1
|
Fumagalli M, Gerace D, Faè M, Iadarola P, Leelavathi S, Reddy VS, Cella R. Molecular, biochemical, and proteomic analyses of transplastomic tobacco plants expressing an endoglucanase support chloroplast-based molecular farming for industrial scale production of enzymes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:9479-9491. [PMID: 31701198 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-10186-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The successful production of recombinant enzymes by tobacco transplastomic plants must maintain compatibility of the heterologous enzyme with chloroplast metabolism and its long-time enzyme stability. Based on previous reports, it has been taken for granted that following biolistic-transformation, homoplasticity could be obtained from the initially heteroplastic state following successive rounds of selection in the presence of the selection agent. However, several studies indicated that this procedure does not always ensure the complete elimination of unmodified wild-type plastomes. The present study demonstrates that CelK1 transplastomic plants, which were photosyntetically as active as untransformed ones, remain heteroplastomic even after repeated selection steps and that this state does not impair the relatively high-level production of the recombinant enzyme. In fact, even in the heteroplastomic state, the recombinant protein represented about 6% of the total soluble proteins (TSP). Moreover, our data also show that, while the recombinant endoglucanase undergoes phosphorylation, this post-translation modification does not have any significant impact on the enzymatic activity. Biomass storage might be required whenever the enzyme extraction process could not be performed immediately following the harvest of tobacco mature plants. In this respect, we have observed that enzyme activity in the detached leaves stored at 4 °C is maintained up to 20 weeks without significant loss of activity. These findings may have major implications in the future of chloroplast genetic engineering-based molecular farming to produce industrial enzymes in transplastomic plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Fumagalli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - D Gerace
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Faè
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - P Iadarola
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Leelavathi
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - V S Reddy
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Rino Cella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nielsen E, Temporiti MEE, Cella R. Improvement of phytochemical production by plant cells and organ culture and by genetic engineering. Plant Cell Rep 2019; 38:1199-1215. [PMID: 31055622 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-019-02415-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Plants display an amazing ability to synthesize a vast array of secondary metabolites that are an inexhaustible source of phytochemicals, bioactive molecules some of which impact the human health. Phytochemicals present in medicinal herbs and spices have long been used as natural remedies against illness. Plant tissue culture represents an alternative to whole plants as a source of phytochemicals. This approach spares agricultural land that can be used for producing food and other raw materials, thus favoring standardized phytochemical production regardless of climatic adversities and political events. Over the past 20 years, different strategies have been developed to increase the synthesis and the extraction of phytochemicals from tissue culture often obtaining remarkable results. Moreover, the availability of genomics and metabolomics tools, along with improved recombinant methods related to the ability to overexpress, silence or disrupt one or more genes of the pathway of interest promise to open new exciting possibilities of metabolic engineering. This review provides a general framework of the cellular and molecular tools developed so far to enhance the yield of phytochemicals. Additionally, some emerging topics such as the culture of cambial meristemoid cells, the selection of plant cell following the expression of genes encoding human target proteins, and the bioextraction of phytochemicals from plant material have been addressed. Altogether, the herein described techniques and results are expected to improve metabolic engineering tools aiming at improving the production of phytochemicals of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erik Nielsen
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | | | - Rino Cella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
SummaryTo evaluate the association between coagulation defects and cerebral venous thrombosis, a case-control study was conducted in 25 patients who had no autoimmune, neoplastic or infectious disease and 75 healthy individuals. There were no patients with deficiency of protein C or protein S. Four had resistance to activated protein C (APC) and one had APC resistance associated with antithrombin deficiency. APC resistance was investigated by DNA analysis, and diagnosed by the presence of a point mutation in the factor V gene, which predicts replacement of Arg506 with Gin at one of the two APC cleavage sites in activated factor V. The prevalence of APC resistance was 20% in patients and 2.7% in controls. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01) and the odds ratio was 9.1. A circumstantial factor predisposing to cerebral venous thrombosis (such as oral contraceptive intake, pregnancy, puerperium, trauma or prolonged immobilization) was reported in 72% of cases. In conclusion, APC resistance is the most frequent coagulation abnormality associated with cerebral venous thrombosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Martinelli
- The A. Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Vicenza, Italy
| | - G Landi
- Neurology Clinic, IRCCS Maggiore Hospital and University of Milan, Vicenza, Italy
| | - G Merati
- The A. Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Vicenza, Italy
| | - R Cella
- Neurology Clinic, IRCCS Maggiore Hospital and University of Milan, Vicenza, Italy
| | - A Tosetto
- Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - P M Mannucci
- The A. Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Vicenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Ecuador has a great variety of climatic regions that potentiate biodiversity. The family Orchidaceae constitutes one of the most important of the country, having identified about 4032 species with a high degree of endemism, therefore the development and research of alternative methods of storage and conservation of species is a strategy of primary interest for researchers and for society in general. In cryopreservation, temperatures reach below -190°C in order to paralyze the chemical reactions and keep the plant material viable for long periods. The present research focuses on the development of protocols for cryopreservation of seeds, aimed at the preservation of biodiversity, focusing on the family Orchidaceae, for the subsequent generation of a seed bank. The assays were performed on seeds of Epidendrum quitensium, Sobralia rosea, and Epidendrum anderssonii. Two freezing rates were tested: rapid freezing at -196°C; and step freezing at -22°C, -60°C to 196°C, further analyzed four combinations from Dimethylsulfoxide DMSO, glycerol and sucrose (DMSO 1M; DMSO 1M + glycerol 1M; DMSO 1M + sucrose 1M; DMSO 1M + glycerol 0,5M + sucrose 0,5M). The best results were obtained both in rapid and stepped freezing without the use of cryo-protective substances, by introducing the seeds directly into liquid nitrogen. Species of the genus Epidendrum presented a more efficient response in comparison to Sobralia. The viability of the seeds was evaluated by the tetrazolium test.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cerna
- Carrera de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Rino Cella
- Laboratorio de biologia molecular vegetal, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Bence Mátyás
- Grupo de Investigación Mentoria y Gestión del Cambio, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Cristina Aucapiña
- Carrera de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Quito, Ecuador
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Maniga A, Ghisaura S, Perrotta L, Marche MG, Cella R, Albani D. Distinctive features and differential regulation of the DRTS genes of Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179338. [PMID: 28594957 PMCID: PMC5464667 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In plants and protists, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and thymidylate synthase (TS) are part of a bifunctional enzyme (DRTS) that allows efficient recycling of the dihydrofolate resulting from TS activity. Arabidopsis thaliana possesses three DRTS genes, called AtDRTS1, AtDRTS2 and AtDRTS3, that are located downstream of three members of the sec14-like SFH gene family. In this study, a characterization of the AtDRTS genes identified alternatively spliced transcripts coding for AtDRTS isoforms which may account for monofunctional DHFR enzymes supporting pathways unrelated to DNA synthesis. Moreover, we discovered a complex differential regulation of the AtDRTS genes that confirms the expected involvement of the AtDRTS genes in cell proliferation and endoreduplication, but indicates also functions related to other cellular activities. AtDRTS1 is widely expressed in both meristematic and differentiated tissues, whereas AtDRTS2 expression is almost exclusively limited to the apical meristems and AtDRTS3 is preferentially expressed in the shoot apex, in stipules and in root cap cells. The differential regulation of the AtDRTS genes is associated to distinctive promoter architectures and the expression of AtDRTS1 in the apical meristems is strictly dependent on the presence of an intragenic region that includes the second intron of the gene. Upon activation of cell proliferation in germinating seeds, the activity of the AtDRTS1 and AtDRTS2 promoters in meristematic cells appears to be maximal at the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. In addition, the promoters of AtDRTS2 and AtDRTS3 are negatively regulated through E2F cis-acting elements and both genes, but not AtDRTS1, are downregulated in plants overexpressing the AtE2Fa factor. Our study provides new information concerning the function and the regulation of plant DRTS genes and opens the way to further investigations addressing the importance of folate synthesis with respect to specific cellular activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Maniga
