Cloning and sequencing of the gene for type I carboxypeptidase in rice

The Serine Carboxypeptidase-Like Gene SCPL41 Negatively Regulates Membrane Lipid Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana

The Arabidopsis has 51 proteins annotated as serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) enzymes. Although biochemical and cellular characterization indicates SCPLs involved in protein turnover or processing, little is known about their roles in plant metabolism. In this study, we identified an Arabidopsis mutant, bis4 (1-butanol insensitive 4), that was insensitive to the inhibitory effect of 1-butanol on seed germination. We cloned the gene that was defective in bis4 and found that it encoded an SCPL41 protein. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants constitutively expressing SCPL41 were generated, oil body staining and lipidomic assays indicated that SCPL41-overexpressing plants showed a decrease in membrane lipid content, especially digalactosyl diglyceride (DGDG) and monogalactosyl diglyceride (MGDG) contents, while the loss of SCPL41 increased the membrane lipid levels compared with those in wild-type plants. These findings suggested that SCPL41 had acquired novel functions in membrane lipid metabolism.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Serine Carboxypeptidase-Like Acyltransferase Gene Family for Evolution and Characterization of Enzymes Involved in the Biosynthesis of Galloylated Catechins in the Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) leaves synthesize and concentrate a vast array of galloylated catechins (e.g., EGCG and ECG) and non-galloylated catechins (e.g., EGC, catechin, and epicatechin), together constituting 8%-24% of the dry leaf mass. Galloylated catechins account for a major portion of soluble catechins in tea leaves (up to 75%) and make a major contribution to the astringency and bitter taste of the green tea, and their pharmacological activity for human health. However, the catechin galloylation mechanism in tea plants is largely unknown at molecular levels. Previous studies indicated that glucosyltransferases and serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases (SCPL) might be involved in the process. However, details about the roles of SCPLs in the biosynthesis of galloylated catechins remain to be elucidated. Here, we performed the genome-wide identification of SCPL genes in the tea plant genome. Several SCPLs were grouped into clade IA, which encompasses previously characterized SCPL-IA enzymes with an acylation function. Twenty-eight tea genes in this clade were differentially expressed in young leaves and vegetative buds. We characterized three SCPL-IA enzymes (CsSCPL11-IA, CsSCPL13-IA, CsSCPL14-IA) with galloylation activity toward epicatechins using recombinant enzymes. Not only the expression levels of these SCPLIA genes coincide with the accumulation of galloylated catechins in tea plants, but their recombinant enzymes also displayed β-glucogallin:catechin galloyl acyltransferase activity. These findings provide the first insights into the identities of genes encoding glucogallin:catechin galloyl acyltransferases with an active role in the biosynthesis of galloylated catechins in tea plants.

Genome-wide identification, classification and expression analysis of the serine carboxypeptidase-like protein family in poplar

Previous studies have shown that the serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) proteins in several plants play a key part in plant growth, development and stress responses. However, little is known about the functions of the SCPL genes in poplar. We identified 57 SCPL genes and divided into 3 subfamilies, which were unevenly distributed on 19 poplar chromosomes. Gene structure indicated that SCPL genes contain more introns, and motifs of each subfamily were relatively conserved. There were a total of 14 pairs of paralogs, with 6 pairs of these paralogs generated by segmental duplication and 1 generated by tandem duplication. In microsynteny analysis, large-scale duplication events played a key part in the expansion of Carboxypeptidase III genes. Expression of these genes was higher in mature leaf. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that majority of the SCPL genes were induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. PtSCPL27 and PtSCPL40 were located on the cytomembrane by conducting subcellular localization analysis. Our paper provides a theoretical basis for further functional research of PtSCPL genes and will benefit the molecular breeding for resistance to disease in poplar.

