Post-translational regulation of cytosolic glutamine synthetase by reversible phosphorylation and 14-3-3 protein interaction

Regulation of the cytosolic isozyme of glutamine synthetase (GS(1); EC 6.3.1.2) was studied in leaves of Brassica napus L. Expression and immunodetection studies showed that GS(1) was the only active GS isozyme in senescing leaves. By use of gamma-(32)P]ATP followed by immunodetection, it was shown that GS(1) is a phospho-protein. GS(1) is regulated post-translationally by reversible phosphorylation catalysed by protein kinases and microcystin-sensitive serine/threonine protein phosphatases. Dephosphorylated GS(1) is much more susceptible to degradation than the phosphorylated form. The phosphorylation status of GS(1) changes during light/dark transitions and depends in vitro on the ATP/AMP ratio. Phosphorylated GS(1) interacts with 14-3-3 proteins as verified by two different methods: a His-tag 14-3-3 protein column affinity method combined with immunodetection, and a far-Western method with overlay of 14-3-3-GFP. The degree of interaction with 14-3-3-proteins could be modified in vitro by decreasing or increasing the phosphorylation status of GS(1). Thus, the results demonstrate that 14-3-3 protein is an activator molecule of cytosolic GS and provide the first evidence of a protein involved in the activation of plant cytosolic GS. The role of post-translational regulation of cytosolic GS and interactions between phosphorylated cytosolic GS and 14-3-3 proteins in senescing leaves is discussed in relation to nitrogen remobilization.