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Stefania Ghisaura
- Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Lara Perrotta
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Rino Cella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Diego Albani
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Center of Excellence for Biotechnology Development and Biodiversity Research, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Faè M, Accossato S, Cella R, Fontana F, Goldschmidt-Clermont M, Leelavathi S, Reddy VS, Longoni P. Comparison of transplastomic Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Nicotiana tabacum expression system for the production of a bacterial endoglucanase. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:4085-4092. [PMID: 28190097 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8164-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The bulk production of recombinant enzymes by either prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms might contribute to replace environmentally non-friendly chemistry-based industrial processes with enzyme-based biocatalysis, provided the cost of enzyme production is low. In this context, it is worth noting that the production of recombinant proteins by photosynthetic organisms offer both eukaryotic (nuclear) and prokaryotic (chloroplast) alternatives, along with the advantage of an autotrophic nutrition. Compared to nuclear transformation, chloroplast transformation generally allows a higher level of accumulation of the recombinant protein of interest. Furthermore, among the photosynthetic organisms, there is a choice of using either multicellular or unicellular ones. Tobacco, being a non-food and non-feed plant, has been considered as a good choice for producing enzymes with applications in technical industry, using a transplastomic approach. Also, unicellular green algae, in particular Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, have been proposed as candidate organisms for the production of recombinant proteins. In the light of the different features of these two transplastomic systems, we decided to make a direct comparison of the efficiency of production of a bacterial endoglucanase. With respect to the amount obtained, 14 mg g-1 of biomass fresh weight equivalent to 8-10% of the total protein content and estimated production cost, 1.5-2€ kg-1, tobacco proved to be far more favorable for bulk enzyme production when compared to C. reinhardtii which accumulated this endoglucanase at 0.003% of the total protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Faè
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sonia Accossato
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emilie-Argand 11, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Rino Cella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Fontana
- Department of Botany and Plant Biology, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, Sciences III, CH-1211, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Michel Goldschmidt-Clermont
- Department of Botany and Plant Biology, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, Sciences III, CH-1211, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Sadhu Leelavathi
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Vanga Siva Reddy
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Paolo Longoni
- Department of Botany and Plant Biology, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, Sciences III, CH-1211, Genève, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pagliano C, Bersanini L, Cella R, Longoni P, Pantaleoni L, Dass A, Leelavathi S, Reddy VS. Use of Nicotiana tabacum transplastomic plants engineered to express a His-tagged CP47 for the isolation of functional photosystem II core complexes. Plant Physiol Biochem 2017; 111:266-273. [PMID: 27987471 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This work focuses on the development of a molecular tool for purification of Photosystem II (PSII) from Nicotiana tabacum (L.). To this end, the chloroplast psbB gene encoding the CP47 PSII subunit was replaced with an engineered version of the same gene containing a C-terminal His-tag. Molecular analyses assessed the effective integration of the recombinant gene and its expression. Despite not exhibiting any obvious phenotype, the transplastomic plants remained heteroplasmic even after three rounds of regeneration under antibiotic selection. However, the recombinant His-tagged CP47 protein associated in vivo to the other PSII subunits allowing the isolation of a functional PSII core complex, although with low yield of extraction. These results will open up possible perspectives for further spectroscopic and structural studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Pagliano
- Applied Science and Technology Department-BioSolar Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Viale Teresa Michel 5, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
| | - Luca Bersanini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Rino Cella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Longoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Pantaleoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Abhishek Dass
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Sadhu Leelavathi
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Vanga Siva Reddy
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Longoni P, Leelavathi S, Doria E, Reddy VS, Cella R. Production by Tobacco Transplastomic Plants of Recombinant Fungal and Bacterial Cell-Wall Degrading Enzymes to Be Used for Cellulosic Biomass Saccharification. Biomed Res Int 2015; 2015:289759. [PMID: 26137472 PMCID: PMC4468278 DOI: 10.1155/2015/289759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2014] [Revised: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Biofuels from renewable plant biomass are gaining momentum due to climate change related to atmospheric CO2 increase. However, the production cost of enzymes required for cellulosic biomass saccharification is a major limiting step in this process. Low-cost production of large amounts of recombinant enzymes by transgenic plants was proposed as an alternative to the conventional microbial based fermentation. A number of studies have shown that chloroplast-based gene expression offers several advantages over nuclear transformation due to efficient transcription and translation systems and high copy number of the transgene. In this study, we expressed in tobacco chloroplasts microbial genes encoding five cellulases and a polygalacturonase. Leaf extracts containing the recombinant enzymes showed the ability to degrade various cell-wall components under different conditions, singly and in combinations. In addition, our group also tested a previously described thermostable xylanase in combination with a cellulase and a polygalacturonase to study the cumulative effect on the depolymerization of a complex plant substrate. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using transplastomic tobacco leaf extracts to convert cell-wall polysaccharides into reducing sugars, fulfilling a major prerequisite of large scale availability of a variety of cell-wall degrading enzymes for biofuel industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Longoni
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Dipartimento de Biologie Végétale, Université de Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, Sciences III, 1211 Genève, Switzerland
| | - Sadhu Leelavathi
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Enrico Doria
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Centre of Sustainable Livelihood (CSL), Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa
| | - Vanga Siva Reddy
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Rino Cella
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pantaleoni L, Longoni P, Ferroni L, Baldisserotto C, Leelavathi S, Reddy VS, Pancaldi S, Cella R. Chloroplast molecular farming: efficient production of a thermostable xylanase by Nicotiana tabacum plants and long-term conservation of the recombinant enzyme. Protoplasma 2014; 251:639-48. [PMID: 24158375 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-013-0564-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The high cost of recombinant enzymes for the production of biofuel from ligno-cellulosic biomass is a crucial factor affecting the economic sustainability of the process. The use of plants as biofactories for the production of the suitable recombinant enzymes might be an alternative to microbial fermentation. In the case of enzyme accumulation in chloroplasts, it is fundamental to focus on the issue of full photosynthetic efficiency of transplastomic plants in the field where they might be exposed to abiotic stress such as high light intensity and high temperature. Xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8), a group of enzymes that hydrolyse linear polysaccharides of beta-1,4-xylan into xylose, find an application in the biofuel industry favouring biomass saccharification along with other cell-wall degrading enzymes. In the present study, we analysed how a high level of accumulation of a thermostable xylanase in tobacco chloroplasts does not impact on photosynthetic performance of transplastomic plants grown outdoors. The recombinant enzyme was found to be stable during plant development, ex planta and after long-term storage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pantaleoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ferroni L, Angeleri M, Pantaleoni L, Pagliano C, Longoni P, Marsano F, Aro EM, Suorsa M, Baldisserotto C, Giovanardi M, Cella R, Pancaldi S. Light-dependent reversible phosphorylation of the minor photosystem II antenna Lhcb6 (CP24) occurs in lycophytes. Plant J 2014; 77:893-905. [PMID: 24450769 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2012] [Revised: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Evolution of vascular plants required compromise between photosynthesis and photodamage. We analyzed representative species from two divergent lineages of vascular plants, lycophytes and euphyllophytes, with respect to the response of their photosynthesis and light-harvesting properties to increasing light intensity. In the two analyzed lycophytes, Selaginella martensii and Lycopodium squarrosum, the medium phase of non-photochemical quenching relaxation increased under high light compared to euphyllophytes. This was thought to be associated with the occurrence of a further thylakoid phosphoprotein in both lycophytes, in addition to D2, CP43 and Lhcb1-2. This protein, which showed light intensity-dependent reversible phosphorylation, was identified in S. martensii as Lhcb6, a minor LHCII antenna subunit of PSII. Lhcb6 is known to have evolved in the context of land colonization. In S. martensii, Lhcb6 was detected as a component of the free LHCII assemblies, but also associated with PSI. Most of the light-induced changes affected the amount and phosphorylation of the LHCII assemblies, which possibly mediate PSI-PSII connectivity. We propose that Lhcb6 is involved in light energy management in lycophytes, participating in energy balance between PSI and PSII through a unique reversible phosphorylation, not yet observed in other land plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Ferroni
