PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE protects enolase dysfunction by repairing isoaspartyl-induced damage and is positively implicated in agronomically important seed traits

The protein-repairing enzyme (PRE) PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE (PIMT) influences seed vigor by repairing isoaspartyl-mediated protein damage in seeds. However, PIMTs function in other seed traits, and the mechanisms by which PIMT affects such seed traits are still poorly understood. Herein, through molecular, biochemical, and genetic studies using overexpression and RNAi lines in Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana, we demonstrate that PIMT not only affects seed vigor but also affects seed size and weight by modulating enolase (ENO) activity. We have identified ENO2, a glycolytic enzyme, as a PIMT interacting protein through Y2H cDNA library screening, and this interaction was further validated by BiFC and co-immunoprecipitation assay. We show that mutation or suppression of ENO2 expression results in reduced seed vigor, seed size, and weight. We also proved that ENO2 undergoes isoAsp modification that affects its activity in both in vivo and in vitro conditions. Further, using MS/MS analyses, amino acid residues that undergo isoAsp modification in ENO2 were identified. We also demonstrate that PIMT repairs such isoAsp modification in ENO2 protein, protecting its vital cellular functions during seed maturation and storage, and plays a vital role in regulating seed size, weight, and seed vigor. Taken together, our study identified ENO2 as a novel substrate of PIMT, and both ENO2 and PIMT in turn implicate in agronomically important seed traits.

The Arabidopsis F-box protein SKP1-INTERACTING PARTNER 31 modulates seed maturation and seed vigor by targeting JASMONATE ZIM DOMAIN proteins independently of jasmonic acid-isoleucine

F-box proteins have diverse functions in eukaryotic organisms, including plants, mainly targeting proteins for 26S proteasomal degradation. Here, we demonstrate the role of the F-box protein SKP1-INTERACTING PARTNER 31 (SKIP31) from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) in regulating late seed maturation events, seed vigor, and viability through biochemical and genetic studies using skip31 mutants and different transgenic lines. We show that SKIP31 is predominantly expressed in seeds and that SKIP31 interacts with JASMONATE ZIM DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins, key repressors in jasmonate (JA) signaling, directing their ubiquitination for proteasomal degradation independently of coronatine/jasmonic acid-isoleucine (JA-Ile), in contrast to CORONATINE INSENSITIVE 1, which sends JAZs for degradation in a coronatine/JA-Ile dependent manner. Moreover, JAZ proteins interact with the transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE 5 (ABI5) and repress its transcriptional activity, which in turn directly or indirectly represses the expression of downstream genes involved in the accumulation of LATE EMBRYOGENESIS ABUNDANT proteins, protective metabolites, storage compounds, and abscisic acid biosynthesis. However, SKIP31 targets JAZ proteins, deregulates ABI5 activity, and positively regulates seed maturation and consequently seed vigor. Furthermore, ABI5 positively influences SKIP31 expression, while JAZ proteins repress ABI5-mediated transactivation of SKIP31 and exert feedback regulation. Taken together, our findings reveal the role of the SKIP31-JAZ-ABI5 module in seed maturation and consequently, establishment of seed vigor.

CONSTANS, a key-player connecting day length to seed size

Plants sense oscillation in the day length as a reliable seasonal cue to drive optimal vegetative and reproductive growth. A recent study by Yu et al. has revealed how day length regulates seed size through CONSTANS. The CONSTANS-APETALA2 module enables plants to optimize their reproductive growth based on their photoperiod response type.

Seed germination variability: Why do genetically identical seeds not germinate at the same moment?

For survival in the wild environment, plants prefer a bet-hedging strategy where individual variation is high and also produce a range of phenotypes. When faced with unpredictable environmental conditions, fluctuation in seed behaviour is a beneficial trait that allows the survival of plants, particularly if seedlings from early germinated seeds don't survive. However, this is not a desired trait when agriculture is concerned, where a set of uniformly grown seedlings are required. Even though variability in seed behaviour is unavoidable, over the centuries, humans might have selected seeds with minimum variability for agricultural use. In the model plant Arabidopsis, non-stratified seeds even in the same silique germinate variably. How this variability is manifested from genes to a physiological outcome and what molecular mechanism of bet-hedging facilitates this diversity remains elusive. Will the reintroduction of valuable wild alleles in domesticated crops contribute to this variability between individual seeds by promotion of bet-hedging? Recent advances have shed light on possible molecular pathways of germination that are impacted at the level of single seeds and single cells. Here, we review the hormonal, molecular and cellular mechanisms that may impact the germination outcome of individual genetically identical seeds.

Phy meets ERFs to regulate seed germination

The complex process of seed germination is impacted heavily by environmental cues, such as light, mediated via photosensory systems and phytochromes. This pathway was discovered a long time ago, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Li et al. recently showed how ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTORs (ERFs) modulate phytochrome-mediated regulation of germination.

Protein l-isoAspartyl Methyltransferase (PIMT) and antioxidants in plants

All life forms, including plants, accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a byproduct of metabolism; however, environmental stresses, including abiotic stresses and pathogen attacks, cause enhanced accumulation of ROS in plants. The increased accumulation of ROS often causes oxidative damage to cells. Organisms are able to maintain levels of ROS below permissible limits by several mechanisms, including efficient antioxidant systems. In addition to antioxidant systems, recent studies suggest that protein l-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT), a highly conserved protein repair enzyme across evolutionary diverse organisms, plays a critical role in maintaining ROS homeostasis by repairing isoaspartyl-mediated damage to antioxidants in plants. Under stress conditions, antioxidant proteins undergo spontaneous isoaspartyl (isoAsp) modification which is often detrimental to protein structure and function. This reduces the catalytic action of antioxidants and disturbs the ROS homeostasis of cells. This chapter focuses on PIMT and its interaction with antioxidants in plants, where PIMT constitutes a secondary level of protection by shielding a primary level of antioxidants from dysfunction and permitting them to guard during unfavorable situations.

