Cloning two genes for nicotianamine aminotransferase, a critical enzyme in iron acquisition (Strategy II) in graminaceous plants

Nicotianamine aminotransferase (NAAT), the key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of mugineic acid family phytosiderophores (MAs), catalyzes the amino transfer of nicotianamine (NA). MAs are found only in graminaceous plants, although NA has been detected in every plant so far investigated. Therefore, this amino transfer reaction is the first step in the unique biosynthesis of MAs that has evolved in graminaceous plants. NAAT activity is dramatically induced by Fe deficiency and suppressed by Fe resupply. Based on the protein sequence of NAAT purified from Fe-deficient barley (Hordeum vulgare) roots, two distinct cDNA clones encoding NAAT, naat-A and naat-B, were identified. Their deduced amino acid sequences were homologous to several aminotransferases, and shared consensus sequences for the pyridoxal phosphate-binding site lysine residue and its surrounding residues. The expression of both naat-A and naat-B is increased in Fe-deficient barley roots, while naat-B has a low level of constitutive expression in Fe-sufficient barley roots. No detectable mRNA from either naat-A or naat-B was present in the leaves of either Fe-deficient or Fe-sufficient barley. One genomic clone with a tandem array of naat-B and naat-A in this order was identified. naat-B and naat-A each have six introns at the same locations. The isolation of NAAT genes will pave the way to understanding the mechanism of the response to Fe in graminaceous plants, and may lead to the development of cultivars tolerant to Fe deficiency that can grow in calcareous soils.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of plant class I chitinase from rice

We report here on crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of plant class I chitinase from rice (OsChia1b). Similar single crystals of full-length OsChia1b were obtained under two independent conditions. The crystals grown under these conditions diffracted up to 2.1 and 2.5 angstroms resolution, respectively, at a synchrotron beamline, and were found to belong to the tetragonal space group P4(3)2(1)2.     

The composition of newly synthesized proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum determines the transport pathways of soybean seed storage proteins

Glycinin (11S) and beta-conglycinin (7S) are major storage proteins in soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds and accumulate in the protein storage vacuole (PSV). These proteins are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the PSV by vesicles. Electron microscopic analysis of developing soybean cotyledons of the wild type and mutants with storage protein composition different from that of the wild type showed that there are two transport pathways: one is via the Golgi and the other bypasses it. Golgi-derived vesicles were observed in all lines used in this study and formed smooth dense bodies with a diameter of 0.5 to several micrometers. ER-derived protein bodies (PBs) with a diameter of 0.3-0.5 microm were observed at high frequency in the mutants containing higher amount of 11S group I subunit than the wild type, whereas they were hardly observed in the mutants lacking 11S group I subunit. These indicate that pro11S group I may affect the formation of PBs. Thus, the composition of newly synthesized proteins in the ER is important in the selection of the transport pathways.     

Experimental horizontal transmission of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Infection by viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) has recently occurred among wild and farmed Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in Japan. In the present study, horizontal transmission of VHSV among Japanese flounder was experimentally demonstrated by immersion challenge. Exposure to a flounder isolate (Obama25) of VHSV revealed a dose-response, with higher mortality (81 and 70%) at the 2 higher exposure levels (6.0 and 4.0 log10 TCID50 ml(-1)). In a second experiment, high titers of VHSV were expressed from moribund and dead flounder based on virus detection in holding-tank waters 2 to 3 d prior to death of the fish and 1 d after death. The virus could not be detected in tank waters 2 d after death. Finally, a third cohabitation experiment in small tanks demonstrated horizontal transmission of VHSV from experimentally infected to uninfected fish.     

The cytoplasmic male-sterile type and normal type mitochondrial genomes of sugar beet share the same complement of genes of known function but differ in the content of expressed ORFs

The complete nucleotide sequence (501,020 bp) of the mitochondrial genome from cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) sugar beet was determined. This enabled us to compare the sequence with that previously published for the mitochondrial genome of normal, male-fertile sugar beet. The comparison revealed that the two genomes have the same complement of genes of known function. The rRNA and tRNA genes encoded in the CMS mitochondrial genome share 100% sequence identity with their respective counterparts in the normal genome. We found a total of 24 single nucleotide substitutions in 11 protein genes encoded by the CMS mitochondrial genome. However, none of these seems to be responsible for male sterility. In addition, several other ORFs were found to be actively transcribed in sugar beet mitochondria. Among these, Norf246 was observed to be present in the normal mitochondrial genome but absent from the CMS genome. However, it seems unlikely that the loss of Norf246 is causally related to the expression of CMS, because previous studies on mitochondrial translation products failed to detect the product of this ORF. Conversely, the CMS genome contains four transcribed ORFs (Satp6presequence, Scox2-2 , Sorf324 and Sorf119) which are missing from the normal genome. These ORFs, which are potential candidates for CMS genes, were shown to be generated by mitochondrial genome rearrangements.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at Communicated by R. Hagemann     

Hydroxyl radical generation caused by the reaction of singlet oxygen with a spin trap, DMPO, increases significantly in the presence of biological reductants