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d'Este 32, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Giovanardi M, Baldisserotto C, Ferroni L, Longoni P, Cella R, Pancaldi S. Growth and lipid synthesis promotion in mixotrophic Neochloris oleoabundans (Chlorophyta) cultivated with glucose. Protoplasma 2014; 251:115-25. [PMID: 23893305 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-013-0531-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In the recent years, the studies concerning the cultivation of Neochloris oleoabundans for biofuel purposes have increased, in relation to its capability to accumulate lipids when grown under nutrient starvation. Unfortunately, this cultivation mode does not allow to reach high biomass densities, which are required to improve the feasibility of the process. Increasing knowledge of the microalgal physiology is necessary to obtain new useful information for the improvement of culture performance in the perspective of large-scale cultivation. In this work, the mixotrophic cultivation of N. oleoabundans in a brackish medium added with different glucose concentrations has been tested under shaking, with the aim of stimulating growth alongside lipid accumulation inside cells. Cell morphology, glucose consumption, photosynthetic pigment content and photosynthetic efficiency were also investigated. Among all tested glucose concentrations (0-30 g L(-1)), it was observed that 2.5 g L(-1) was the optimal concentration, allowing to obtain the best compromise between glucose supplement, biomass production and lipid accumulation. Growth was highly enhanced in mixotrophic cultures, linked to the release of cells from sporocysts. A unique feature characterising mixotrophy in N. oleoabundans was the promotion of the maximum quantum yield of Photosystem II. Moreover, when mixotrophic cells entered the stationary phase, high lipid accumulation was induced. This study shows that the addition of glucose to N. oleoabundans remarkably increases the production of biomass enriched in lipids and represents an advancement for the cultivation of this microalga for applied purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Giovanardi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d'Este 32, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cueva A, Concia L, Cella R. Molecular characterization of a Cyrtochilum loxense Somatic Embryogenesis Receptor-like Kinase (SERK) gene expressed during somatic embryogenesis. Plant Cell Rep 2012; 31:1129-1139. [PMID: 22350407 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-012-1236-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2011] [Revised: 01/22/2012] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis is crucial for the propagation of endangered Ecuadorian orchid species, among them Cyrtochilum loxense, in view of the fact that their number in nature or in collections is quite reduced. One of the genes expressed during somatic and zygotic embryogenesis is Somatic Embryogenesis Receptor-like Kinase (SERK). Despite the development of somatic embryogenesis protocols for orchids, no SERK genes have been isolated from this family. This is the first report on the isolation of a full-length orchid SERK sequence, namely that of Cyrtochilum loxense (ClSERK). The identity of ClSERK was inferred by the presence of all domains typical of SERK proteins: a signal peptide, a leucine zipper domain, five LRRs, a serine proline-rich domain, a transmembrane domain, a kinase domain, and the C-terminal region. We have observed that the ClSERK gene is highly expressed in embryogenic calluses generated from protocorms at the time of appearance of embryonic morphological features. At later stages when embryos become well visible on calluses, ClSERK gene expression decreases. Compared to early stages of embryo formation on calluses, the expression detected in leaf tissue is far lower, thus suggesting a role of this gene during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Augusta Cueva
- Ecology Institute, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Ecuador.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Leelavathi S, Bhardwaj A, Kumar S, Dass A, Pathak R, Pandey SS, Tripathy BC, Padmalatha KV, Dhandapani G, Kanakachari M, Solanke AU, Kumar PA, Cella R, Siva Reddy V. Genome-wide transcriptome and proteome analyses of tobacco psaA and psbA deletion mutants. Plant Mol Biol 2011; 76:407-23. [PMID: 21327516 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-011-9731-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthesis in higher land plants is a complex process involving several proteins encoded by both nuclear and chloroplast genomes that require a highly coordinated gene expression. Significant changes in plastid differentiation and biochemical processes are associated with the deletion of chloroplast genes. In this study we report the genome-wide responses caused by the deletion of tobacco psaA and psbA genes coding core components of photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII), respectively, generated through a chloroplast genetic engineering approach. Transcriptomic and quantitative proteomic analysis showed the down regulation of specific groups of nuclear and chloroplast genes involved in photosynthesis, energy metabolism and chloroplast biogenesis. Moreover, our data show simultaneous activation of several defense and stress responsive genes including those involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging mechanisms. A major finding is the differential transcription of the plastome of deletion mutants: genes known to be transcribed by the plastid encoded polymerase (PEP) were generally down regulated while those transcribed by the nuclear encoded polymerase (NEP) were up regulated, indicating simultaneous activation of multiple signaling pathways in response to disruption of PSI and PSII complexes. The genome wide transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the ∆psaA and ∆psbA deletion mutants revealed a simultaneous up and down regulation of the specific groups of genes located in nucleus and chloroplasts suggesting a complex circuitry involving both retrograde and anterograde signaling mechanisms responsible for the coordinated expression of nuclear and chloroplast genomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sadhu Leelavathi
- Plant Transformation Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Amoroso A, Concia L, Maggio C, Raynaud C, Bergounioux C, Crespan E, Cella R, Maga G. Oxidative DNA damage bypass in Arabidopsis thaliana requires DNA polymerase λ and proliferating cell nuclear antigen 2. Plant Cell 2011; 23:806-22. [PMID: 21325140 PMCID: PMC3077771 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.110.081455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2010] [Revised: 01/13/2011] [Accepted: 01/23/2011] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The oxidized base 7,8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-G) is the most common DNA lesion generated by reactive oxygen species. This lesion is highly mutagenic due to the frequent misincorporation of A opposite 8-oxo-G during DNA replication. In mammalian cells, the DNA polymerase (pol) family X enzyme DNA pol λ catalyzes the correct incorporation of C opposite 8-oxo-G, together with the auxiliary factor proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana DNA pol λ, the only member of the X family in plants, is as efficient in performing error-free translesion synthesis past 8-oxo-G as its mammalian homolog. Arabidopsis, in contrast with animal cells, possesses two genes for PCNA. Using in vitro and in vivo approaches, we observed that PCNA2, but not PCNA1, physically interacts with DNA pol λ, enhancing its fidelity and efficiency in translesion synthesis. The levels of DNA pol λ in transgenic plantlets characterized by overexpression or silencing of Arabidopsis POLL correlate with the ability of cell extracts to perform error-free translesion synthesis. The important role of DNA pol λ is corroborated by the observation that the promoter of POLL is activated by UV and that both overexpressing and silenced plants show altered growth phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Amoroso
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Concia
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Caterina Maggio
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Cécile Raynaud
- Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes, Unité Mixte de Recherche, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 8618, Plateau du Moulon, Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Catherine Bergounioux
- Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes, Unité Mixte de Recherche, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 8618, Plateau du Moulon, Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Emmanuele Crespan
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Rino Cella
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Maga
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Address correspondence to
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Dudits D, Maroy E, Praznovszky T, Olah Z, Gyorgyey J, Cella R. Transfer of resistance traits from carrot into tobacco by asymmetric somatic hybridization: Regeneration of fertile plants. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 84:8434-8. [PMID: 16593902 PMCID: PMC299558 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.84.23.8434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer of methotrexate and 5-methyltryptophan resistance from carrot (Daucus carota) to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) was achieved by fusion between leaf mesophyll protoplasts of tobacco and irradiated cell culture protoplasts of carrot. Some of the regenerated somatic hybrids exhibited normal tobacco morphology with coexpression and independent segregation of the transferred resistance markers. Chromosomal instability resulted in aneuploid somatic hybrids with significantly lower chromosome number than predicted by simple addition of parental chromosome number. The methotrexate resistance phenotype was correlated with the expression of carrot-specific dihydrofolate reductase as judged by isozyme and immunological characteristics of the enzyme. The genomic construct of these somatic hybrids made the transmission of the resistance character into the next sexual generation possible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Dudits