Methionine sulfoxide reductase B5 plays a key role in preserving seed vigor and longevity in rice (Oryza sativa)

Oxidation of methionine leads to the formation of methionine S-sulfoxide and methionine R-sulfoxide, which can be reverted by two types of methionine sulfoxide reductase (MSR): MSRA and MSRB. Though the role of MSR enzymes has been elucidated in various physiological processes, the regulation and role of MSR in seeds remains poorly understood. In this study, through molecular, biochemical, and genetic studies using seed-specific overexpression and RNAi lines of OsMSRB5 in Oryza sativa, we demonstrate the role of OsMSRB5 in maintaining seed vigor and longevity. We show that an age-induced reduction in the vigor and viability of seeds is correlated with reduced MSR activity and increased methionine sulfoxide (MetSO) formation. OsMSRB5 expression increases during seed maturation and is predominantly localized to the embryo. Further analyses on transgenic lines reveal the role of OsMSRB5 in modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis to preserve seed vigor and longevity. We show that ascorbate peroxidase and PROTEIN l-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE undergo MetSO modification in seeds that affects their functional competence. OsMSRB5 physically interacts with these proteins and reverts this modification to facilitate their functions and preserve seed vigor and longevity. Our results thus illustrate the role of OsMSRB5 in preserving seed vigor and longevity by modulating ROS homeostasis in seeds.

Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs): role in seed vigor and longevity

Seed vigor and longevity are important agronomic attributes, as they are essentially associated with crop yield and thus the global economy. Seed longevity is a measure of seed viability and the most essential property in gene bank management since it affects regeneration of seed recycling. Reduced seed life or storability is a serious issue in seed storage since germplasm conservation and agricultural enhancement initiatives rely on it. The irreversible and ongoing process of seed deterioration comprises a complex gene regulatory network and altered metabolism that results in membrane damage, DNA integrity loss, mitochondrial dysregulation, protein damage, and disrupted antioxidative machinery. Carbohydrates and/or sugars, primarily raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), have emerged as feasible components for boosting or increasing seed vigor and longevity in recent years. RFOs are known to perform diverse functions in plants, including abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, besides being involved in regulating seed germination, desiccation tolerance, vigor, and longevity. We emphasized and analyzed the potential impact of RFOs on seed vigor and longevity in this review. Here, we comprehensively reviewed the molecular mechanisms involved in seed longevity, RFO metabolism, and how RFO content is critical and linked with seed vigor and longevity. Further molecular basis, biotechnological approaches, and CRISPR/Cas applications have been discussed briefly for the improvement of seed attributes and ultimately crop production. Likewise, we suggest advancements, challenges, and future possibilities in this area.

Emerging roles of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in enhancing crop yield by optimizing seed agronomic traits

Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has the potential to modulate crop productivity by influencing agronomic traits. Being sessile, the plant often uses the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to maintain the stability of different regulatory proteins to survive in an ever-changing environment. The ubiquitin system influences plant reproduction, growth, development, responses to the environment, and processes that control critical agronomic traits. E3 ligases are the major players in this pathway, and they are responsible for recognizing and tagging the targets/substrates. Plants have a variety of E3 ubiquitin ligases, whose functions have been studied extensively, ranging from plant growth to defense strategies. Here we summarize three agronomic traits influenced by ubiquitination: seed size and weight, seed germination, and accessory plant agronomic traits particularly panicle architecture, tillering in rice, and tassels branch number in maize. This review article highlights some recent progress on how the ubiquitin system influences the stability/modification of proteins that determine seed agronomic properties like size, weight, germination and filling, and ultimately agricultural productivity and quality. Further research into the molecular basis of the aforementioned processes might lead to the identification of genes that could be modified or selected for crop development. Likewise, we also propose advances and future perspectives in this regard.

Arabidopsis ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE4 targets PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE1 in seed

Arabidopsis ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE4 (ABI4) positively regulates the protein repairing enzyme (PRE) PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (PIMT1) in seed for its implication in seed vigor and longevity. PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE (PIMT) is a protein repairing enzyme (PRE) and is implicated in seed vigor and longevity. PIMT has been shown to be induced by ABA, however, its detailed regulation by ABA signaling components is unknown. Herein, we report that ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE4 (ABI4) directly binds to the PIMT1 promoter and regulates its expression in Arabidopsis seeds. AtPIMT1 promoter analysis demonstrated the presence of putative ABI4 binding sites. Our Y1H analysis revealed that AtABI4 transcription factor binds to the AtPIMT1 promoter. Dual luciferase assay also demonstrated the binding of the AtABI4 transcription factor to the AtPIMT1 promoter. Subsequently, we have generated AtPIMT1 promoter GUS lines and revealed that ABA induced expression of GUS in Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression analyses exhibited reduced accumulation of PIMT1 protein and transcript with significant reduction in total PIMT activity in abi4-1 mutants as compared to that of the wild type. The AtPIMT1 promoter GUS expression in abi4-1 mutants was also found to be severely affected in both the control and ABA treatment. Hence, through molecular and genetic evidences we show that the AtABI4 plays a central role in regulating the expression of AtPIMT1 to impart seed vigor and longevity to orthodox seeds.

ABI transcription factors and PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE module mediate seed desiccation tolerance and longevity in Oryza sativa

In contrast to desiccation-tolerant orthodox seeds, recalcitrant seeds are desiccation sensitive and are unable to survive for a prolonged time. Here, our analyses of Oryza species with contrasting seed desiccation tolerance reveals that PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE (PIMT), an enzyme that repairs abnormal isoaspartyl (isoAsp) residues in proteins, acts as a key player that governs seed desiccation tolerance to orthodox seeds but is ineffective in recalcitrant seeds. We observe that, unlike the orthodox seed of Oryza sativa, desiccation intolerance of the recalcitrant seeds of Oryza coarctata are linked to reduced PIMT activity and increased isoAsp accumulation due to the lack of coordinated action of ABA and ABI transcription factors to upregulate PIMT during maturation. We show that suppression of PIMT reduces, and its overexpression increases, seed desiccation tolerance and seed longevity in O. sativa. Our analyses further reveal that the ABI transcription factors undergo isoAsp formation that affect their functional competence; however, PIMT interacts with and repairs isoAsp residues and facilitates their functions. Our results thus illustrate a new insight into the mechanisms of acquisition of seed desiccation tolerance and longevity by ABI transcription factors and the PIMT module.