Photosensitizers newly developed for photodynamic therapy of cancer need to be assessed using accurate methods of measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS). Little is known about the characteristics of the reaction of singlet oxygen (₁O₂) with spin traps, although this knowledge is necessary in electron spin resonance (ESR)/spin trapping. In the present study, we examined the effect of various reductants usually present in biological samples on the reaction of ₁O₂ with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). The ESR signal of the hydroxyl radical (•OH) adduct of DMPO (DMPO-OH) resulting from ₁O₂-dependent generation of •OH strengthened remarkably in the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH), 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox), ascorbic acid, NADPH, etc. A similar increase was observed in the photosensitization of uroporphyrin (UP), rose bengal (RB) or methylene blue (MB). Use of 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO) as a spin trap significantly lessened the production of its •OH adduct (DEPMPO-OH) in the presence of the reductants. The addition of DMPO to the DEPMPO-spin trapping system remarkably increased the signal intensity of DEPMPO-OH. DMPO-mediated generation of •OH was also confirmed utilizing the hydroxylation of salicylic acid (SA). These results suggest that biological reductants enhance the ESR signal of DMPO-OH produced by DMPO-mediated generation of •OH from ₁O₂, and that spin trap-mediated •OH generation hardly occurs with DEPMPO.     

ecNOS gene polymorphism is associated with endothelium-dependent vasodilation in Type 2 diabetes

The association between endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) gene polymorphism and vascular endothelial function has not been clarified. We investigated the impact of ecNOS gene polymorphism on endothelial function in 95 patients with Type 2 diabetes (ecNOS genotype: 4b/b, n = 62; 4b/a, n = 30; 4a/a, n = 3). Flow-mediated (endothelium dependent, FMD) and nitroglycerin-induced (endothelium independent, NTG) vasodilations of the right brachial artery were studied using a phase-locked echotracking system. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics among the ecNOS genotypes. The FMD was significantly lower in the patients with ecNOS4a allele than in those without ecNOS4a allele (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that ecNOS4a allele and mean blood pressure were significant independent determinants for reduced FMD in all patients (R(2) = 0.122, P = 0.0025). The ecNOS4a allele was an independent determinant for reduced FMD in smokers but not in nonsmokers. These results suggest that ecNOS4a allele is a genetic risk factor for endothelial dysfunction in diabetic patients, especially in smokers.     

Diversity of mercury resistance determinants among Bacillus strains isolated from sediment of Minamata Bay

Thirty mercury-resistant (Hg R) Bacillus strains were isolated from mercury-polluted sediment of Minamata Bay, Japan. Mercury resistance phenotypes were classified into broad-spectrum (resistant to inorganic Hg(2+) and organomercurials) and narrow-spectrum (resistant to inorganic Hg(2+) and sensitive to organomercurials) groups. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product sizes and the restriction nuclease site maps of mer operon regions from all broad-spectrum Hg R Bacillus were identical to that of Bacillus megaterium MB1. On the other hand, the PCR products of the targeted merP (extracellular mercury-binding protein gene) and merA (intracellular mercury reductase protein gene) regions from the narrow-spectrum Hg R Bacillus were generally smaller than those of the B. megaterium MB1 mer determinant. Diversity of gene structure configurations was also observed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles of the merA PCR products from the narrow-spectrum Hg R Bacillus. The genetic diversity of narrow-spectrum mer operons was greater than that of broad-spectrum ones.     

Three nicotianamine synthase genes isolated from maize are differentially regulated by iron nutritional status

Nicotianamine synthase (NAS) is an enzyme that is critical for the biosynthesis of the mugineic acid family of phytosiderophores in graminaceous plants, and for the homeostasis of metal ions in nongraminaceous plants. We isolated one genomic NAS clone, ZmNAS3, and two cDNA NAS clones, ZmNAS1 and ZmNAS2, from maize (Zea mays cv Alice). In agreement with the increased secretion of phytosiderophores with Fe deficiency, ZmNAS1 and ZmNAS2 were positively expressed only in Fe-deficient roots. In contrast, ZmNAS3 was expressed under Fe-sufficient conditions, and was negatively regulated by Fe deficiency. This is the first report describing down-regulation of NAS gene expression in response to Fe deficiency in plants, shedding light on the role of nicotianamine in graminaceous plants, other than as a precursor in phytosiderophore production. ZmNAS1-green fluorescent protein (sGFP) and ZmNAS2-sGFP were localized at spots in the cytoplasm of onion (Allium cepa) epidermal cells, whereas ZmNAS3-sGFP was distributed throughout the cytoplasm of these cells. ZmNAS1 and ZmNAS3 showed NAS activity in vitro, whereas ZmNAS2 showed none. Due to its duplicated structure, ZmNAS2 was much larger (65.8 kD) than ZmNAS1, ZmNAS3, and previously characterized NAS proteins (30-38 kD) from other plant species. We reveal that maize has two types of NAS proteins based on their expression pattern and subcellular localization.