Identification of a new glucosinolate-rich cell type in Arabidopsis flower stalk.
(9/243)
Distribution of K, Ca, Cl, S, and P in freeze-dried sections of Arabidopsis flower stalk was analyzed by energy dispersive x-ray imaging. Concentrations of these elements in different cell types were quantified by microanalysis of single-cell samples and phloem exudates. Results showed a differential pattern of distribution for all five elements. K concentration was found to be highest in the parenchymatous tissue around vascular bundles. Ca and Cl were present mainly in the central part of the flower stalk. P was largely located in the bundles and in the parenchyma surrounding them. S signal was extraordinary high in groups of cells (S-cells) situated between the phloem of every vascular bundle and the endodermis. Enzymatic hydrolysis by thioglucosidase of cell sap collected from S-cells using a glass microcapillary resulted in the release of glucose, indicating that these cells contain glucosinolates at high (> 100 mM) concentration, which is consistent with the concentration of S (> 200 mM) estimated by x-ray analysis of cell sap samples. Since their position outside of the phloem is ideally suited for protecting the long-distance transport system from feeding insects, the possible roles of these cells as components of a plant defense system are discussed. (+info)
7-Methylsulfinylheptyl and 8-methylsulfinyloctyl isothiocyanates from watercress are potent inducers of phase II enzymes.
(10/243)
Watercress is an exceptionally rich dietary source of beta-phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). This compound inhibits phase I enzymes, which are responsible for the activation of many carcinogens in animals, and induces phase II enzymes, which are associated with enhanced excretion of carcinogens. In this study, we show that watercress extracts are potent inducers of quinone reductase (QR) in murine hepatoma Hepa 1c1c7 cells, a widely adopted assay for measuring phase II enzyme induction. However, contrary to expectations, this induction was not associated with PEITC (which is rapidly lost to the atmosphere upon tissue disruption due to its volatility) or a naturally occurring PEITC-glutathione conjugate, but with 7-methylsulfinyheptyl and 8-methylsulfinyloctyl isothiocyanates (ITCs). While it was confirmed that PEITC does induce QR (5 microM required for a two-fold induction in QR), 7-methylsulfinyheptyl and 8-methylsulfinyloctyl ITCs were more potent inducers (0.2 microM and 0.5 microM, respectively, required for a two-fold induction in QR). Thus, while watercress contains three times more phenylethyl glucosinolate than methylsulfinylalkyl glucosinolates, ITCs derived from methylsulfinylalkyl glucosinolates may be more important phase II enzyme inducers than PEITC, having 10 - to 25-fold greater potency. Analysis of urine by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) following consumption of watercress demonstrated the presence of N:-acetylcysteine conjugates of 7-methylsulfinylheptyl, 8-methylsulfinyloctyl ITCs and PEITC, indicating that these ITCs are taken up by the gut and metabolized in the body. Watercress may have exceptionally good anticarcinogenic potential, as it combines a potent inhibitor of phase I enzymes (PEITC) with at least three inducers of phase II enzymes (PEITC, 7-methylsulfinylheptyl ITC and 8-methylsulfinyloctyl ITC). The study also demonstrates the application of LC-MS for the detection of complex glucosinolate-derived metabolites in plant extracts and urine. (+info)
Cytochrome p450 CYP79F1 from arabidopsis catalyzes the conversion of dihomomethionine and trihomomethionine to the corresponding aldoximes in the biosynthesis of aliphatic glucosinolates.
