A folate independent role for cytosolic HPPK/DHPS upon stress in Arabidopsis thaliana

Cytosolic HPPK/DHPS (cytHPPK/DHPS) in Arabidopsis is a functional enzyme with activity similar to its mitochondrial isoform. Genomic complementation of the cytHPPK/DHPS knockout mutant with the wild type gene led to a complete rescue of the stress sensitive mutant phenotype in seed germination tests under abiotic stress conditions. Moreover, over-expression of the gene resulted in higher germination rate under stress as compared to the wild-type, confirming its role in stress resistance. Analysis of folates in seedlings, inflorescence and dry seeds showed unchanged levels in the wild-type, mutant and over-expressor line, upon stress and normal conditions, suggesting a role for cytHPPK/DHPS distinct from folate biosynthesis and a folate-independent stress resistance mechanism. This apparently folate-independent mechanism of stress resistance points towards a possible role of pterins, since the product of HPPK/DHPS is dihydropteroate.