Reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in legume nodules

Reactive oxygen species are a ubiquitous danger for aerobic organisms. This risk is especially elevated in legume root nodules due to the strongly reducing conditions, the high rates of respiration, the tendency of leghemoglobin to autoxidize, the abundance of nonprotein Fe and the presence of several redox proteins that leak electrons to O₂. Consequently, nodules are particularly rich in both quantity and diversity of antioxidant defenses. These include enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) and metabolites such as ascorbate and thiol tripeptides. Nodule antioxidants have been the subject of intensive molecular, biochemical and functional studies that are reviewed here. The emerging theme is that antioxidants are especially critical for the protection and optimal functioning of N₂ fixation. We hypothesize that this protection occurs at least at two levels: the O₂ diffusion barrier in the nodule parenchyma (inner cortex) and the infected cells in the central zone.     

Reactive oxygen species production and antioxidative defense in pea (Pisum sativum L.) root nodules after short-term aluminum treatment

Pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) were treated with 50???M aluminum chloride at pH 4.5 for 2 or 24?h at room temperature. Following treatment, root nodule Al uptake, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS, O ₂ ^?· and H₂O₂), and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POX) were investigated. Aluminum accumulation was found chiefly in the apoplast of the nodule cortex, endodermis and meristem, while the formation of peroxide was detected in the nodule cortex, infection threads and bacteroidal tissue. Further, there were increased levels of superoxide in the meristem and bacteroidal tissue. The activity of SOD (EC 1.15.1.1) and POX (EC 1.11.1.7) increased in the Al-treated nodules and the roots of pea plants, whereas CAT (EC 1.11.1.6) activity decreased. The Al absorbed by the nodules induced ROS production. The POX and SOD are important ROS-scavengers in Al-stressed nodules.     

Developmental regulation of nodule-specific genes in alfalfa root nodules

We have cloned alfalfa nodule-specific cDNAs that code for leghemoglobin (Lb), glutamine synthetase (GS), and three unidentified nodulins. Hybrid-select translation of nodule RNA followed by 2-D gel electrophoresis showed that the Lb-specific cDNA corresponded to at least four Lb species of 12 kDa. One of the unidentified cDNA clones (N-32/34) corresponded to at least five polypeptides of 32-34 kDa; a second unidentified cDNA clone (N-14) corresponded to an individual polypeptide of 14 kDa. The in vitro translation product(s) of the RNA hybrid selected by the third unidentified cDNA clone (N-22) formed a single band at 22 kDa on a one-dimensional gel. Northern and dot blot analyses of RNA isolated from wild-type nodules and from defective nodules elicited by a variety of Rhizobium meliloti mutants showed that 1) RNAs corresponding to the Lb, nodule-specific GS, and three unidentified nodulins were coordinately expressed during the course of nodule development, and 2) all five nodulins were expressed in Fix- nodules that contained infection threads and bacteroids but were not expressed in nodules that lacked infection threads and intracellular rhizobia.     

Purification and properties of caffeic acid O-methyltransferase from alfalfa root nodules

An O-methyltransferase which catalyses the methylation of caffeic acid to ferulic acid using S-adenosyl-l-methionine as methyl donor has been isolated and purified ca 70-fold from root nodules of alfalfa. The enzyme also catalysed the methylation of 5-hydroxyferulic acid. Chromatography on 1,6-diaminohexane agarose (AH-Sepharose-4B) linked with S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH) gave 35% recovery of enzyme activity. The K_m values for caffeic acid and S-adenosyl-l-methionine were 58 and 4.1 μM, respectively. S-Adenosyl-l-homocysteine was a potent competitive inhibitor of S-adenosyl-l-methionine with a K_i of 0.44 μM. The MW of the enzyme was ca 103 000 determined by gel filtration chromatography.     

Reactive oxygen species and root hairs in Arabidopsis root response to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium deficiency

Plant root sensing and adaptation to changes in the nutrient status of soils is vital for long-term productivity and growth. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to play a role in root response to potassium deprivation. To determine the role of ROS in plant response to nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency, studies were conducted using wild-type Arabidopsis and several root hair mutants. The expression of several nutrient-responsive genes was determined by Northern blot, and ROS were quantified and localized in roots. The monitored genes varied in intensity and timing of expression depending on which nutrient was deficient. In response to nutrient deprivation, ROS concentrations increased in specific regions of the Arabidopsis root. Changes in ROS localization in Arabidopsis and in a set of root hair mutants suggest that the root hair cells are important for response to nitrogen and potassium. In contrast, the response to phosphorus deprivation occurs in the cortex where an increase in ROS was measured. Based on these results, we put forward the hypothesis that root hair cells in Arabidopsis contain a sensing system for nitrogen and potassium deprivation.     