(11/243)
Glucosinolates are natural plant products that have received rising attention due to their role in interactions between pests and crop plants and as chemical protectors against cancer. Glucosinolates are derived from amino acids and have aldoximes as intermediates. We report that cytochrome P450 CYP79F1 catalyzes aldoxime formation in the biosynthesis of aliphatic glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using recombinant CYP79F1 functionally expressed in Escherichia coli, we show that both dihomomethionine and trihomomethionine are metabolized by CYP79F1 resulting in the formation of 5-methylthiopentanaldoxime and 6-methylthiohexanaldoxime, respectively. 5-methylthiopentanaldoxime is the precursor of the major glucosinolates in leaves of A. thaliana, i.e. 4-methylthiobutylglucosinolate and 4-methylsulfinylbutylglucosinolate, and a variety of other glucosinolates in Brassica sp. Transgenic A. thaliana with cosuppression of CYP79F1 have a reduced content of aliphatic glucosinolates and a highly increased level of dihomomethionine and trihomomethionine. The transgenic plants have a morphological phenotype showing loss of apical dominance and formation of multiple axillary shoots. Our data provide the first evidence that a cytochrome P450 catalyzes the N-hydroxylation of chain-elongated methionine homologues to the corresponding aldoximes in the biosynthesis of aliphatic glucosinolates. (+info)
CYP83B1, a cytochrome P450 at the metabolic branch point in auxin and indole glucosinolate biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.
(12/243)
Auxins are growth regulators involved in virtually all aspects of plant development. However, little is known about how plants synthesize these essential compounds. We propose that the level of indole-3-acetic acid is regulated by the flux of indole-3-acetaldoxime through a cytochrome P450, CYP83B1, to the glucosinolate pathway. A T-DNA insertion in the CYP83B1 gene leads to plants with a phenotype that suggests severe auxin overproduction, whereas CYP83B1 overexpression leads to loss of apical dominance typical of auxin deficit. CYP83B1 N-hydroxylates indole-3-acetaldoxime to the corresponding aci-nitro compound, 1-aci-nitro-2-indolyl-ethane, with a K(m) of 3 microM and a turnover number of 53 min(-1). The aci-nitro compound formed reacts non-enzymatically with thiol compounds to produce an N-alkyl-thiohydroximate adduct, the committed precursor of glucosinolates. Thus, indole-3-acetaldoxime is the metabolic branch point between the primary auxin indole-3-acetic acid and indole glucosinolate biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. (+info)
Purification and characterization of myrosinase from the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), a brassica herbivore.
(13/243)
Aphids are among the most serious insect pests of agricultural crops in the world. They often have specific hosts, and the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) is a specialist on Cruciferae. It has previously been described that certain insects contain the enzyme myrosinase (EC 3.2.3.1), which is considered an important defence enzyme of crucifers. Myrosinase was purified to homogeneity from cabbage aphid soluble extracts using anion-exchange and phenyl-Sepharose chromatography. The protein has an apparent subunit molecular mass of 57-58 kDa and is a dimer. The isoelectric point is 4.9 and the enzyme has a temperature optimum around 40 degrees C. The enzyme was active towards the glucosinolates tested, sinigrin and glucotropaeolin, but was inhibited by ascorbate at concentrations that normally activate plant myrosinases. Using sinigrin as the substrate Km was determined as 0.41 mM, and the kcat as 36 s(-1). With glucotropaeolin the Km and kcat values were determined as 0.52 mM and 22.8 s(-1), respectively. The enzyme was stable upon storage at 4 degrees C for many months, but lost some activity upon freezing. The insect myrosinase did not cross-react with antibodies raised to plant myrosinase. Peptide sequencing of a tryptic digest of the protein showed homology to beta-glucosidases. The presence of myrosinase in an insect pest specialist may be an example of a coevolution process that facilitates host specialization. (+info)
Bus, a bushy Arabidopsis CYP79F1 knockout mutant with abolished synthesis of short-chain aliphatic glucosinolates.