Chromatin-Based Transcriptional Reprogramming in Plants under Abiotic Stresses

Plants' stress response machinery is characterized by an intricate network of signaling cascades that receive and transmit environmental cues and ultimately trigger transcriptional reprogramming. The family of epigenetic regulators that are the key players in the stress-induced signaling cascade comprise of chromatin remodelers, histone modifiers, DNA modifiers and regulatory non-coding RNAs. Changes in the histone modification and DNA methylation lead to major alterations in the expression level and pattern of stress-responsive genes to adjust with abiotic stress conditions namely heat, cold, drought and salinity. The spotlight of this review falls primarily on the chromatin restructuring under severe abiotic stresses, crosstalk between epigenetic regulators along with a brief discussion on stress priming in plants.

RNA Interference for Improving Disease Resistance in Plants and Its Relevance in This Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-Dominated Era in Terms of dsRNA-Based Biopesticides

RNA interference (RNAi) has been exploited by scientists worldwide to make a significant contribution in the arena of sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management. These strategies are of an imperative need to guarantee food security for the teeming millions globally. The already established deleterious effects of chemical pesticides on human and livestock health have led researchers to exploit RNAi as a potential agri-biotechnology tool to solve the burning issue of agricultural wastage caused by pests and pathogens. On the other hand, CRISPR/Cas9, the latest genome-editing tool, also has a notable potential in this domain of biotic stress resistance, and a constant endeavor by various laboratories is in progress for making pathogen-resistant plants using this technique. Considerable outcry regarding the ill effects of genetically modified (GM) crops on the environment paved the way for the research of RNAi-induced double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) and their application to biotic stresses. Here, we mainly focus on the application of RNAi technology to improve disease resistance in plants and its relevance in today's CRISPR-dominated world in terms of exogenous application of dsRNAs. We also focused on the ongoing research, public awareness, and subsequent commercialization of dsRNA-based biocontrol products.

JA Shakes Hands with ABA to Delay Seed Germination

Seed germination is a multifaceted process, controlled by many cues, wherein phytohormones play a central role. Despite extensive studies, it remains obscure how hormonal balance and crosstalk between hormones regulate seed germination. Here we highlight new findings showing that crosstalk between jasmonates (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA) delays seed germination.

Deciphering the structural basis of the broad substrate specificity of myo-inositol monophosphatase (IMP) from Cicer arietinum

Myo-inositol monophosphatase (IMP) is a crucial enzyme in the inositol biosynthetic pathway that dephosphorylates myo-inositol 1-phosphate and other inositol phosphate derivative compounds to maintain the homeostasis of cellular inositol pool. In our previous research, we have biochemically and functionally characterized IMP enzyme from chickpea (CaIMP), which was able to catalyze diverse substrates. We cloned, overexpressed recombinant CaIMP protein and purified it and further characterized the CaIMP with its three main substrates viz. galactose 1-P, inositol 6-P and fructose 1,6-bisP. Homology model of CaIMP was generated to elucidate the factors contributing to the broad substrate specificity of the protein. The active site of the CaIMP protein was analysed with respect to its interactions with the proposed substrates. Structural features such as, high B-factor and flexible loop regions in the active site, inspired further investigation into the static and dynamic behaviour of the active site of CaIMP protein. The electrostatic biding of each of the key substrates was assessed through molecular docking. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations showed that these interactions indeed were stable for extended periods of time under physiological conditions. These experiments conclusively allowed us to establish the primary factors contributing to the promiscuity in substrate binding by CaIMP protein.

Arabidopsis protein l-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE repairs isoaspartyl damage to antioxidant enzymes and increases heat and oxidative stress tolerance

Stressful environments accelerate the formation of isoaspartyl (isoAsp) residues in proteins, which detrimentally affect protein structure and function. The enzyme PROTEIN l-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE (PIMT) repairs other proteins by reverting deleterious isoAsp residues to functional aspartyl residues. PIMT function previously has been elucidated in seeds, but its role in plant survival under stress conditions remains undefined. Herein, we used molecular, biochemical, and genetic approaches, including protein overexpression and knockdown experiments, in Arabidopsis to investigate the role of PIMTs in plant growth and survival during heat and oxidative stresses. We demonstrate that these stresses increase isoAsp accumulation in plant proteins, that PIMT activity is essential for restricting isoAsp accumulation, and that both PIMT1 and PIMT2 play an important role in this restriction and Arabidopsis growth and survival. Moreover, we show that PIMT improves stress tolerance by facilitating efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging by protecting the functionality of antioxidant enzymes from isoAsp-mediated damage during stress. Specifically, biochemical and MS/MS analyses revealed that antioxidant enzymes acquire deleterious isoAsp residues during stress, which adversely affect their catalytic activities, and that PIMT repairs the isoAsp residues and thereby restores antioxidant enzyme function. Collectively, our results suggest that the PIMT-mediated protein repair system is an integral part of the stress-tolerance mechanism in plants, in which PIMTs protect antioxidant enzymes that maintain proper ROS homeostasis against isoAsp-mediated damage in stressful environments.

PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR1 interactions leading to the completion or prolongation of seed germination

In Arabidopsis thaliana, the basic Helix Loop Helix transcription factor, PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR1 (PIF1) is known to orchestrate the seed transcriptome such that, ultimately, proteins repressing the completion of germination are produced in darkness. While PIF1-mediated control of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA) anabolism/catabolism is indirect, PIF1 action favors ABA while discriminating against GA, firmly establishing ABA's repressive influence on the completion of germination. The result is tissue that is more sensitive to and producing more ABA; and is less responsive to and deficient in GA. Illumination of the appropriate wavelength activates phytochrome which enters the nucleus, and binds to PIF1, initiating PIF1's phosphorylation by diverse kinases, subsequent polyubiquitination, and hydrolysis. One mechanism by which phosphorylated PIF1 is eliminated from the cells of the seed upon illumination involves an F-BOX protein, COLD TEMPERATURE GERMINATING10 (CTG10). Discovered in an unbiased screen of activation tagged lines hastening the completion of seed germination at 10°C, one indirect consequence of CTG10 action in reducing PIF1 titer, should be to enhance the transcription of genes whose products work to increase bioactive GA titer, shifting the intracellular milieu from one that is repressive to, toward one conducive to, the completion of seed germination. We have tested this hypothesis using a variety of Arabidopsis lines altered in CTG10 amounts. Here we demonstrate using bimolecular fluorescence complementation that PIF1 interacts with CTG10 and show that, in light exposed seeds, PIF1 is more persistent in ctg10 relative to WT seeds while it is less stable in seeds over-expressing CTG10. These results are congruent with the relative transcript abundance from three genes whose products are involved in bioactive GA accumulation. We put forth a model of how PIF1 interactions in imbibed seeds change during germination and how a permissive light signal influences these changes, leading to the completion of germination of these positively photoblastic propagules.

