Repression of the pea lipoxygenase gene loxg is associated with carpel development

A cDNA clone (loxg) corresponding to a gene repressed during carpel development has been isolated from a cDNA library of unpollinated carpels induced to grow by treatment with gibberellic acid (GA₃). The sequences of loxg cDNA and the deduced polypeptide have a high similarity with legume type 2 lipoxygenases, especially with Phaseolus lox1 (78.5% similarity at the protein level) and pea and soybean lox3 (83.6% and 85.4%, respectively). loxg expression is constant in unstimulated carpels but it decreases in carpels induced to keep growing by fertilization or hormone treatment. A similar pattern of repression was observed in lipoxygenase activity of pea and tomato carpels. In situ hybridization studies showed that loxg mRNAs are present in the endocarp and the mesocarp of pea pods; no loxg expression was detectable either in the pod exocarp or in the ovules. Loxg is also expressed in other young growing tissues, especially in flower organs. Nevertheless, the natural pattern of flower and fruit development is associated with loxg repression.     

Mutagenesis and modelling of linoleate-binding to pea seed lipoxygenase.

We have produced a model to define the linoleate-binding pocket of pea 9/13-lipoxygenase and have validated it by the construction and characterization of eight point mutants. Three of the mutations reduced, to varying degrees, the catalytic centre activity (kcat) of the enzyme with linoleate. In two of the mutants, reductions in turnover were associated with changes in iron-coordination. Multiple sequence alignments of recombinant plant and mammalian lipoxygenases of known positional specificity, and the results from numerous other mutagenesis and modelling studies, have been combined to discuss the possible role of the mutated residues in pea 9/13-lipoxygenase catalysis. A new nomenclature for recombinant plant lipoxygenases based on positional specificity has subsequently been proposed. The null-effect of mutating pea 9/13-lipoxygenase at the equivalent residue to that which controlled dual positional specificity in cucumber 13/9-lipoxygenase, strongly suggests that the mechanisms controlling dual positional specificity in pea 9/13-lipoxygenase and cucumber 13/9-lipoxygenase are different. This was supported from modelling of another isoform of pea lipoxygenase, pea 13/9-lipoxygenase. Dual positional specificity in pea lipoxygenases is more likely to be determined by the degree of penetration of the methyl terminus of linoleate and the volume of the linoleate-binding pocket rather than substrate orientation. A single model for positional specificity, that has proved to be inappropriate for arachidonate-binding to mammalian 5-, 12- and 15-lipoxygenases, would appear to be true also for linoleate-binding to plant 9- and 13-lipoxygenases.     

Isolation of a cDNA clone for pea (Pisum sativum) seed lipoxygenase.

A lipoxygenase cDNA clone, pCD45, was identified in a Pisum sativum L. (pea) seed mRNA cDNA library by hybrid-release/translation followed by immunoprecipitation with antiserum raised against lipoxygenase from Glycine max L. (soya bean). pCD45 hybrid-selected an mRNA encoding the larger of the two polypeptides of Mr approximately 95 000 that were immunoprecipitated from cell-free translation products of pea seed poly(A)-containing RNA by the G. max anti-lipoxygenase. 'Northern'-blot analysis showed the mRNA that hybridized to pCD45 to be approximately 3000 nucleotides in length. Three to five copies of the lipoxygenase gene corresponding to pCD45 were estimated to be present per haploid Pisum genome; hybridization of the cDNA insert from pCD45 to G. max DNA was also detected.     

Immunolocalization of lipoxygenase in pea (Pisum sativum L.) carpels

Summary Polyclonal antibodies against a part of pea (Pisum sativum L.) LOXG protein have been raised to study the pattern of distribution of related lipoxygenases in pea carpels. The antiserum recognized three lipoxygenase polypeptides in carpels. One of them became undetectable 24 hours after fruit development induction, suggesting that it may correspond to the protein derived from loxg cDNA. Immunolocalization experiments showed that lipoxygenase protein was present only in pod tissues: it was abundant in the mesocarp and, from the day of anthesis, in the endocarp layers. Lipoxygenase distribution is regulated throughout development. The association of lipoxygenase with cells in which processes of expansion and growth will potentially take place support a role in pod growth and development.Abbreviations DTT dithiothreitol - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - IgG immunoglobulin G - GA₃ gibberellic acid - LOX lipoxygenase - PAGE polyacrylamide gel - PVDF polyvinylidene difluoride - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - Tris 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol     