(14/243)
A new mutant of Arabidopsis designated bus1-1 (for bushy), which exhibited a bushy phenotype with crinkled leaves and retarded vascularization, was characterized. The phenotype was caused by an En-1 insertion in the gene CYP79F1. The deduced protein belongs to the cytochrome P450 superfamily. Because members of the CYP79 subfamily are believed to catalyze the oxidation of amino acids to aldoximes, the initial step in glucosinolate biosynthesis, we analyzed the level of glucosinolates in a CYP79F1 null mutant (bus1-1f) and in an overexpressing plant. Short-chain glucosinolates derived from methionine were completely lacking in the null mutant and showed increased levels in the overexpressing plant, indicating that CYP79F1 uses short-chain methionine derivatives as substrates. In addition, the concentrations of indole-3-ylmethyl-glucosinolate and the content of the auxin indole-3-acetic acid and its precursor indole-3-acetonitrile were increased in the bus1-1f mutant. Our results demonstrate for the first time that the formation of glucosinolates derived from methionine is mediated by CYP79F1 and that knocking out this cytochrome P450 has profound effects on plant growth and development. (+info)
Gene duplication in the diversification of secondary metabolism: tandem 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases control glucosinolate biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.
(15/243)
Secondary metabolites are a diverse set of plant compounds believed to have numerous functions in plant-environment interactions. The large chemical diversity of secondary metabolites undoubtedly arises from an equally diverse set of enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis. However, little is known about the evolution of enzymes involved in secondary metabolism. We are studying the biosynthesis of glucosinolates, a large group of secondary metabolites, in Arabidopsis to investigate the evolution of enzymes involved in secondary metabolism. Arabidopsis contains natural variations in the presence of methylsulfinylalkyl, alkenyl, and hydroxyalkyl glucosinolates. In this article, we report the identification of genes encoding two 2-oxoglutarate--dependent dioxygenases that are responsible for this variation. These genes, AOP2 and AOP3, which map to the same position on chromosome IV, result from an apparent gene duplication and control the conversion of methylsulfinylalkyl glucosinolate to either the alkenyl or the hydroxyalkyl form. By heterologous expression in Escherichia and the correlation of gene expression patterns to the glucosinolate phenotype, we show that AOP2 catalyzes the conversion of methylsulfinylalkyl glucosinolates to alkenyl glucosinolates. Conversely, AOP3 directs the formation of hydroxyalkyl glucosinolates from methylsulfinylalkyl glucosinolates. No ecotype coexpressed both genes. Furthermore, the absence of functional AOP2 and AOP3 leads to the accumulation of the precursor methylsulfinylalkyl glucosinolates. A third member of this gene family, AOP1, is present in at least two forms and found in all ecotypes examined. However, its catalytic role is still uncertain. (+info)
Study of the role of antimicrobial glucosinolate-derived isothiocyanates in resistance of Arabidopsis to microbial pathogens.
(16/243)
Crude aqueous extracts from Arabidopsis leaves were subjected to chromatographic separations, after which the different fractions were monitored for antimicrobial activity using the fungus Neurospora crassa as a test organism. Two major fractions were obtained that appeared to have the same abundance in leaves from untreated plants versus leaves from plants challenge inoculated with the fungus Alternaria brassicicola. One of both major antimicrobial fractions was purified to homogeneity and identified by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, gas chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography/chemical ionization mass spectrometry as 4-methylsulphinylbutyl isothiocyanate (ITC). This compound has previously been described as a product of myrosinase-mediated breakdown of glucoraphanin, the predominant glucosinolate in Arabidopsis leaves. 4-Methylsulphinylbutyl ITC was found to be inhibitory to a wide range of fungi and bacteria, producing 50% growth inhibition in vitro at concentrations of 28 microM for the most sensitive organism tested (Pseudomonas syringae). A previously identified glucosinolate biosynthesis mutant, gsm1-1, was found to be largely deficient in either of the two major antimicrobial compounds, including 4-methylsulphinylbutyl ITC. The resistance of gsm1-1 was compared with that of wild-type plants after challenge with the fungi A. brassicicola, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, or Peronospora parasitica, or the bacteria Erwinia carotovora or P. syringae. Of the tested pathogens, only F. oxysporum was found to be significantly more aggressive on gsm1-1 than on wild-type plants. Taken together, our data suggest that glucosinolate-derived antimicrobial ITCs can play a role in the protection of Arabidopsis against particular pathogens. (+info)