Nitrate and nitrite reduction in the plant fraction of alfalfa root nodules

The plant fraction of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L. cv. Aragon) nodules contained both nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR). Specific activity of NADH-NR from the cytosol of nodules not treated with NO₃- was about 30 nmol (mg protein)^-1-h^-1 and was not basically affected by NO₃ addition. In contrast, typical specific activity for cytosolic NiR was 1.5 umol (mg protein)^-1h^-1 using methyl viologen as electron donor. This activity strongly increased with NO₃ concentration, probably due to substrate induction. Maximal activity was 3.5 μmol (mg protein)^-1h^-1 at 50 to 200 mM NO₃.
Estimates indicate that the contribution of cytosol to the overall NR and NiR activities of alfalfa nodules is distinctly different: less than 10% and about 70%, respectively. The increasing amounts of NO₂ accumulating in the cytosol upon NO₃, supply, and the different response to NO₃ of bacteroid and cytosolic NRs support the concept that most of this NO₂ comes from the bacteroids.     

Influence of root structure on root survivorship: an analysis of 18 tree species using a minirhizotron method

Fine root survivorship is an important aspect of root ecology and is known to be influenced by a suite of covariates. However, the relative importance of each covariate on root survivorship is not clear. Here, we used minirhizotron-based data from 18 woody species to evaluate the relative strength of influence on root survivorship by root diameter, branch order, soil depth, and season of root birth, and to examine how the relationship between each covariate and root survivorship differed across species. We extracted hazard ratio estimates for 16 species from published studies that performed Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, and from our own unpublished data for two Chinese temperate tree species. The mean change in hazard ratio (CHR) and corresponding coefficient of variation for each factor were calculated across species. On average, root diameter and season of root birth had stronger effects on root survivorship than branch order and soil depth. However, the effects of season varied with species and were stronger in temperate forests, whereas the influence of diameter and order were relatively consistent across species. These results suggest that root structures such as diameter and branch order should be carefully considered in root classification and sampling, and adding season of birth (particularly in temperate forests) as a covariate in root survivorship analysis should further enhance our ability in achieving a better understanding of root demography and more accurate estimates of root turnover in forests of different climate zones.     

Reactive oxygen species and the modulation of stroke

Reactive oxygen species and oxidative state are slowly gaining acceptance in having a physiological relevance rather than just being the culprits in pathophysiological processes. The control of the redox environment of the cell provides for additional regulation in relation to critical cellular signal transduction pathways. Conversely, aberrant regulation of oxidative state manifesting as oxidative stress can predispose a cell to adverse outcome. The PI3-kinase/Akt pathway is one such pathway that is partially regulated via oxidative state and, in an oxidative stress paradigm such as ischemic reperfusion injury, may be inactivated, which can lead to potentiation and or exacerbation of cell death. Activation of NF(kappa)B has also been associated with oxidative stress. The role of NF(kappa)B in neuronal cell death is widely debated, with major studies highlighting both a pro- and an antiapoptotic role for NF(kappa)B with the outcome being region, stimulus, dose, and duration specific. This review hopes to make clear that oxidative state plays a key role in the regulation and control of numerous signal transduction pathways in the cell and that elucidating the mechanisms behind oxidative stress-mediated neuronal cell death is important in identifying potential putative targets for the treatment of neuropathologies such as stroke.     

Reactive oxygen species in regulation of fungal development

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed by fungi in the course of metabolic activity. ROS production increases in fungi due to various stress agents such as starvation, light, mechanical damage, and interactions with some other living organisms. Regulation of ROS level appears to be very important during development of the fungal organism. ROS sources in fungal cells, their sensors, and ROS signal transduction pathways are discussed in this review. Antioxidant defense systems in different classes of fungi are characterized in detail. Particular emphasis is placed on ROS functions in interactions of phytopathogenic fungi with plant cells.     

Reactive oxygen species as mediators of cell adhesion

The intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has a fundamental importance in both cell proliferation and apoptosis induction. Moreover, many experimental and epidemiological evidence indicate that ROS contribute to the initiation and promotion of carcinogenesis, and that drugs or treatments aimed to reduce the tissue content of ROS can be chemopreventive and curative against cancer. Recently, important observations on the role of ROS as physiological regulators of intracellular signaling cascades activated by growth factors through their tyrosine-kinase receptors have shed new light on the possible mechanisms that can sustain the promoting activity of ROS. The downstream effect of ROS production is the reversible oxidation of proteins. Redox sensitive proteins include protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) as the active-site cysteine is the target of specific oxidation, and this modification can be reversed by intracellular reducing agents. The reversible oxidation of PTPs family member was demonstrated firstly for PTP1B during EGF signaling and then for LMW-PTP and SHP-2 during PDGF stimulation. The inhibition exerted by ROS on tyrosine-phosphatases helps the propagation of RTK signals mediated by protein tyrosine phosphorylation, generally associated with the proliferative stimulus. Our new data are consistent with a model in which ROS take a role in integrin signaling, and in which synergistic activation of Rac-1 by growth factors and adhesion molecules translates in a critical increase of intracellular oxidants up to a threshold level where inhibition of the tyrosine phosphatase LMW-PTP takes place. In seeking for potential molecular mechanisms for oxidative signaling by integrins, we found that transient oxidation/inactivation of LMW-PTP, a known negative regulator of RTK signaling, occurred during fibroblast adhesion to matrix, with a kinetic which paralleled the generation of ROS. Moreover, overexpression of LMW-PTP in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts delayed cell attachment to the substrate. Finally, constitutively high levels of intracellular ROS, as are observed in cells expressing active Rac, would attenuate anchorage dependence for growth, by substituting for integrin signaling in non adherent cells.     