- Institute of Genetics, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 6701 Szeged, Hungary
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sozzani R, Maggio C, Giordo R, Umana E, Ascencio-Ibañez JT, Hanley-Bowdoin L, Bergounioux C, Cella R, Albani D. The E2FD/DEL2 factor is a component of a regulatory network controlling cell proliferation and development in Arabidopsis. Plant Mol Biol 2010; 72:381-95. [PMID: 19937368 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-009-9577-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2009] [Accepted: 11/09/2009] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
An emerging view of plant cell cycle regulators, including the E2F transcription factors, implicates them in the integration of cell proliferation and development. Arabidopsis encodes six E2F proteins that can act as activators or repressors of E2F-responsive genes. E2FA, E2FB and E2FC interact with the retinoblastoma-like RBR protein and bind to DNA together with their DP partners. In contrast, E2FD, E2FE and E2FF (also known as DEL2, DEL1 and DEL3) are atypical E2Fs that possess duplicated DNA binding regions, lack trans-activating and RBR-binding domains and are believed to act as transcriptional inhibitors/repressors. E2FE/DEL1 has been shown to inhibit the endocycle and E2FF/DEL3 appears to control cell expansion but the role of E2FD/DEL2 has not been reported so far. In this study, we investigated the expression of E2FD/DEL2 and analysed the accumulation of its product. These studies revealed that E2FD/DEL2 accumulation is subject to negative post-translational regulation mediated by the plant hormone auxin. Moreover, the analysis of mutant and transgenic plants characterized by altered expression of E2FD/DEL2 has revealed that this atypical E2F can affect plant growth by promoting cell proliferation and repressing cell elongation. Overexpression of E2FD/DEL2 increased the expression of E2FA, E2FB and E2FE/DEL1 whereas its inactivation led to the up-regulation of genes encoding repressors of cell division. These results suggest that E2FD/DEL2 is part of a regulatory network that controls the balance between cell proliferation and development in Arabidopsis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Sozzani
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ni DA, Sozzani R, Blanchet S, Domenichini S, Reuzeau C, Cella R, Bergounioux C, Raynaud C. The Arabidopsis MCM2 gene is essential to embryo development and its over-expression alters root meristem function. New Phytol 2009; 184:311-322. [PMID: 19650778 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02961.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
* Minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins are subunits of the pre-replication complex that probably function as DNA helicases during the S phase of the cell cycle. Here, we investigated the function of AtMCM2 in Arabidopsis. * To gain an insight into the function of AtMCM2, we combined loss- and gain-of-function approaches. To this end, we analysed two null alleles of AtMCM2, and generated transgenic plants expressing AtMCM2 downstream of the constitutive 35S promoter. * Disruption of AtMCM2 is lethal at a very early stage of embryogenesis, whereas its over-expression results in reduced growth and inhibition of endoreduplication. In addition, over-expression of AtMCM2 induces the formation of additional initials in the columella root cap. In the plt1,2 mutant, defective for root apical meristem maintenance, over-expression of AtMCM2 induces lateral root initiation close to the root tip, a phenotype not reported in the wild-type or in plt1,2 mutants, even when cell cycle regulators, such as AtCYCD3;1, were over-expressed. * Taken together, our results provide evidence for the involvement of AtMCM2 in DNA replication, and suggest that it plays a crucial role in root meristem function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Di An Ni
- Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes (UMR8618), Université Paris-XI, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Rosangela Sozzani
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Sophie Blanchet
- Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes (UMR8618), Université Paris-XI, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Séverine Domenichini
- Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes (UMR8618), Université Paris-XI, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Christophe Reuzeau
- CropDesign N.V.-a BASF Plant Science Company, Technologiepark 3, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Rino Cella
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Catherine Bergounioux
- Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes (UMR8618), Université Paris-XI, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Cécile Raynaud
- Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes (UMR8618), Université Paris-XI, 91405 Orsay, France
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ascencio-Ibáñez JT, Sozzani R, Lee TJ, Chu TM, Wolfinger RD, Cella R, Hanley-Bowdoin L. Global analysis of Arabidopsis gene expression uncovers a complex array of changes impacting pathogen response and cell cycle during geminivirus infection. Plant Physiol 2008; 148:436-54. [PMID: 18650403 PMCID: PMC2528102 DOI: 10.1104/pp.108.121038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 360] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2008] [Accepted: 07/21/2008] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Geminiviruses are small DNA viruses that use plant replication machinery to amplify their genomes. Microarray analysis of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transcriptome in response to cabbage leaf curl virus (CaLCuV) infection uncovered 5,365 genes (false discovery rate <0.005) differentially expressed in infected rosette leaves at 12 d postinoculation. Data mining revealed that CaLCuV triggers a pathogen response via the salicylic acid pathway and induces expression of genes involved in programmed cell death, genotoxic stress, and DNA repair. CaLCuV also altered expression of cell cycle-associated genes, preferentially activating genes expressed during S and G2 and inhibiting genes active in G1 and M. A limited set of core cell cycle genes associated with cell cycle reentry, late G1, S, and early G2 had increased RNA levels, while core cell cycle genes linked to early G1 and late G2 had reduced transcripts. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting of nuclei from infected leaves revealed a depletion of the 4C population and an increase in 8C, 16C, and 32C nuclei. Infectivity studies of transgenic Arabidopsis showed that overexpression of CYCD3;1 or E2FB, both of which promote the mitotic cell cycle, strongly impaired CaLCuV infection. In contrast, overexpression of E2FA or E2FC, which can facilitate the endocycle, had no apparent effect. These results showed that geminiviruses and RNA viruses interface with the host pathogen response via a common mechanism, and that geminiviruses modulate plant cell cycle status by differentially impacting the CYCD/retinoblastoma-related protein/E2F regulatory network and facilitating progression into the endocycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Trinidad Ascencio-Ibáñez
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Raynaud C, Sozzani R, Glab N, Domenichini S, Perennes C, Cella R, Kondorosi E, Bergounioux C. Two cell-cycle regulated SET-domain proteins interact with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in Arabidopsis. Plant J 2006; 47:395-407. [PMID: 16771839 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2006.02799.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) functions as a sliding clamp for DNA polymerase, and is thus a key actor in DNA replication. It is also involved in DNA repair, maintenance of heterochromatic regions throughout replication, cell cycle regulation and programmed cell death. Identification of PCNA partners is therefore necessary for understanding these processes. Here we identify two Arabidopsis SET-domain proteins that interact with PCNA: ATXR5 and ATXR6. A truncated ATXR5Deltaex2, incapable of interacting with PCNA, also occurs in planta. ATXR6, upregulated during the S phase, is upregulated by AtE2F transcription factors, suggesting that it is required for S-phase progression. The two proteins differ in their subcellular localization: ATXR5 has a dual localization in plastids and in the nucleus, whereas ATXR6 is solely nuclear. This indicates that the two proteins may play different roles in plant cells. However, overexpression of either ATXR5 or ATXR6 causes male sterility because of the degeneration of defined cell types. Taken together, our results suggest that both proteins may play a role in the cell cycle or DNA replication, and that the activity of ATXR5 may be regulated via its subcellular localization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Raynaud
- Institut de Biotechnologies des Plantes, CNRS UMR 8618, Bâtiment 630, Université Paris-Sud XI, 91405 Orsay, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
AbstractC4H7BF3KS2, monoclinic, P121/c1 (no. 14), a = 14.7374(3) Å, b = 9.0612(1) Å, c = 13.5805(2) Å, β = 98.964(4)°, V = 1791.4 Å3, Z = 8, Rgt(F) = 0.029, wRref(F2) = 0.010, T = 296 K.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H. A. Stefani
- 1Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Departamento de Farmácia, C.P. 26077, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - R. Cella
- 2Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Química, C.P. 26077, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - J. Zukerman-Schpector
- 3Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Química, Laboratório de Cristalografia, Estereodinâmica e Modelagem Molecular, C.P. 676, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - I. Caracelli
- 4Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP/Bauru, Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de Física, Av. Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01, 17033-360 Bauru, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Stefani HA, Cella R, Zukerman-Schpector J, Caracelli I. Crystal structure of potassium trifluoro[l,3-dithiaiio]borate, K ( C4S2H7BF3). Z KRIST-NEW CRYST ST 2006. [DOI: 10.1524/ncrs.2006.221.14.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
