants.

Plant Polyamines

Polyamines are small organic compounds found in all living organisms. According to the high degree of positive charge at physiological pH, they interact with negatively charged macromolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, and modulate their activities. In plants, polyamines, some of which are presented as a conjugated form with cinnamic acids and proteins, are involved in a variety of physiological processes. In recent years, the study of plant polyamines, such as their biosynthetic and catabolic pathways and the roles they play in cellular processes, has flourished, becoming an exciting field of research. There is accumulating evidence that polyamine oxidation, the main catabolic pathway of polyamines, may have a potential role as a source of hydrogen peroxide. The papers in this Special Issue highlight new discoveries and research in the field of plant polyamine biology. The information will help to stimulate further research and make readers aware of the link between their own work and topics related to polyamines.