Carboxypeptidase I from triticale grains and the hydrolysis of salt-soluble fractions of storage proteins

Carboxypeptidase I was purified from triticale grains (×Triticosecale Wittm.) by a 5-step purification procedure including gel filtration, cation-exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography. The enzyme was purified 595.9 fold with a 1.58% recovery. Triticale carboxypeptidase I is a homodimer with a molecular weight of 124.2 kDa and a subunit weight of 55.2 kDa. Each subunit is composed of two polypeptide chains (33.4 and 21.3 kDa). Serine was found in the active site of triticale carboxypeptidase I; DFP (diisopropylflourophosphate) and other applied inhibitors of serine proteases inhibited the enzyme activity. Triticale carboxypeptidase I hydrolyzes N-CBZ-dipeptide (N-carbobenzoxy-dipeptide) substrates at low pH. N-CBZ-Phe-Ala, N-CBZ-Phe-Leu and N-CBZ-Ala-Met were hydrolyzed with the highest rates. The lowest K(m) value and the highest k(cat)/K(m) ratio were observed for hydrolysis of N-CBZ-Phe-Ala. Studies on the amino acid sequence revealed that the purified enzyme is homologous to carboxypeptidase I from barley. Analyses of conserved regions in the sequence of triticale carboxypeptidase I revealed the presence of Ser, Asp and His that compose the catalytic triad. Intact storage proteins were poor substrates for carboxypeptidases. Carboxypeptidase I together with carboxypeptidase III effectively degraded albumins proteolytically modified by endopeptidase EP8. Modified globulins were degraded at a slower rate, and all three carboxypeptidases were required for a significantly increased activity. Studies of the expression of the carboxypeptidase I gene revealed that the synthesis of the enzyme occurs mainly in the scutellum of the grain. The enzyme is also expressed in the aleurone layer of the grains, although its function in this tissue is unknown.

A rice serine carboxypeptidase-like gene OsBISCPL1 is involved in regulation of defense responses against biotic and oxidative stress

Serine carboxypeptidase-like proteins (SCPLs) comprise a large family of protein hydrolyzing enzymes that play roles in multiple cellular processes. During the course of study aimed at elucidating the molecular basis of induced immunity in rice, a gene, OsBISCPL1, encoding a putative SCPL, was isolated and identified. OsBISCPL1 contains a conserved peptidase S10 domain, serine active site and a signal peptide at N-terminus. OsBISCPL1 is expressed ubiquitously in rice, including roots, stems, leaves and spikes. Expression of OsBISCPL1 in leaves was significantly up-regulated after treatments with benzothiadiazole, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and 1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and also up-regulated in incompatible interactions between rice and the blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants with constitutive expression of OsBISCPL1 were generated and disease resistance assays indicated that the OsBISCPL1-overexpressing plants showed an enhanced disease resistance against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and Alternaria brassicicola. Expression levels of defense-related genes, e.g. PR1, PR2, PR5 and PDF1.2, were constitutively up-regulated in transgenic plants as compared with those in wild-type plants. Furthermore, the OsBISCPL1-overexpressing plants also showed an increased tolerance to oxidative stress and up-regulated expression of oxidative stress-related genes. The results suggest that the OsBISCPL1 may be involved in regulation of defense responses against pathogen infection and oxidative stress.

The serine carboxypeptidase like gene family of rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica)

Serine carboxypeptidases (SCPs) comprise a large family of protein hydrolyzing enzymes and have roles ranging from protein turnover and C-terminal processing to wound responses and xenobiotic metabolism. The proteins can be classified into three groups, namely carboxypeptidase I, II and III, based on their coding protein sequences and the fact that each family is characterized by a central catalytic domain of unique topology designated as the "alpha/beta hydrolase fold". The available SCP protein sequences have been utilized as datasets to build a HMM (hidden Markov model) profile, which is used to search the rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) proteome. A total of 71 SCP and serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) protein-coding genes exist in rice. The intron-exon structure, chromosome localization, expression and characteristics of encoded protein sequences of the 71 putative genes are reviewed.