Arabidopsis SKP1-like protein13 (ASK13) positively regulates seed germination and seedling growth under abiotic stress

SKP1 (S-phase kinase-associated protein1) proteins are key members of the SCF (SKP-cullin-F-box protein) E3 ligase complexes that ubiquitinate target proteins and play diverse roles in plant biology. However, in comparison with other members of the SCF complex, knowledge of SKP1-like proteins is very limited in plants. In the present work, we report that Arabidopsis SKP1-like protein13 (ASK13) is differentially regulated in different organs during seed development and germination and is up-regulated in response to abiotic stress. Yeast two-hybrid library screening and subsequent assessment of in vivo interactions through bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis revealed that ASK13 not only interacts with F-box proteins but also with other proteins that are not components of SCF complexes. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that ASK13 not only exists as a monomer but also as a homo-oligomer or heteromer with other ASK proteins. Functional analysis using ASK13 overexpression and knockdown lines showed that ASK13 positively influences seed germination and seedling growth, particularly under abiotic stress. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that apart from participation to form SCF complexes, ASK13 interacts with several other proteins and is implicated in different cellular processes distinct from protein degradation.

Expression dynamics of miRNAs and their targets in seed germination conditions reveals miRNA-ta-siRNA crosstalk as regulator of seed germination

Seed germination paves the way for the dormant embryo to establish itself as a new plant marking the first critical step in postembryonic plant growth and development. Germination starts with the uptake of water (imbibition), followed by induction of transcription, translation, energy metabolism, and cell division processes. Although small RNAs have been implicated in many developmental processes, their role during seed germination stages and conditions remained elusive. Here we show that seed germination conditions, like imbibition and temperature, dynamically regulate the expression of many developmentally important miRNAs and their targets. We have identified 58 miRNAs belonging to 30 different families at different seed germination conditions. Amongst these, 15 miRNAs and their targets were significantly differentially expressed in Arabidopsis seeds in dry and 12 h, 24 h and 48 h of imbibition. Interestingly, differential expression of miR390, which targets trans-acting siRNA locus (TAS3) derived transcripts, resulted in alteration of tasiR-ARF mediated regulation of expression of target AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORs (ARF2/3/4). Our results suggest that the dynamic expression of several miRNAs, their targets, and a crosstalk between miRNA and ta-siRNA pathways contribute to the regulation of seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Stress-Inducible Galactinol Synthase of Chickpea (CaGolS) is Implicated in Heat and Oxidative Stress Tolerance Through Reducing Stress-Induced Excessive Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation

Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) participate in various aspects of plant physiology, and galactinol synthase (GolS; EC 2.4.1.123) catalyzes the key step of RFO biosynthesis. Stress-induced accumulation of RFOs, in particular galactinol and raffinose, has been reported in a few plants; however, their precise role and mechanistic insight in stress adaptation remain elusive. In the present study, we have shown that the GolS activity as well as galactinol and raffinose content are significantly increased in response to various abiotic stresses in chickpea. Transcriptional analysis indicated that the CaGolS1 and CaGolS2 genes are induced in response to different abiotic stresses. Interestingly, heat and oxidative stress preferentially induce CaGolS1 over CaGolS2. In silco analysis revealed several common yet distinct cis-acting regulatory elements in their 5'-upstream regulatory sequences. Further, in vitro biochemical analysis revealed that the CaGolS1 enzyme functions better in stressful conditions than the CaGolS2 enzyme. Finally, Arabidopsis transgenic plants constitutively overexpressing CaGolS1 or CaGolS2 exhibit not only significantly increased galactinol but also raffinose content, and display better growth responses than wild-type or vector control plants when exposed to heat and oxidative stress. Further, improved tolerance of transgenic lines is associated with reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequent lipid peroxidation as compared with control plants. Collectively, our data imply that GolS enzyme activity and consequent galactinol and raffinose content are significantly increased in response to stresses to mitigate stress-induced growth inhibition by restricting excessive ROS accumulation and consequent lipid peroxidation in plants.

Rice PROTEIN l-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE isoforms differentially accumulate during seed maturation to restrict deleterious isoAsp and reactive oxygen species accumulation and are implicated in seed vigor and longevity

PROTEIN l-ISOASPARTYL O-METHYLTRANSFERASE (PIMT) is a protein-repairing enzyme involved in seed vigor and longevity. However, the regulation of PIMT isoforms during seed development and the mechanism of PIMT-mediated improvement of seed vigor and longevity are largely unknown. In this study in rice (Oryza sativa), we demonstrate the dynamics and correlation of isoaspartyl (isoAsp)-repairing demands and PIMT activity, and their implications, during seed development, germination and aging, through biochemical, molecular and genetic studies. Molecular and biochemical analyses revealed that rice possesses various biochemically active and inactive PIMT isoforms. Transcript and western blot analyses clearly showed the seed development stage and tissue-specific accumulation of active isoforms. Immunolocalization studies revealed distinct isoform expression in embryo and aleurone layers. Further analyses of transgenic lines for each OsPIMT isoform revealed a clear role in the restriction of deleterious isoAsp and age-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation to improve seed vigor and longevity. Collectively, our data suggest that a PIMT-mediated, protein repair mechanism is initiated during seed development in rice, with each isoform playing a distinct, yet coordinated, role. Our results also raise the intriguing possibility that PIMT repairs antioxidative enzymes and proteins which restrict ROS accumulation, lipid peroxidation, etc. in seed, particularly during aging, thus contributing to seed vigor and longevity.