Reactive oxygen species as mediators of cellular senescence

Aging has often been viewed as a random process arising from the accumulation of both genetic and epigenetic changes. Increasingly, the notion that aging is a stochastic process is being supplanted by the concept that maximum lifespan of an organism is tightly regulated. This knowledge has led to a growing overlap between classical signal transduction paradigms and the biology of aging. We review certain specific examples where these seemingly disparate disciplines intersect. In particular, we review the concept that intracellular reactive oxygen species function as signalling molecules and that oxidants play a central role as mediators of cellular senescence.     

Global regulation of reactive oxygen species scavenging genes in alfalfa root and shoot under gradual drought stress and recovery

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and scavenging in plants under drought stress have been studied intensively in recent years. Here we report a global analysis of gene expression for the major ROS generating and scavenging proteins in alfalfa root and shoot under gradual drought stress followed by one-day recovery. Data from two alfalfa varieties, one drought tolerant and one drought sensitive, were compared and no qualitative differences in ROS gene regulation between the two were found. Conserved, tissue-specific patterns of gene expression in response to drought were observed for several ROS-scavenging gene families, including ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and peroxiredoxin. In addition, differential gene expression within families was observed. Genes for the ROS-generating enzyme, NADPH oxidase were generally induced under drought, while those for glycolate oxidase were repressed. Among the ROS-scavenging protein genes, Ferritin, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the majority of the glutathione peroxidase family members were induced under drought in both roots and shoots of both alfalfa varieties. In contrast, Fe-SOD, CC-type glutaredoxins, and thoiredoxins were downregulated.     

Mathematical modeling of oxygen diffusion and respiration in legume root nodules

The O₂ permeability of legume root nodules is under physiological control; decreases in permeability are triggered by various forms of stress. Two linked mathematical models were used to explore several hypotheses concerning the physical nature of the variable diffusion barrier in nodules. Respiration and diffusion of dissolved O₂ and oxygenated leghemoglobin were simulated for the nodule cortex and the nodule interior. Measured nodule permeabilities were shown to be inconsistent with the hypothesis that large numbers of air-filled pores penetrate the diffusion barrier. Changes in the affinity of leghemoglobin for O₂ or in the rate of cytoplasmic streaming in diffusion barrier cells did not result in the large changes in O₂ permeability reported for real nodules. The presence or absence, but not the thickness, of aqueous plugs in radial pores through the cortex was found to have a large effect on permeability. Flooding of intercellular spaces, either between layers of cells in the cortex or in the nodule interior, also caused large changes in simulated permeability. The unsteady-state O₂ method for determining nodule permeability was tested using data generated by the model. The accuracy of the method was confirmed, provided that certain assumptions (full oxygenation of leghemoglobin under pure O₂ and uniform conditions in the nodule interior) are met.     

Nitrate and nitrite reduction by alfalfa root nodules: Accumulation of nitrite in Rhizobium melioti bacteroids and senescence of nodules

Addition of NO⁻₃ rapidly induced senescence of root nodules in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L. cv. Aragon). Loss of nodule dry matter began at the lowest NO⁻₃ concentration (10 m M ) but degradation of bacteroid proteins was only detected when nodules were supplied with NO⁻₃ concentrations above 20 m M .
Bacteroids from Rhizobium meliloti contained high specific activities of nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR). Both enzymes were presumably substrate-induced although substantial enzyme activities were present in the absence of NO⁻₃ Typical specific activities for soluble NR and NiR of bacteroids under NO⁻₃ free conditions were 1.2 and 1.4 μmol (mg protein)⁻¹h⁻¹, respectively. In the presence of NO⁻₃, the specific activity of NR was considerably greater than that of NiR, thus causing NO⁻₂ accumulation in bacteroids. Nitrite levels in the bacteroids were linearly correlated with specific activities of NR and NiR, indicating that NO⁻₂ is formed by bacteroid NR and that this NO⁻₂ in turn, induces bacteroid NiR. Accumulation of NO⁻₂ within bacteroids also indicates that NO⁻₂ inhibits nodule activity after feeding plants with NO⁻₃