22
|
Sozzani R, Maggio C, Varotto S, Canova S, Bergounioux C, Albani D, Cella R. Interplay between Arabidopsis activating factors E2Fb and E2Fa in cell cycle progression and development. Plant Physiol 2006; 140:1355-66. [PMID: 16514015 PMCID: PMC1435807 DOI: 10.1104/pp.106.077990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic E2Fs are conserved transcription factors playing crucial and antagonistic roles in several pathways related to cell division, DNA repair, and differentiation. In plants, these processes are strictly intermingled at the growing zone to produce postembryonic development in response to internal signals and environmental cues. Of the six AtE2F proteins found in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), only AtE2Fa and AtE2Fb have been clearly indicated as activators of E2F-responsive genes. AtE2Fa activity was shown to induce S phase and endoreduplication, whereas the function of AtE2Fb and the interrelationship between these two transcription factors was unclear. We have investigated the role played by the AtE2Fb gene during cell cycle and development performing in situ RNA hybridization, immunolocalization of the AtE2Fb protein in planta, and analysis of AtE2Fb promoter activity in transgenic plants. Overexpression of AtE2Fb in transgenic Arabidopsis plants led to striking modifications of the morphology of roots, cotyledons, and leaves that can be ascribed to stimulation of cell division. The accumulation of the AtE2Fb protein in these lines was paralleled by an increased expression of E2F-responsive G1/S and G2/M marker genes. These results suggest that AtE2Fa and AtE2Fb have specific expression patterns and play similar but distinct roles during cell cycle progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Sozzani
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Tiboni O, Cella R, Pasquale G, Sanangelantoni AM, Cammarano P. Immunological heterogeneity of archaebacterial protein synthesis elongation factors Tu (EF-Tu). FEMS Microbiol Lett 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1988.tb02983.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
|
24
|
Albani D, Giorgetti L, Pitto L, Luo M, Cantoni RM, Erra Pujada M, Rotino GL, Cella R. Proliferation-dependent pattern of expression of a dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase gene from Daucus carota. Eur J Histochem 2005; 49:107-15. [PMID: 15967738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The pattern of expression of a carrot dhfr-ts gene was evaluated in different plant organs, in somatic embryos, and in hypocotyl explants induced to dedifferentiate in vitro by the addition of the synthetic auxin 2,4 dichorophenoxyacetic acid. The promoter of this gene was also placed upstream of a uidA (GUS) reporter gene and, using biolistic and protoplasts transient expression assays, was shown to drive a particularly high level of expression in actively growing suspension cells. The results from these expression analyses combined with the presence of putative cell cycle-related cis-acting elements in the dhfr-ts promoter, strongly point to a cell division-dependent expression of this gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Albani
- Dipartimento di Botanica ed Ecologia vegetale, Università di Sassari, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Scebba F, Bernacchia G, De Bastiani M, Evangelista M, Cantoni RM, Cella R, Locci MT, Pitto L. Arabidopsis MBD proteins show different binding specificities and nuclear localization. Plant Mol Biol 2003; 53:715-731. [PMID: 15010609 DOI: 10.1023/b:plan.0000019118.56822.a9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent results in animals and plants have shown a strong link between DNA methylation, chromatin structure and epigenetic control. In plants DNA methylation affects both symmetric and asymmetric cytosines by means of different DNA-methyltransferases. In vertebrates these modifications are interpreted by a group of proteins (methylated DNA-binding domain proteins, MBDs) able to specifically bind methylated CpG. In plants several genes sharing structural homology to mammalian MBD have been identified in Arabidopsis and maize, but their characterization is still to be completed. Here we present the characterization of six different MBDs from Arabidopsis. As judged by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, their expression proved to be differentially modulated in different organs. All the corresponding polypeptides, expressed in Escherichia coli as His-tagged recombinant proteins, have been functionally tested on gel shift experiments but only two of them (namely MBD5, 6) were able to specifically bind methylated CpG oligonucleotides. A third protein, AtMBD11, showed a strong affinity for DNA independently from the level of methylation. Moreover we were able to differentiate MBD5 and 6, despite their high homology, for their ability to recognize methylated asymmetrical sites. The binding specificity of these three AtMBD proteins was tested not only on arbitrarily chosen probes but also on the Arabidopsis E2F recognition sequence containing a single CpG site. Protoplasts transient expression experiments of GFP-fusion proteins showed for AtMBD5 and AtMBD6 a heterochromatic localization which was affected by 5-azacytidine treatment. These data demonstrate that AtMBD5 and AtMBD6 bind methylated DNA in vitro and in vivo with different specificity and might therefore have different roles in methylation-mediated transcriptional silencing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Scebba
- Laboratorio di Terapia Genica e Molecolare-Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica-Area della Ricerca CNR, via Moruzzi 1, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Egelkrout EM, Mariconti L, Settlage SB, Cella R, Robertson D, Hanley-Bowdoin L. Two E2F elements regulate the proliferating cell nuclear antigen promoter differently during leaf development. Plant Cell 2002; 14:3225-36. [PMID: 12468739 PMCID: PMC151214 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.006403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2002] [Accepted: 09/20/2002] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
E2F transcription factors regulate genes expressed at the G1/S boundary of the cell division cycle in higher eukaryotes. Although animal E2F proteins and their target promoters have been studied extensively, little is known about how these factors regulate plant promoters. An earlier study identified two E2F consensus binding sites in the promoter of a Nicotiana benthamiana gene encoding proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and showed that the proximal element (E2F2) is required for the full repression of PCNA expression in mature leaves. In this study, we examined the distal element (E2F1) and how it interacts with the E2F2 site to regulate the PCNA promoter. Gel shift assays using plant nuclear extracts or purified Arabidopsis E2F and DP proteins showed that different complexes bind to the two E2F sites. Mutation of the E2F1 site or both sites differentially altered PCNA promoter function in transgenic plants. As reported previously for the E2F2 mutation, the E2F1 and E2F1+2 mutations partially relieved the repression of the PCNA promoter in mature leaves. In young tissues, the E2F1 mutation resulted in a threefold reduction in PCNA promoter activity, whereas the E2F1+2 mutation had no detectable effect. The activity of E2F1+2 mutants was indistinguishable from that of E2F2 mutants. These results demonstrate that both E2F elements contribute to the repression of the PCNA promoter in mature leaves, whereas the E2F1 site counters the repression activity of the E2F2 element in young leaves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin M Egelkrout
- Department of Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Stevens R, Mariconti L, Rossignol P, Perennes C, Cella R, Bergounioux C. Two E2F sites in the Arabidopsis MCM3 promoter have different roles in cell cycle activation and meristematic expression. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:32978-84. [PMID: 12089153 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m205125200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The commitment to DNA replication is a key step in cell division control. The Arabidopsis MCM3 homologue forms part of the mini chromosome maintenance (MCM) complex involved in the initiation of DNA replication at the transition G(1)/S. Consistent with its role at the G(1)/S transition we show that the AtMCM3 gene is transcriptionally regulated at S phase. The 5' region of this gene contains several E2F consensus binding sites, two of which match the human consensus closely and whose roles have been studied here. The identity of the two sequences as E2F binding sites has been confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses. Furthermore the promoter is activated by AtE2F-a and AtDP-a factors in transient expression studies. One of the E2F binding sites is shown to be responsible for the G(2)-specific repression of the promoter in synchronized cell suspension cultures. In contrast, the second E2F binding site has a role in meristem-specific expression in planta as deletion of this site eliminates the expression of a reporter gene in root and apical meristems. Thus two highly similar E2F binding sites in the promoter of the MCM3 gene are responsible for different cell cycle regulation or developmental expression patterns depending on the cellular environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Stevens
- Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes, CNRS UMR 8618, Bât 630, Université de Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Mariconti L, Pellegrini B, Cantoni R, Stevens R, Bergounioux C, Cella R, Albani D. The E2F family of transcription factors from Arabidopsis thaliana. Novel and conserved components of the retinoblastoma/E2F pathway in plants. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:9911-9. [PMID: 11786543 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110616200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The E2F transcription factors are key components of the cyclin D/retinoblastoma/E2F pathway. Here we demonstrate that Arabidopsis thaliana contains six functional AtE2F genes that are all expressed in cell suspension culture but show different patterns of expression during cell cycle progression. According to their structural and functional features, the six AtE2Fs can be divided into two distinct groups; although the three members of the first group, AtE2Fa, AtE2Fb and AtE2Fc, possess all the conserved domains found in other plant and animal E2Fs, the remaining AtE2Fs are novel proteins, which reveal a duplication of the DNA binding domain but lack any other conserved region. Furthermore, the AtE2Fs of the first group are functional transcription factors that in association with AtDP proteins can recognize specifically an E2F cis-element and can transactivate an E2F-responsive reporter gene in plant cells. In contrast, the AtE2Fs of the second group can bind specifically the E2F site without interacting with DP partners but cannot activate gene expression and, instead, are able to inhibit E2F-dependent activation of gene expression in Arabidopsis cells. These findings suggest distinctive roles for the plant E2F proteins and point to a complex concerted regulation of E2F-dependent gene expression in plant cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Mariconti
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Rossignol P, Stevens R, Perennes C, Jasinski S, Cella R, Tremousaygue D, Bergounioux C. AtE2F-a and AtDP-a, members of the E2F family of transcription factors, induce Arabidopsis leaf cells to re-enter S phase. Mol Genet Genomics 2002; 266:995-1003. [PMID: 11862494 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-001-0624-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2001] [Accepted: 11/22/2001] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, transcription factors of the E2F family, in addition to having a role in cell proliferation, participate in regulating apoptosis, differentiation and development. In Arabidopsis thaliana, eight gene sequences have been identified as encoding E2F or DP homologues. DP proteins form heterodimers with E2Fs. The aim of this work was to characterize the functions of three of these factors: AtE2F-a, AtE2F-b and AtDP-a. Here we report that AtE2F-a and AtE2F-b transactivate a reporter gene via an E2F consensus cis-acting element in Arabidopsis protoplasts. AtE2F-a is a more potent activator than AtE2F-b. Furthermore, co-expression of the E2F partner AtDP-a, or the DNA binding protein AtPur alpha, modulates the activation of AtE2F-a. Taken together, these results suggest that AtE2F-a, AtE2F-b and AtDP-a share features characteristic of members of the E2F family of transcription factors. Moreover, over-expression of AtE2F-a and AtDP-a can induce differentiated, non-dividing, leaf cells to re-enter S-phase. We conclude that the transcription factor AtE2F-a plays an important role in progression into S phase, which probably correlates with its capacity to stimulate transcription.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Rossignol
- Activation et Inhibition du Cycle Cellulaire au cours du Développement, Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes, CNRS UMR 8618, Université de Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Balestrazzi A, Chini A, Bernacchia G, Bracci A, Luccarini G, Cella R, Carbonera D. Carrot cells contain two top1 genes having the coding capacity for two distinct DNA topoisomerases I. J Exp Bot 2000; 51:1979-1990. [PMID: 11141172 DOI: 10.1093/jexbot/51.353.1979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Five DNA topoisomerase I cDNA clones were isolated from a carrot (Daucus carota) cDNA library and two classes of nucleotide sequences were found. One component of the first class, pTop9, perfectly matches the open reading frame of pTop28, a truncated top1 cDNA previously described, and extended it by 594 nucleotides (top1alpha). A member of the second class, pTop11, contains an open reading frame 2727 bp long (top1ss) with a coding capacity for a second putative DNA topoisomerase I of 101 kDa. Both pTop9 and pTop11 clones are full length cDNAs. The two deduced amino acid sequences share a relevant similarity (89%) only at the C-terminal domain, whereas the similarity is reduced to 32% in the N-terminal region. Southern blot analysis and PCR amplification of genomic DNAs from carrot pure lines suggested the presence of two distinct loci. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of two distinct transcripts of 3.0 and 3.2 kb in both cycling and starved cell populations. Three fusion peptides corresponding to the N-terminal domain of the alpha and ss forms and from the common C-terminal domain of carrot topoisomerases I were overexpressed in E. coli cells and used to raise antibodies in rabbit. Immunolocalization seems to suggest the presence of two topoisomerases I in carrot nuclei.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Balestrazzi
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology 'A. Buzzati-Traverso', University of Pavia, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Albani D, Mariconti L, Ricagno S, Pitto L, Moroni C, Helin K, Cella R. DcE2F, a functional plant E2F-like transcriptional activator from Daucus carota. J Biol Chem 2000; 275:19258-67. [PMID: 10748129 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m909390199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In animal cells the progression of the cell cycle through G(1)/S transition and S phase is under the control of the pRB/E2F regulatory pathway. The E2F transcription factors are key activators of genes coding for several regulatory proteins and for enzymes involved in nucleotide and DNA synthesis. In this report we have detected the presence of E2F-like DNA binding activities in carrot nuclear extracts, and we have isolated a carrot cDNA (DcE2F) encoding a plant E2F homologue. The DcE2F gene is expressed in proliferating cells and is induced during the G(1)/S transition of the cell cycle. Supershift experiments using anti-DcE2F antiserum have confirmed that the DcE2F protein is a component of the carrot E2F-like nuclear activities. DNA binding assays have demonstrated that the DcE2F protein can recognize a canonical E2F cis-element in association with a mammalian DP protein. Furthermore, transactivation assays have revealed that DcE2F is a functional transcription factor that can transactivate, together with a DP partner, an E2F-responsive reporter gene in both plant and mammalian cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Albani
- Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 25, 07100 Sassari.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Congiu L, Chicca M, Cella R, Rossi R, Bernacchia G. The use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to identify strawberry varieties: a forensic application. Mol Ecol 2000; 9:229-32. [PMID: 10672167 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.00811.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was applied to settle a lawsuit involving unauthorized commercialization of a patented strawberry variety of high economical relevance ('Marmolada'). Because of economical involvements, the molecular approach was added to the more traditional morphological examination in a double-blind test. All plants belonging to the patented variety were unambiguously identified (13 plants among a total of 31 plants examined). The results were accepted as evidence in the court. This study confirms that the RAPD technique is especially suitable for identification of asexually reproduced plant varieties for forensic or agricultural purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Congiu
- Department of Biology, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Rossi A, Cella R, Balestrero MA, Garlasco MG, Caramella F, Siani C. [Subarachnoid hemorrhage and pregnancy]. Minerva Anestesiol 1998; 64:189-91. [PMID: 9773654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Intracranial haemorrhage from ruptured aneurysm or bleeding in arteriovenous malformation is rare, but may result in significant maternal and fetal mortality and serious neurological morbidity in survivors. Surgical intervention creates risks for the mother and her fetus, but is the best form of management. The anaesthetic procedure can present many clinical dilemmas, one of which is the role of induced hypotension. This review will focus on the diagnosis and management of this dramatic event.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Rossi
- Istituto di Anestesiologia e Rianimazione, Università degli Studi, Genova
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Bernacchia G, Primo A, Giorgetti L, Pitto L, Cella R. Carrot DNA-methyltransferase is encoded by two classes of genes with differing patterns of expression. Plant J 1998; 13:317-329. [PMID: 9680985 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-313x.1998.00034.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, the isolation and characterization of two distinct cDNAs that code for carrot DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase (DNA-METase) are reported. The screening of a cDNA library with a carrot genomic DNA fragment, previously obtained by PCR using degenerate primers, has led to the isolation of clones that belong to two distinct classes of genes (Met1 and Met2) which differ in sequence and size. Met1-5 and Met2-21 derived amino acid sequences are more than 85% identical for most of the polypeptide and completely diverge at the N-terminus. The larger size of the Met2-21 cDNA is due to the presence of nearly perfect fivefold repeat of a 171 bp sequence present only once in the Met1-5 cDNA. Northern and in situ hybridization analyses with young carrot plants and somatic embryos indicate that both genes are maximally expressed in proliferating cells (suspension cells, meristems and leaf primordia), but differ quantitatively and spatially in their mode of expression. Polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbit using fusion proteins corresponding to the regulatory and catalytic regions of the most highly expressed gene (Met1-5). In nuclear carrot extracts, both antibodies were found to recognize a band of about 200 kDa along with some additional bands of lower size. These results provide the first direct demonstration that DNA-METases of a higher eukaryote are encoded by a gene family.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies
- Base Sequence
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/genetics
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/immunology
- DNA Primers/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/isolation & purification
- DNA, Plant/genetics
- DNA, Plant/isolation & purification
- Daucus carota/enzymology
- Daucus carota/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
- Genes, Plant
- In Situ Hybridization
- Molecular Sequence Data
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Plant/genetics
- RNA, Plant/metabolism
- Rabbits
- Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Bernacchia
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Luo M, Costa S, Bernacchia G, Cella R. Cloning and characterisation of a carrot cDNA coding for a WD repeat protein homologous to Drosophila fizzy, human p55CDC and yeast CDC20 proteins. Plant Mol Biol 1997; 34:325-330. [PMID: 9207848 DOI: 10.1023/a:1005844017075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The present study describes the isolation of a cDNA coding for a carrot protein of 450 amino acids that contains WD repeats (DcWD1) and is homologous to Drosophila melanogaster fizzy protein, mammalian p55CDC and yeast Cdc20p. As for the known related proteins, sequence conservation concerned the majority of the polypeptide except the far N-terminus. Results of Southern blot analysis with genomic DNA under high stringency conditions showed the occurrence of a single gene. Northern blot analyses revealed the accumulation of DcWD1 mRNA in all tested tissues (leaves, petioles and hypocotyls, apical meristems, roots and suspension cultured cells), though at a different extent. Lack of induction of relevant transcripts in proliferating auxin-stimulated hypocotyls suggests a mode of expression not strictly related to the cell proliferation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Luo
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Luo M, Orsi R, Patrucco E, Pancaldi S, Cella R. Multiple transcription start sites of the carrot dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase gene, and sub-cellular localization of the bifunctional protein. Plant Mol Biol 1997; 33:709-722. [PMID: 9132062 DOI: 10.1023/a:1005798207693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of clones obtained by rapid amplification of the 5' end and by primer extension of the mRNA for carrot bifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase showed transcripts of differing lengths that belonged to two sub-populations. The longer transcripts were found to contain a translation start site 147 nt upstream of, and in frame with, the one which is present in the shorter transcripts. The ORF that begins at this ATG codes for a protein of 64714 Da, which is much larger than mature DHFR-TS subunit. The N-terminus region of this polypeptide shows features typical of plant transit peptides. Immunogold labelling studies and immunorecognition of the plastid-containing sub-cellular fraction suggested a plastidial localisation of the bifunctional protein. Although plant cells were shown to contain folate pools in plastids, in mitochondria and in the cytosol, few enzymes of the folate pathway have been associated with any sub-cellular compartment. Thus, this is the first indication for the presence of an enzyme of the folate biosynthetic pathway in plastids. The longer transcripts revealed the presence of a TC microsatellite at the 5'-untranslated end.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Luo
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Luo MZ, Cella R. Amplification of gene-regulating regions with single-sided specificity. Methods Mol Biol 1997; 67:239-45. [PMID: 9031149 DOI: 10.1385/0-89603-483-6:239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M Z Luo
- Dipartmento de Genetica e Microbiologia, Università Pavia, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bloem JL, Geirnaerdt MJA, Hogendoorn PCW, Chevrot A, Davies AM, Hájek M, Kurková D, Herynek V, Imhof H, Masciocchi C, Maffey MV, Møller JF, Putz R, Reiser MF, Braunschweig R, Bonél H, Stäbler A, Watt I, Adams JE, Harake MDJ, Lipscomp K, Selby PL, Aparisi F, Arana E, Lloret RM, Marti-Bonmati I, Menor F, Sanchez E, Rodrigo C, Beltran J, Cifrian C, Garci JL, Memis A, Arkun R, Akalin T, Ustu EE, Sabah D, Barile A, Rossi F, Zugaro L, Manetta R, Maurizi Enrici R, Beggs I, Bianchi S, Martinoli C, Molini L, Gandolfo N, Damiani S, Helmberger T, Sittek H, Steinborn M, Ritter MM, Geisst HC, Pistitsch C, Herrmann K, Bögl K, Kainberger F, Adlassnig KP, Kolousek G, Leitich H, Kolarz G, Bracke P, Ramon F, Stevens W, De Clarck L, De Schepper A, Sys J, Michielsen J, Martens M, Breitenseher MJ, Trattnig S, Gaebler C, Metz V, Kukla C, Gneger A, Rand T, Brossmann J, Andresen R, Preidler KW, Daenen B, DeMaeseneer M, Resnick D, Burnett S, Saifuddin A, White J, Cassar-Pullicino VN, Inman C, Griffiths J, McCall IW, Masri WE, Csókási Z, Forgacs S, Czerny C, Neuhold A, Hofmann S, Tschauner C, Engel A, Recht MP, Kramer J, DeBeuckeleer L, DeSchepper A, Somerville J, Vandevenne J, De Maeseneer M, Jaovishidha S, Sartoris DJ, Elizagaray E, Saez F, Faletti C, De Stefano N, Sorrentin T, Foderà Pierangeli L, Mona D, Foster JE, Taberner J, Keen M, Dieppe P, Freyschmidt J, Gibbon WW, O'Connor PJ, McGonagle D, Emery P, Grampp S, Lang P, Jergas M, Glüer CC, Steiner E, Takada M, Mathur A, Genant HK, Jevtic V, Rozman B, Kos-Golja M, Demsar F, Nehrer S, Seidl G, Baldt M, Klarlund M, Østergaard M, Sørensen K, Lorenzen I, Eschberger J, Gstettner M, Schneider W, Plenk H, Kühne JH, Steinborn A, Dürr HR, Scheidler J, Lienemann A, Landsiedl F, Mamdorff P, Honda G, Rosenau W, Johnston J, Mindell E, Peterfy CG, Nevitt M, Majumdar S, Lecouvet FE, Vande Berg BC, Maighem J, Michaux JL, Maldague BE, Lecoevet FE, Malghem J, Mastantuono M, Larciprete M, Bassetti E, Argento G, Amoroso M, Satragno L, Nucci F, Romanini L, Passariello R, McNally EG, Goodman TR, Merkle EM, Krammel E, Vogel J, Krämer S, Schulte M, Usadel S, Kern P, Brambs HJ, Mester Á, Makó E, Papp E, Kiss K, Márton E, Dévai T, Duffek L, Bártfai K, Németh L, Karlinger K, Posgay M, Kákosy T, Davies GA, Cowen AR, Fowler RC, Bury RF, Parkin GJS, Lintott DJ, Martinez D, Safadin A, Pal CR, Ostlere SJ, Phillps AJ, Athanasou N, Lemperle SM, Holmes RE, Rühm S, Zanetti M, Romero J, Hodler J, Larena JA, Marti-Bonmarti L, Martin I, Tabernero G, Alonso A, Scarabino T, Guglielmi G, Giannatempo GM, Cammisa M, Salvolini U, Schmitt R, Fellner F, Heinze A, Obletter N, Schnarkowski P, Tirman PFJ, Steinbach LS, Schneider P, Ferrettiz JL, Capozza RF, Braun M, Reiners C, Zettl R, Silvestri E, Falchi M, Delucchi S, Cella R, Neumaier CE, Prato N, Migliorini S, Jessel C, Heuck A, Stevens KJ, Preston BJ, Kerslake RW, Wright W, Wallace WA, Stiskal M, Szolar D, Stenzel I, Mesaric P, Smolen J, Czembirek H, Tasker AD, Benson MK, Fleischmann D, Haller J, Rottmann B, Kontaxis G, Vanel D, Missenard G, Le Cesne A, Guinebretiere JM, Verhoek G, Duewell S, Zollinger H, Vrooman HA, Valstar ER, Brand GJ, Obermann WR, Rozing PM, Reiber JHC, Zafiroski G, Kamnar J, Zografski G, Jeftic V, Vidoevski G, Ledermann T, Zerbi A, Gambaretti R, Trenti N, Zanolla W, Allen AW, Willis CE, Radmer S, Hakim S, Banzer D, Sparmann M, Argent JD, Sampson MA, Baur A, Bartl R, Llopis E, Monton T, Vallcanera A, Serafini G, Bertolotto M, Trudell D, White LM, Garlaschi G, DiLella GM, Bray A, Parrella A, Salvia F, Parrella RE, Esztergályos J, Faul S, Link J, Behrendt S, Helbich T, Steingruber I, Gahleitner A, Kettenbach J, Kreuzer S, Lomoschitz F, Kaposi PN, Reti PG, Kolenc M, Turk Z, Barovic J, Kugler C, Uggowitzer M, Gröll R, Raith J, Ranner G, Liskutin J, Youssefzadeh S, Montagnon C, Billiard JS, Tanji P, Peerally S, Gazielly D, Muhaz-Vives JM, Fernández J, Girveni-Montilos R, Catasuz-Capellades X, Valls-Pascual R, Niitsu M, Mishima H, Itai Y, Pirronti T, Sallustio G, Cerase A, Priolo F, Poleksic L, Atanackovic M, Dimitrijevic B, Bacic G, Potsybina VV, Rangger C, Kathrein A, Klestil T, Gabl M, Daniaux H, Recondo JA, Alustiza JM, Villanua J, Barrera MC, Salvador E, Larrea JA, Martin J. The 3rd annual congress of the European society of skeletal radiology. Eur Radiol 1996. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00187690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
39
|
Martinelli I, Landi G, Merati G, Cella R, Tosetto A, Mannucci PM. Factor V gene mutation is a risk factor for cerebral venous thrombosis. Thromb Haemost 1996; 75:393-4. [PMID: 8701395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate the association between coagulation defects and cerebral venous thrombosis, a case-control study was conducted in 25 patients who had no autoimmune, neoplastic or infections disease and 75 healthy individuals. There were no patients with deficiency of protein C or protein S. Four had resistance to activated protein C (APC) and one had APC resistance associated with antithrombin deficiency. APC resistance was investigated by DNA analysis, and diagnosed by the presence of a point mutation in the factor V gene, which predicts replacement of Arg506 with Gln at one of the two APC cleavage sites in activated factor V. The prevalence of APC resistance was 20% in patients and 2.7% in controls. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01) and the odds ratio was 9.1. A circumstantial factor predisposing to cerebral venous thrombosis (such as oral contraceptive intake, pregnancy, puerperium, trauma or prolonged immobilization) was reported in 72% of cases. In conclusion, APC resistance is the most frequent coagulation abnormality associated with cerebral venous thrombosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Martinelli
- A Blanchi Bonomi Hemophllia and Thrombosis Center, Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
A simple and efficient method is described for the isolation of extension fragments of known DNA sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a single specific primer. With this method, size-selected genomic DNA fragments are ligated to a plasmid vector (pGEM-4Z) which contains sequencing primers and the population of chimeric plasmids is used for transforming Escherichia coli. DNA is extracted from an aliquot of the resulting mini-library and PCR performed using a sequence-specific primer and either of the standard sequencing primers of the plasmid vector. This method appears to be more versatile than inverse PCR (IPCR), since: (i) the DNA sequence needed as the specific primer can be as short as about 20 nucleotides (nt); (ii) the DNA templates to be used in PCR are available in high amount, thus facilitating all manipulations; and (iii) if relinearization of the DNA by restriction enzyme digestion is desired before the PCR reaction, many restriction sites can be chosen from the vector polylinker. Using this method, we have isolated the genomic 5' region of the carrot bifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase-encoding gene dhfr-ts using a 21-nt sequence of the 5' region of the dhfr-ts cDNA clone as the specific primer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Luo