Genomic origin, expression differentiation and regulation of multiple genes encoding CYP83A1, a key enzyme for core glucosinolate biosynthesis, from the allotetraploid Brassica juncea

The multiple BjuCYP83A1 genes formed as a result of polyploidy have retained cell-, tissue-, and condition-specific transcriptional sub-functionalization to control the complex aliphatic glucosinolates biosynthesis in the allotetraploid Brassica juncea. Glucosinolates along with their breakdown products are associated with diverse roles in plant metabolism, plant defense and animal nutrition. CYP83A1 is a key enzyme that oxidizes aliphatic aldoximes to aci-nitro compounds in the complex aliphatic glucosinolate biosynthetic pathway. In this study, we reported the isolation of four CYP83A1 genes named BjuCYP83A1-1, -2, -3, and -4 from allotetraploid Brassica juncea (AABB genome), an economically important oilseed crop of Brassica genus. The deduced BjuCYP83A1 proteins shared 85.7-88.4 % of sequence identity with A. thaliana AtCYP83A1 and 84.2-95.8 % among themselves. Phylogenetic and divergence analysis revealed that the four BjuCYP83A1 proteins are evolutionary conserved and have evolved via duplication and hybridization of two relatively simpler diploid Brassica genomes namely B. rapa (AA genome) and B. nigra (BB genome), and have retained high level of sequence conservation following allopolyploidization. Ectopic over-expression of BjuCYP83A1-1 in A. thaliana showed that it is involved mainly in the synthesis of C4 aliphatic glucosinolates. Detailed expression analysis using real-time qRT-PCR in B. juncea and PromoterBjuCYP83A1-GUS lines in A. thaliana confirmed that the four BjuCYP83A1 genes have retained ubiquitous, overlapping but distinct expression profiles in different tissue and cell types of B. juncea, and in response to various elicitor treatments and environmental conditions. Taken together, this study demonstrated that transcriptional sub-functionalization and coordinated roles of multiple BjuCYP83A1 genes control the biosynthesis of aliphatic glucosinolates in the allotetraploid B. juncea, and provide a framework for metabolic engineering of aliphatic glucosinolates in economically important Brassica species.

Differentially expressed seed aging responsive heat shock protein OsHSP18.2 implicates in seed vigor, longevity and improves germination and seedling establishment under abiotic stress

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are a diverse group of proteins and are highly abundant in plant species. Although majority of these sHSPs were shown to express specifically in seed, their potential function in seed physiology remains to be fully explored. Our proteomic analysis revealed that OsHSP18.2, a class II cytosolic HSP is an aging responsive protein as its abundance significantly increased after artificial aging in rice seeds. OsHSP18.2 transcript was found to markedly increase at the late maturation stage being highly abundant in dry seeds and sharply decreased after germination. Our biochemical study clearly demonstrated that OsHSP18.2 forms homooligomeric complex and is dodecameric in nature and functions as a molecular chaperone. OsHSP18.2 displayed chaperone activity as it was effective in preventing thermal inactivation of Citrate Synthase. Further, to analyze the function of this protein in seed physiology, seed specific Arabidopsis overexpression lines for OsHSP18.2 were generated. Our subsequent functional analysis clearly demonstrated that OsHSP18.2 has ability to improve seed vigor and longevity by reducing deleterious ROS accumulation in seeds. In addition, transformed Arabidopsis seeds also displayed better performance in germination and cotyledon emergence under adverse conditions. Collectively, our work demonstrates that OsHSP18.2 is an aging responsive protein which functions as a molecular chaperone and possibly protect and stabilize the cellular proteins from irreversible damage particularly during maturation drying, desiccation and aging in seeds by restricting ROS accumulation and thereby improves seed vigor, longevity and seedling establishment.

Differentially expressed myo-inositol monophosphatase gene (CaIMP) in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) encodes a lithium-sensitive phosphatase enzyme with broad substrate specificity and improves seed germination and seedling growth under abiotic stresses

myo-Inositol monophosphatase (IMP) is an essential enzyme in the myo-inositol metabolic pathway where it primarily dephosphorylates myo-inositol 1-phosphate to maintain the cellular inositol pool which is important for many metabolic and signalling pathways in plants. The stress-induced increased accumulation of inositol has been reported in a few plants including chickpea; however, the role and regulation of IMP is not well defined in response to stress. In this work, it has been shown that IMP activity is distributed in all organs in chickpea and was noticeably enhanced during environmental stresses. Subsequently, using degenerate oligonucleotides and RACE strategy, a full-length IMP cDNA (CaIMP) was cloned and sequenced. Biochemical study revealed that CaIMP encodes a lithium-sensitive phosphatase enzyme with broad substrate specificity, although maximum activity was observed with the myo-inositol 1-phosphate and l-galactose 1-phosphate substrates. Transcript analysis revealed that CaIMP is differentially expressed and regulated in different organs, stresses and phytohormones. Complementation analysis in Arabidopsis further confirmed the role of CaIMP in l-galactose 1-phosphate and myo-inositol 1-phosphate hydrolysis and its participation in myo-inositol and ascorbate biosynthesis. Moreover, Arabidopsis transgenic plants over-expressing CaIMP exhibited improved tolerance to stress during seed germination and seedling growth, while the VTC4/IMP loss-of-function mutants exhibited sensitivity to stress. Collectively, CaIMP links various metabolic pathways and plays an important role in improving seed germination and seedling growth, particularly under stressful environments.

Phylogenetic analysis reveals conservation and diversification of micro RNA166 genes among diverse plant species

Similar to the majority of the microRNAs, mature miR166s are derived from multiple members of MIR166 genes (precursors) and regulate various aspects of plant development by negatively regulating their target genes (Class III HD-ZIP). The evolutionary conservation or functional diversification of miRNA166 family members remains elusive. Here, we show the phylogenetic relationships among MIR166 precursor and mature sequences from three diverse model plant species. Despite strong conservation, some mature miR166 sequences, such as ppt-miR166m, have undergone sequence variation. Critical sequence variation in ppt-miR166m has led to functional diversification, as it targets non-HD-ZIPIII gene transcript (s). MIR166 precursor sequences have diverged in a lineage specific manner, and both precursors and mature osa-miR166i/j are highly conserved. Interestingly, polycistronic MIR166s were present in Physcomitrella and Oryza but not in Arabidopsis. The nature of cis-regulatory motifs on the upstream promoter sequences of MIR166 genes indicates their possible contribution to the functional variation observed among miR166 species.

