Project description:We explore where transcriptional regulation of ascorbate concentration lies in plants. Is it in biosynthesis, recycling, regulation or consumption? Arabidopsis thaliana plants were grown under controlled environment at four photon flux density levels (PFD). Rosettes from plants were harvested at the four PFD levels and over a diurnal cycle and after a step change in PFD and analysed for ascorbate concentration and transcript levels measured by RNAseq. Ascorbate concentrations and expression of genes in the L-galactose ascorbate biosynthesis, recycling, consumption pathways and regulation are presented to provide a full analysis of the control of ascorbate by environmentally modulated gene expression. Ascorbate concentration responded to PFD levels but not to time of day and showed only a small response to change of PFD after 2 days. Of the L-galactose pathway genes, only GDP galactose phosphorylase (GGP) showed a significant response in to different PFDs, time of day and to change in PFD. Other genes also showed limited responses. This study compares gene expression of a range of ascorbate related genes to changes in environment in a unified way and supports the concept that GGP is the key regulatory gene in ascorbate biosynthesis and that post transcriptional regulation is also important.
Project description:The l-galactose (Smirnoff-Wheeler) pathway represents the major route to l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) biosynthesis in plants. Arabidopsis thaliana VTC2 and its paralogue VTC5 function as GDP-l-galactose phosphorylases converting GDP-l-galactose to l-galactose-1-P, thus catalyzing the first committed step in the biosynthesis of l-ascorbate. Here we report that the l-galactose pathway of ascorbate biosynthesis described in higher plants is conserved in green algae. The Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genome encodes all the enzymes required for vitamin C biosynthesis via the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway. We have characterized recombinant C. reinhardtii VTC2 as an active GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase. C. reinhardtii cells exposed to oxidative stress show increased VTC2 mRNA and l-ascorbate levels. We have also shown that enzymatic components of the ascorbate-glutathione system (e.g. ascorbate peroxidase, Mn superoxide dismutase, dehydroascorbate reductase) are up-regulated in response to increased oxidative stress. These results indicate that C. reinhardtii VTC2, like its plant homologs, is a key enzyme in ascorbate biosynthesis in green algae and together with components of the ascorbate recycling system represents the major route in providing protective levels of ascorbate in oxidatively stressed algal cells. Our results suggest that C. reinhardtii cells exposed to oxidative stress conditions produce more ascorbate both by de novo synthesis (Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway) and by recycling via the ascorbate-glutathione cycle.
Project description:The l-galactose (Smirnoff-Wheeler) pathway represents the major route to l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) biosynthesis in plants. Arabidopsis thaliana VTC2 and its paralogue VTC5 function as GDP-l-galactose phosphorylases converting GDP-l-galactose to l-galactose-1-P, thus catalyzing the first committed step in the biosynthesis of l-ascorbate. Here we report that the l-galactose pathway of ascorbate biosynthesis described in higher plants is conserved in green algae. The Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genome encodes all the enzymes required for vitamin C biosynthesis via the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway. We have characterized recombinant C. reinhardtii VTC2 as an active GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase. C. reinhardtii cells exposed to oxidative stress show increased VTC2 mRNA and l-ascorbate levels. We have also shown that enzymatic components of the ascorbate-glutathione system (e.g. ascorbate peroxidase, Mn superoxide dismutase, dehydroascorbate reductase) are up-regulated in response to increased oxidative stress. These results indicate that C. reinhardtii VTC2, like its plant homologs, is a key enzyme in ascorbate biosynthesis in green algae and together with components of the ascorbate recycling system represents the major route in providing protective levels of ascorbate in oxidatively stressed algal cells. Our results suggest that C. reinhardtii cells exposed to oxidative stress conditions produce more ascorbate both by de novo synthesis (Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway) and by recycling via the ascorbate-glutathione cycle. Sampling of Chlamydomonas 2137 exposed to hydrogen peroxide
Project description:CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) constitute first line of defence against oxidative stress. In the present study, PaSOD and RaAPX genes from Potentilla atrosanguinea and Rheum australe, respectively were overexpressed individually as well as in combination in Arabidopsis thaliana. We performed RNA-seq analysis of wild type and transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing CuZn-SOD, APX and CuZn-SOD + APX under control and salt stress
Project description:Piriformospora indica is a root-colonizing fungus, which interacts with a variety of plants including Arabidopsis thaliana. This interaction has been considered as mutualistic, as it leads to an increased mycelia dry weight and increased shoot fresh weight, respectively. So far, only indolic glucosinolates and phytohormones have been identified as major key players. In a comprehensive non-targeted metabolite profiling study by means of UPLC/ESI-QTOFMS and GC/EI-QMS we analyzed Arabidopsis thaliana’s roots, root exudates, and leaves of inoculated and non-inoculated plants and identified further biomarkers. Among them, the concentration of nucleosides, dipeptides, oligolignols, and glucosinolate degradation products was affected in the exudates. In the root profiles, nearly all metabolite levels increased upon co-cultivation, namely those of carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, glucosinolates, oligolignols, and flavonoids. In the leaf profiles, we detected by far less significant changes. We only observed an increased concentration in organic acids, carbohydrates, ascorbate, glucosinolates and hydroxycinnamic acids, and a decreased concentration in nitrogen-rich amino acids in inoculated plants.
Project description:Bisphenol compounds (BPs) have various industrial uses and can enter the environment through various sources. To evaluate the ecotoxicity of BPs and identify potential gene candidates involved in the plant toxicity, Arabidopsis thaliana was exposed to bisphenol A (BPA), BPB, BPE, BPF, and BPS at a concentration of 1, 3, 10 mg/L for a duration of 14 days, and their growth status were monitored. At day 14, roots and leaves samples were collected for internal BPs exposure concentration detection, RNA-seq, and morphological observations. As shown in the results, exposure to BPs significantly disturbed root elongation, exhibiting a trend of stimulation at low concentration and inhibition at high concentration. Additionally, BPs exhibited pronounced generation of ROS, while none of the pollutants caused significant changes in root morphology. Internal exposure concentration analysis indicate that BPs tend to accumulate in the roots, with BPS exhibiting the highest level of accumulation. The results of RNA-seq indicate that shared 211 differently expressed genes (DEGs) of these 5 exposure groups are enriched in defense response, generation of precursor metabolites, response to organic substance, response to oxygen-containing, response to hormone, oxidation-reduction process and so on. Regarding unique DEGs in each group, BPS was mainly associated with the redox pathway, BPB primarily influenced seed germination, and in BPA, BPE and BPF were primarily involved in metabolic signaling pathways. Our results provide new insights for BPs induced adverse effects on Arabidopsis thaliana and suggest that the ecological risks associated with BPA alternatives cannot be ignored. At 14 d, roots in 3 mg/kg BPA, BPB, BPE, BPF and BPS exposure groups and the control were collected for RNA-seq analysis.