Isoenzyme composition and some properties of pea lipoxygenase]

The isoenzyme composition and some properties of lipoxygenase isolated from the seeds and 10-day old sprouts of pea plant were studied. The enzyme activity assay, using gel- and ion-exchange chromatography, disc-electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel, etc. revealed that the plant contains two lipoxygenase systems of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids oxidation. The existence of four lipoxygenase isoenzymes whose combination determines the type of lipoxygenase-catalyzed reactions of linoleic acid oxidation, has been confirmed.     

Molecular cloning and biochemical characterization of a lipoxygenase in almond (Prunus dulcis) seed.

We have characterized an almond (Prunus dulcis) lipoxygenase (LOX) that is expressed early in seed development. The presence of an active lipoxygenase was confirmed by western blot analysis and by measuring the enzymatic activity in microsomal and soluble protein samples purified from almond seeds at this stage of development. The almond lipoxygenase, which had a pH optimum around 6, was identified as a 9-LOX on the basis of the isomers of linoleic acid hydroperoxides produced in the enzymatic reaction. A genomic clone containing a complete lipoxygenase gene was isolated from an almond DNA library. The 6776-bp sequence reported includes an open reading frame of 4667 bp encoding a putative polypeptide of 862 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 98.0 kDa and a predicted pI of 5.61. Almond seed lipoxygenase shows 71% identity with an Arabidopsis LOX1 gene and is closely related to tomato fruit and potato tuber lipoxygenases. The sequence of the active site was consistent with the isolated gene encoding a 9-LOX.     

The effect of light on lipoxygenase activity in dwarf pea seedlings

Continuous illumination of 10-day-old etiolated dwarf pea seedlings caused an increase in lipoxygenase activity. At the same time the activity in both stem and leaf tissue decreased. The lipoxygenase isoenzymes of the whole seedling and separated leaf and stem tissue were affected differently by light. It is concluded that lipoxygenase is not involved directly in photosynthesis or chloroplast development.     

Isolation and characteristics of lipoxygenase isoenzyme from pea seeds]

The individual isoenzyme lipoxygenase-2, a constituent of the heterogeneous lipoxygenase system (EC 1.13.11.12) which catalyzes coupled oxidation of beta-carotene in the presence of linoleic acid, was isolated from pea seeds and its properties were characterized. The isoenzyme has been proved to be homogeneous; some of its kinetic properties, the amino acid composition and the subunit structure have been investigated.     

Inheritance and mapping of seed lipoxygenase polypeptides in Pisum

Summary Analysis of crosses of Pisum lines showing variation in the apparent molecular weight of seed lipoxygenase polypeptides indicates that the genes encoding the two major pea seed lipoxygenase polypeptides are closely linked. The lipoxygenase locus, designated Lox, maps to a position on linkage group 4 between Np and le.     

Soybean seed lipoxygenase genes: molecular characterization and development of molecular marker assays

Soybean seeds contain three lipoxygenase (Lox) enzymes that are controlled by separate genes, Lox1, Lox2 and Lox3. Lipoxygenases play a role in the development of unpleasant flavors in foods containing soybean by oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Null alleles for all three enzymes have been identified, lox1, lox2 and lox3, and are known to be inherited as simple recessive alleles. Previous studies determined that a missense mutation rendered Lox2 inactive; however, the genetic cause of either lox1 or lox3 mutation was not known. The objectives of this study were the molecular characterization of both lox1 and lox3 mutant alleles and the development of molecular markers to accelerate breeding for Lox-free soybean varieties. We identified two independent mutant alleles as the genetic causes of the lack of Lox1 in seeds of two lox1 mutant soybean lines. Similarly, a mutant allele that truncates Lox3 in a lox3 mutant soybean line was identified. Molecular markers were designed and confirmed to distinguish mutant, wild type, and heterozygous individuals for Lox1, Lox2 and Lox3 genes. Genotype and Lox phenotype analysis showed a perfect association between the inheritance of homozygous lox mutant alleles and the lack of Lox activity. Molecular characterization of a seed-lipoxygenase-free soybean line led to the discovery that an induced recombination event within the Lox1 gene was responsible for breaking the tight linkage in repulsion phase between mutant alleles at the Lox1 and Lox2 loci. The molecular resources developed in this work should accelerate the inclusion of the lipoxygenase-free trait in soybean varieties.     