Four genes encoding MYB28, a major transcriptional regulator of the aliphatic glucosinolate pathway, are differentially expressed in the allopolyploid Brassica juncea

Glucosinolates are Capparales-specific secondary metabolites that have immense potential in human health and agriculture. Unlike Arabidopsis thaliana, our knowledge about glucosinolate regulators in the Brassica crops is sparse. In the current study, four MYB28 homologues were identified (BjuMYB28-1,-2,-3,-4) from the polyploid Brassica juncea, and the effects of allopolyploidization on the divergence of gene sequence, structure, function, and expression were assessed. The deduced protein sequences of the four BjuMYB28 genes showed 76.1-83.1% identity with the Arabidopsis MYB28. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the four BjuMYB28 proteins have evolved via the hybridization and duplication processes forming the B. juncea genome (AABB) from B. rapa (AA) and B. nigra (BB), while retaining high levels of sequence conservation. Mutant complementation and over-expression studies in A. thaliana showed that all four BjuMYB28 genes encode functional MYB28 proteins and resulted in similar aliphatic glucosinolate composition and content. Detailed expression analysis using qRT-PCR assays and promoter-GUS lines revealed that the BjuMYB28 genes have both tissue- and cell-specific expression partitioning in B. juncea. The two B-genome origin BjuMYB28 genes had more abundant transcripts during the early stages of plant development than the A-genome origin genes. However, with the onset of the reproductive phase, expression levels of all four BjuMYB28 increased significantly, which may be necessary for producing and maintaining high amounts of aliphatic glucosinolates during the later stages of plant development. Taken together, our results suggest that the four MYB28 genes are differentially expressed and regulated in B. juncea to play discrete though overlapping roles in controlling aliphatic glucosinolate biosynthesis.

Deep transcriptome sequencing of wild halophyte rice, Porteresia coarctata, provides novel insights into the salinity and submergence tolerance factors

Porteresia coarctata is a wild relative of rice with capability of high salinity and submergence tolerance. The transcriptome analyses of Porteresia can lead to the identification of candidate genes involved in salinity and submergence tolerance. We sequenced the transcriptome of Porteresia under different conditions using Illumina platform and generated about 375 million high-quality reads. After optimized assembly, a total of 152 367 unique transcript sequences with average length of 794 bp were obtained. Many of these sequences might represent fragmented transcripts. Functional annotation revealed the presence of genes involved in diverse cellular processes and 2749 transcription factor (TF)-encoding genes in Porteresia. The differential gene expression analyses identified a total of 15 158 genes involved in salinity and/or submergence response(s). The stress-responsive members of different TF families, including MYB, bHLH, AP2-EREBP, WRKY, bZIP and NAC, were identified. We also revealed key metabolic pathways, including amino acid biosynthesis, hormone biosynthesis, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism and cell wall structures, involved in stress tolerance in Porteresia. The transcriptome analyses of Porteresia are expected to highlight genes/pathways involved in salinity and submergence tolerance of this halophyte species. The data can serve as a resource for unravelling the underlying mechanism and devising strategies to engineer salinity and submergence tolerance in rice.

PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE2 is differentially expressed in chickpea and enhances seed vigor and longevity by reducing abnormal isoaspartyl accumulation predominantly in seed nuclear proteins

PROTEIN l-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE (PIMT) is a widely distributed protein-repairing enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of abnormal l-isoaspartyl residues in spontaneously damaged proteins to normal aspartyl residues. This enzyme is encoded by two divergent genes (PIMT1 and PIMT2) in plants, unlike many other organisms. While the biological role of PIMT1 has been elucidated, the role and significance of the PIMT2 gene in plants is not well defined. Here, we isolated the PIMT2 gene (CaPIMT2) from chickpea (Cicer arietinum), which exhibits a significant increase in isoaspartyl residues in seed proteins coupled with reduced germination vigor under artificial aging conditions. The CaPIMT2 gene is found to be highly divergent and encodes two possible isoforms (CaPIMT2 and CaPIMT2') differing by two amino acids in the region I catalytic domain through alternative splicing. Unlike CaPIMT1, both isoforms possess a unique 56-amino acid amino terminus and exhibit similar yet distinct enzymatic properties. Expression analysis revealed that CaPIMT2 is differentially regulated by stresses and abscisic acid. Confocal visualization of stably expressed green fluorescent protein-fused PIMT proteins and cell fractionation-immunoblot analysis revealed that apart from the plasma membrane, both CaPIMT2 isoforms localize predominantly in the nucleus, while CaPIMT1 localizes in the cytosol. Remarkably, CaPIMT2 enhances seed vigor and longevity by repairing abnormal isoaspartyl residues predominantly in nuclear proteins upon seed-specific expression in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), while CaPIMT1 enhances seed vigor and longevity by repairing such abnormal proteins mainly in the cytosolic fraction. Together, our data suggest that CaPIMT2 has most likely evolved through gene duplication, followed by subfunctionalization to specialize in repairing the nuclear proteome.

Ectopic expression of the ABA-inducible dehydration-responsive chickpea L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase 2 (CaMIPS2) in Arabidopsis enhances tolerance to salinity and dehydration stress

Myo-inositol participates in many different aspects of plant physiology and myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (MIPS; EC 5.5.1.4) catalyzes the rate limiting step of inositol biosynthetic pathway. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a drought-tolerant leguminous crop plant, is known to accumulate increased inositol during dehydration stress. Previously, we reported two differentially expressed divergent genes (CaMIPS1 and CaMIPS2) encoding two MIPS isoforms in chickpea. In this communication, we demonstrated that CaMIPS2 is an early dehydration-responsive gene and is also rapidly induced by exogenous ABA application, while CaMIPS1 expression is not much influenced by dehydration or ABA. The regulation of expression of these two genes has been studied by examining their promoter activity through GUS reporter gene and differential promoter activity has been observed. Moreover, unlike CaMIPS1 promoter, CaMIPS2 promoter contains CRT/DRE cis-regulatory element which seems to play a key role in dehydration-induced expression of CaMIPS2. Furthermore, CaMIPS1 and CaMIPS2 have been successfully complemented and shown to repair the defect of seedling growth and altered seed phenotype of Atmips1 mutant. Moreover, Arabidopsis transgenic plants overexpressing CaMIPS1 or CaMIPS2 exhibit improved tolerance to salinity and dehydration stresses and such tolerance of transgenic plants is correlated with their elevated level of inositol. Remarkably, CaMIPS2 transgenic lines perform better in all attributes than CaMIPS1 transformants under such stress conditions, due to comparatively unabated production of inositol by CaMIPS2 enzyme, as this enzyme retains significant activity under stress conditions.