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Keddie JS, Tsiantis M, Piffanelli P, Cella R, Hatzopoulos P, Murphy DJ. A seed-specific Brassica napus oleosin promoter interacts with a G-box-specific protein and may be bi-directional. Plant Mol Biol 1994; 24:327-40. [PMID: 8111035 DOI: 10.1007/bf00020171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In Brassica napus, oleosins are expressed at high levels in the seed during the latter stages of embryo development. The cis-acting regulatory properties of an 872 bp promoter fragment of a B. napus oleosin gene were examined by analysis of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) expression in transgenic tobacco plants containing an oleosin promoter-GUS transcriptional fusion. The reporter gene was expressed at high levels only in seeds, specifically in embryo and endosperm tissue and regulated throughout seed development. These data demonstrate that oleosin gene transcription is regulated in a tissue-specific and temporally regulated manner and clearly indicate that oleosin protein expression is co-ordinated primarily at the transcriptional level. Oleosin mRNA was shown to be abscisic acid (ABA) inducible and an ABA-response element in the oleosin promoter was shown to be bound by a protein factor in a sequence-specific manner. Sequence analysis of the oleosin promoter has identified several other putative cis-acting sequences which may direct oleosin gene expression. The presence of a large open reading frame in the bottom strand of the oleosin promoter (ORF2) which encodes a polypeptide similar to the ethylene-induced E4 gene of tomato is reported. A PCR-generated DNA probe containing the ORF2 sequence hybridised with a 1.4 kb transcript in total RNA extracts of a variety of tissues, including leaves and germinated seed cotyledons. This finding suggests that the oleosin gene promoter directs transcription in both directions. It is the first report of a bi-directional nuclear gene promoter in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J S Keddie
- Department of Brassica and Oilseeds Research, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Luo M, Piffanelli P, Rastelli L, Cella R. Molecular cloning and analysis of a cDNA coding for the bifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase of Daucus carota. Plant Mol Biol 1993; 22:427-435. [PMID: 8329682 DOI: 10.1007/bf00015973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Molecular cloning of dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) of Daucus carota was achieved by immunoscreening of a cDNA library obtaining a 2 kbp clone which contains an open reading frame of 1528 bp. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with those from other sources revealed the presence of motifs typical of DHFR and TS thus confirming the bifunctional nature of the carrot protein. As in other organisms, a higher degree of conservation was observed in the TS domain. Analysis of the dhfr-ts gene content in carrot revealed the presence of several copies per diploid genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Luo
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Balestrazzi A, Bernacchia G, Cella R, Ferretti L, Sora S. Preparation of high molecular weight plant DNA and its use for artificial chromosome construction. Plant Cell Rep 1991; 10:315-320. [PMID: 24221664 DOI: 10.1007/bf00193149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/1991] [Revised: 06/06/1991] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The availability of a substantial amount of high molecular weight DNA is an essential prerequisite for the construction of yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries. Parameters concerning protoplast isolation and DNA extraction have been systematically analyzed. Conditions have been established for the obtainment of high molecular weight DNA from Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia protoplasts either embedded in agarose plugs or in liquid suspension. Restriction fragments were obtained by partial and total digestion with different endonucleases, and separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Ligation of partially EcoRI-digested DNA (range 30-300 kbp) followed by transformation of yeast spheroplasts gave rise to YACs with an average size of 60 kbp. The introduction of a DNA size-selection step before ligation led to production of YACs in the range of 100-200 kbp. Clones of up to 460 kbp were obtained by blunt-end ligation of pre-selected unrestricted DNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Balestrazzi
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, "A. Buzzati Traverso", via S. Epifanio, 14 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Giordano M, Mattachini ME, Cella R, Pedrali-Noy G. Purification and properties of a novel DNA methyltransferase from cultured rice cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1991; 177:711-9. [PMID: 2049093 DOI: 10.1016/0006-291x(91)91846-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase activity has been observed in a total crude homogenate of rice cells grown in suspension culture using either native plant DNA or, under the conditions used, the more responsive hemimethylated poly (dI-MedC).poly(dI-dC). Using the latter substrate we have purified an enzyme fraction 380-fold by salt extraction of chromatin, DEAE cellulose and phosphocellulose. This purified fraction showed enzyme activity only with poly (dI-MedC).poly(dI-dC) thus suggesting the occurrence in plants of a DNA methyltransferase specific for hemimethylated DNA. A Mr value of 54000 was calculated on the basis of the sedimentation coefficient which was determined by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Apparent Km values for poly (dI-MedC).poly(dI-dC) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine were found to be 17 micrograms/ml and 2.6 microM, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Giordano
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Carbonera D, Iadarola P, Cella R. Effect of exogenous amino acids on the intracellular content of proline and other amino acids in Daucus carota cells. Plant Cell Rep 1989; 8:422-424. [PMID: 24233368 DOI: 10.1007/bf00270084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/1989] [Revised: 09/20/1989] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The effect of tryptophan on the biosynthesis of proline has been investigated. Cells of Daucus carota grown in B5 medium supplemented with 5×10(-4)M tryptophan acquired the ability to grow in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, an analog of proline. When trp was added to carrot cell cultures at sub-growth inhibiting concentrations, overproduction of intracellular free proline was observed. An increase was also observed for lys, his, ala, leu and phe. Likewise, the addition of asparagine, glutamic acid and phenylalanine to the medium stimulated the intracellular increase of free proline and other amino acids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Carbonera
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia "A. Buzzati Traverso", Università di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, I-27100, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Cella R, Nielsen E, Parisi B. Daucus carota cells contain a dihydrofolate reductase: thymidylate synthase bifunctional polypeptide. Plant Mol Biol 1988; 10:331-338. [PMID: 24277564 DOI: 10.1007/bf00029883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/1987] [Accepted: 01/19/1988] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and thymidylate synthase (TS) activities from cell suspension cultures of Daucus carota were shown to copurify on (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, DEAE Sephadex and methotrexate-Sepharose affinity chromatography and to share approximately the same Mr(183 kDa and 185 kDa respectively) as judged by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200.The copurified protein migrated as a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions.Both activities could be eluted from the same position of the native gel.Moreover, methotrexate-resistant cell lines which overproduce DHFR revealed to have a parallel higher level of TS. It is therefore proposed and discussed that in carrot, similarly to protozoa, TS and DHFR are present on a single bifunctional polypeptide of 58 kDa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Cella
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia "A. Buzzati Traverso", Sezione di Microbiologia e Fisiologia Vegetale, Università di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
|
48
|
Albani D, Parisi B, Carbonera D, Cella R. Dihydrofolate reductase from Daucus carota cell suspension cultures: purification, molecular and kinetic characterization. Plant Mol Biol 1985; 5:363-372. [PMID: 24306990 DOI: 10.1007/bf00037557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/1985] [Revised: 08/07/1985] [Accepted: 08/19/1985] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The purification of dihydrofolate reductase (5, 6, 7, 8 tetrahydrofolate: NADP(+) oxidoreductase, E.C.: 1.5.1.3) from Daucus carota to apparent homogeneity, is described. The enzyme is a soluble protein with a molecular weight of 183 000±2 500, composed of identical subunits of 58 400±1 000. The enzyme is only weakly recognized by antibodies against human DHFR. The carrot DHFR is characterized by a pH optimum of 5.9, Km values for dihydrofolate and NADPH of 3.7 μM and 2.2 μM, respectively and a turnover number of 4 750 or 1 500 when referring to the 183 K form or the 58 K monomer, respectively. Molecular and kinetic properties are remarkably different from those reported for the soybean enzyme. Sensitivity to methotrexate is similar to that of bacterial and mammalian enzymes while sensitivity to trimethoprim and dihydrotriazine is intermediate between the two groups of organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Albani
- Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Via S. Epifanio, 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
Heme is present in an equimolar ratio to the apoprotein in the major cationic fraction of peanut peroxidase. The removal of heme from the holoenzyme does not affect the physicochemical and immunological properties of the apoperoxidase, however peroxidase activity is completely lost. The indoleacetic acid (IAA) oxidase activity of the apoperoxidase is reduced to 1/20 of the original holoenzyme. Both the peroxidase and IAA-oxidase activity could partially be restored in the holoenzyme reconstituted with hemin. It is suggested that heme may also participate in the IAA-oxidase activity possibly by altering the active site.
Collapse
|
50
|
Nardoni A, Marchetti E, Di Piazza V, Rossi G, Cella R. [Normokaliuretic hypokalemia during inadapamide treatment of hypertension]. Clin Ter 1984; 110:45-9. [PMID: 6237845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
|