Pisum lipoxygenase genes

Summary The copy number, genomic arrangement and linkage relationships of two classes of lipoxygenase gene have been investigated in Pisum(pea) lines. Each of the two classes contained two to three members in P. sativum lines. RFLPs associated with genomic fragments containing the 5 sequences of one gene class permitted its correlation in genetical analyses with a lipoxygenase locus on linkage group 4, which was previously identified through polypeptide variation. Genetical analyses of RFLPs associated with other fragments identified by low- and medium-stringency hybridization to lipoxygenase cDNAs indicate the existence of other unlinked lipoxygenase gene loci.     

Sequence specificity of the post-translational proteolytic cleavage of vicilin, a seed storage protein of pea (Pisum sativum L.).

Amino acid sequence data from vicilin of pea (Pisum sativum L.) were compared with predicted sequences from complementary DNA species. The sites of potential post-translational proteolytic cleavage of vicilin precursor polypeptides were located in polar regions of the polypeptide, at acidic or amide residues. Proteolysis did not take place in precursors containing a functionally distinct sequence: neutral residue-hydrophobic residue-basic residue at the cleavage site. Differences between the genomic sequences encoding vicilin thus specify proteolytic cleavage of vicilin precursor polypeptides.     

Purification, properties and amino acid sequence of a low-Mr abundant seed protein from pea (Pisum sativum L.).

The seeds of pea (Pisum sativum L.) contain several proteins in the albumin solubility fraction that are significant components of total cotyledonary protein (5-10%) and are accumulated in developing seeds concurrently with storage-protein synthesis. One of these proteins, of low Mr and designated 'Psa LA', has been purified, characterized and sequenced. Psa LA has an Mr of 11000 and contains polypeptides of Mr 6000, suggesting that the protein molecules are dimeric. The amino acid sequence contains 54 residues, with a high content (10/54) of asparagine/aspartate. It has no inhibitory action towards trypsin or chymotrypsin, and is distinct from the inhibitors of those enzymes found in pea seeds, nor does it inhibit hog pancreatic alpha-amylase. The protein contains no methionine, but significant amounts of cysteine (four residues per polypeptide), suggesting a possible role as a sulphur storage protein. However, its sequence is not homologous with low-Mr (2S) storage proteins from castor bean (Ricinus communis) or rape (Brassica napus). Psa LA therefore represents a new type of low-Mr seed protein.     

Expression and secretion of pea-seed lipoxygenase isoenzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary Lipoxygenases (EC 1.13.11.12) catalyse the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic and arachidonic acid into reactive cis/trans hydroperoxidiene intermediates, which then serve as substrates for other enzymes leading to the production of a variety of secondary metabolites. In order to explore the characteristics of the individual lipoxygenase isoenzymes in more detail larger amounts of the pure enzymes are needed and their production in a heterologous host is therefore desirable. Full-length cDNAs encoding pea-seed lipoxygenase isoenzymes 2 and 3 were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the aid of yeast-Escherichia coli shuttle vectors. Expression of the cDNA for lipoxygenase 2 under the control of the constitutive phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene promoter yielded significant amounts of active enzyme inside the cell, both with yeast transformants carrying the cDNA gene on high-copy-number plasmids or integrated in chromosome V. Addition of the yeast invertase signal sequence in front of the pea lipoxygenase 3 yielded secreted active pea-seed lipoxygenase in the medium, but large amounts of inactive lipoxygenase 3 remained inside the yeast cell. Expression of the LOX3 cDNA can be achieved either constitutively with the PGK promoter or inducibly with the GAL1 promoter. Correspondence to: B. Knust