Association of an SNP in a novel DREB2-like gene SiDREB2 with stress tolerance in foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.)]

The DREB genes code for important plant transcription factors involved in the abiotic stress response and signal transduction. Characterization of DREB genes and development of functional markers for effective alleles is important for marker-assisted selection in foxtail millet. Here the characterization of a cDNA (SiDREB2) encoding a putative dehydration-responsive element-binding protein 2 from foxtail millet and the development of an allele-specific marker (ASM) for dehydration tolerance is reported. A cDNA clone (GenBank accession no. GT090998) coding for a putative DREB2 protein was isolated as a differentially expressed gene from a 6 h dehydration stress SSH library. A 5' RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) was carried out to obtain the full-length cDNA, and sequence analysis showed that SiDREB2 encoded a polypeptide of 234 amino acids with a predicted mol. wt of 25.72 kDa and a theoretical pI of 5.14. A theoretical model of the tertiary structure shows that it has a highly conserved GCC-box-binding N-terminal domain, and an acidic C-terminus that acts as an activation domain for transcription. Based on its similarity to AP2 domains, SiDREB2 was classified into the A-2 subgroup of the DREB subfamily. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed significant up-regulation of SiDREB2 by dehydration (polyethylene glycol) and salinity (NaCl), while its expression was less affected by other stresses. A synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with dehydration tolerance was detected at the 558th base pair (an A/G transition) in the SiDREB2 gene in a core set of 45 foxtail millet accessions used. Based on the identified SNP, three primers were designed to develop an ASM for dehydration tolerance. The ASM produced a 261 bp fragment in all the tolerant accessions and produced no amplification in the sensitive accessions. The use of this ASM might be faster, cheaper, and more reproducible than other SNP genotyping methods, and thus will enable marker-aided breeding of foxtail millet for dehydration tolerance.

Protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase1 (CaPIMT1) from chickpea mitigates oxidative stress-induced growth inhibition of Escherichia coli

PROTEIN L-ISOASPARTYL METHYLTRANSFERASE (PIMT) repairs deleterious L-isoaspartyl residues synthesized spontaneously in proteins due to aging or stressful environments and is widespread in living organisms including plants. Even though PIMT activity has been detected from various plant sources, detailed studies are limited to a few species. Our present study on a chickpea (Cicer arietinum) PIMT reveals that apart from seed, PIMT activity is present in other organs and noticeably enhanced during stressful conditions. Using degenerate oligonucleotides and RACE strategy, a full length cDNA (CaPIMT1) was cloned and sequenced. The cDNA is 920 bp in length and contains only one open reading frame of 690 bp encoding 229 amino acids. Genomic structure reveals that the CaPIMT1 gene spans about 2,050 bp in length and contains four exons and three introns. By quantitative real-time RT-PCR, we demonstrate that the transcript of CaPIMT1 is distributed across the organs with maximum levels in seed and is also enhanced under various environmental stress conditions. Purified bacterially expressed protein is further characterized for its catalytic properties. The activity is found to be elevated towards high temperature and pH conditions. Escherichia coli expressing CaPIMT1 show greater tolerance to oxidative stress than E. coli without CaPIMT1. Taken together, our results suggest that PIMT from chickpea shows a distinct pattern of expression and may have a specific role in stress adaptation apart from seed.

Two divergent genes encoding L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase1 (CaMIPS1) and 2 (CaMIPS2) are differentially expressed in chickpea

L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (MIPS; EC5.5.1.4) catalyses the rate-limiting step in inositol biosynthetic pathway, and is extremely widespread in living organisms including plants. Several plants possess multiple copies of MIPS gene(s) indicating a possibility of differential expression of each gene to perform distinct physiological functions. To explore this, two MIPS genes (CaMIPS1 and CaMIPS2) were isolated from a drought-tolerant plant chickpea. Both genes are extremely divergent in respect to their introns, at the same time retaining 85% identity to their exons and functionally complementing inositol auxotroph Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Expression analysis showed both genes were expressed in all organs except seed, where only CaMIPS2 transcript was detected. Under environmental stresses, only CaMIPS2 was induced whereas CaMIPS1 expression remained same, which could be explained by the divergence of their 5' upstream regulatory sequences. Remarkably, both gene products exhibited similar biochemical characteristics; however, CaMIPS2 retained higher activity than CaMIPS1 at a high temperature and salt concentration. Furthermore, functional expression of CaMIPS2 in S. pombe results better growth response than CaMIPS1 under stress environment. Taken together, our results suggest that CaMIPS1 and CaMIPS2 are differentially expressed in chickpea to play discrete though overlapping roles in plant; however CaMIPS2 is likely to be evolved through gene duplication to function under environmental stresses.

Light-induced phosphorylation and degradation of the negative regulator PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR1 from Arabidopsis depend upon its direct physical interactions with photoactivated phytochromes

The phytochrome (phy) family of photoreceptors regulates changes in gene expression in response to red/far-red light signals in part by physically interacting with constitutively nucleus-localized phy-interacting basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors (PIFs). Here, we show that PIF1, the member with the highest affinity for phys, is strongly sensitive to the quality and quantity of light. phyA plays a dominant role in regulating the degradation of PIF1 following initial light exposure, while phyB and phyD and possibly other phys also influence PIF1 degradation after prolonged illumination. PIF1 is rapidly phosphorylated and ubiquitinated under red and far-red light before being degraded with a half-life of approximately 1 to 2 min under red light. Although PIF1 interacts with phyB through a conserved active phyB binding motif, it interacts with phyA through a novel active phyA binding motif. phy interaction is necessary but not sufficient for the light-induced phosphorylation and degradation of PIF1. Domain-mapping studies reveal that the phy interaction, light-induced degradation, and transcriptional activation domains are located at the N-terminal 150-amino acid region of PIF1. Unlike PIF3, PIF1 does not interact with the two halves of either phyA or phyB separately. Moreover, overexpression of a light-stable truncated form of PIF1 causes constitutively photomorphogenic phenotypes in the dark. Taken together, these data suggest that removal of the negative regulators (e.g., PIFs) by light-induced proteolytic degradation might be sufficient to promote photomorphogenesis.

Identification and characterization of mutants capable of rapid seed germination at 10 degrees C from activation-tagged lines of Arabidopsis thaliana

Five cold temperature germinating (ctg) mutants, completing germination at 10 degrees C faster than wild type, have been recovered from activation-tagged populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. Three (ctg10-D, 41-D, and 144-D) were tagged and segregated 3:1 for BASTA resistance in the F2 when crossed with wild type. None of the tagged ctg mutants was disturbed in sensitivity to abscisic acid or glucose but all were less sensitive to GA4+7 and osmoticum. The other two mutants (ctg156 and ctg225) were recessive, BASTA sensitive, and exhibited a transparent testa (tt) phenotype. They were more sensitive to abscisic acid, paclobutrazol, and GA4+7 than wild type but had similar sensitivity to osmoticum. Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde staining of seeds from the two tt mutants, compared with stained seeds from the publicly available tt lines 1-10, suggested that ctg156 was a new allele of tt1, while ctg225 was similar to tt7-1. However, reciprocal crosses determined that ctg156 was not allelic to tt1 while ctg225 was a new allele of tt7. When the gene was sequenced from ctg225 it was missing 10 bp in the second exon, resulting in the incorporation of two spurious amino acids (G282E and D283A) followed by a stop. The screen successfully recovered mutants completing germination faster than wild type at 10 degrees C.

A novel salt-tolerant L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase from Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka, a halophytic wild rice: molecular cloning, bacterial overexpression, characterization, and functional introgression into tobacco-conferring salt tolerance phenotype

l-myo-Inositol-1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4, MIPS), an evolutionarily conserved enzyme protein, catalyzes the synthesis of inositol, which is implicated in a number of metabolic reactions in the biological kingdom. Here we report on the isolation of the gene (PINO1) for a novel salt-tolerant MIPS from the wild halophytic rice, Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka. Identity of the PINO1 gene was confirmed by functional complementation in a yeast inositol auxotrophic strain. Comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of PINO1 with that of the homologous gene from Oryza sativa L. (RINO1) revealed distinct differences in a stretch of 37 amino acids, between amino acids 174 and 210. Purified bacterially expressed PINO1 protein demonstrated a salt-tolerant character in vitro compared with the salt-sensitive RINO1 protein as with those purified from the native source or an expressed salt-sensitive mutant PINO1 protein wherein amino acids 174-210 have been deleted. Analysis of the salt effect on oligomerization and tryptophan fluorescence of the RINO1 and PINO1 proteins revealed that the structure of PINO1 protein is stable toward salt environment. Furthermore, introgression of PINO1 rendered transgenic tobacco plants capable of growth in 200-300 mm NaCl with retention of approximately 40-80% of the photosynthetic competence with concomitant increased inositol production compared with unstressed control. MIPS protein isolated from PINO1 transgenics showed salt-tolerant property in vitro confirming functional expression in planta of the PINO1 gene. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a salt-tolerant MIPS from any source.

Synechocystis Fe superoxide dismutase gene confers oxidative stress tolerance to Escherichia coli

The superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene (slr 1516) from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL 21 (DE3) using the pET-20b(+) expression vector. E. coli cells transformed with pET-SOD overexpressed the protein in cytosol, upon induction by isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The recombinant protein was purified to near homogeneity by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The SOD activity of the recombinant protein was sensitive to hydrogen peroxide and sodium azide, confirming it to be FeSOD. The pET-FeSOD transformed E. coli showed significantly higher SOD activity and tolerance to paraquat-mediated growth inhibition compared to the empty vector transformed cells. Based on these results it is suggested that overexpression of FeSOD gene from a heterologous source like Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 may provide protection to E. coli against superoxide radical-mediated oxidative stress mediated by paraquat.

sll1722, an unassigned open reading frame of Synechocystis PCC 6803, codes for L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase

L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4; MIPS) catalyzes conversion of glucose 6-phosphate to L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate, the first and the rate-limiting step in the production of inositol, and has been reported from evolutionarily diverse organisms. Two forms of the enzyme have been characterized from higher plants, viz. cytosolic and chloroplastic, and the presence of MIPS has been earlier reported from the cyanobacteria (e.g. Spirulina sp.), the presumed chloroplast progenitors. The present study demonstrates possible multiple forms of MIPS and identifies the gene for one of them in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Following detection of at least two immunologically cross-reactive MIPS forms, we have been able to identify from the fully sequenced Synechocystis genome an as yet unassigned open reading frame (ORF), sll1722, coding for the approx. 50-kDa MIPS protein, by using biochemical, molecular and bioinformatics tools. The DNA fragment corresponding to sll1722 was PCR-amplified and functional identity of the gene was confirmed by a complementation assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants containing a disrupted INO1 gene for the yeast MIPS. The sll1722 PCR product was cloned in Escherichia coli expression vector pET20b and the isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-induced overexpressed protein product was characterized following complete purification. Comparison of the sll1722 sequences with other MIPS sequences and its phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Synechocystis MIPS gene is quite divergent from the others.

Diversification and evolution of L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase

L-myo-Inositol 1-phosphate synthase (MIPS, EC 5.5.1.4), the key enzyme in the inositol and phosphoinositide biosynthetic pathway, is present throughout evolutionarily diverse organisms and is considered an ancient protein/gene. Analysis by multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic tree generation and comparison of newly determined crystal structures provides new insight into the origin and evolutionary relationships among the various MIPS proteins/genes. The evolution of the MIPS protein/gene among the prokaryotes seems more diverse and complex than amongst the eukaryotes. However, conservation of a 'core catalytic structure' among the MIPS proteins implies an essential function of the enzyme in cellular metabolism throughout the biological kingdom.