The serine acetyltransferase gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana and the regulation of its expression by cadmium

J R Howarth, J R Dominguez-Solis, G Gutierrez-Alcala, J L Wray, L C Romero, C Gotor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Expression of the serine acetyltransferase (SAT) gene family from Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated in response to treatment with the heavy metal cadmium (Cd). A fourth member of the SAT gene family, Sat-106, was also cloned and the complete SAT gene family from A. thaliana is discussed. Northern analysis of the gene family revealed tissue-specific expression patterns for each isogene. A. thaliana plants grown under 50 muM CdCl2 for a 24 h time course were also used for northern analysis. Expression of all SAT genes was increased to some extent by Cd treatment. Sat-5 expression showed particularly high levels of induction in the leaves of treated plants and was chosen for study by in situ hybridisation. Sat-5 expression was induced in the root and stem cortex and the leaf lamella and trichomes in response to heavy metal stress. SAT and its product O-acetylserine have previously been shown to be implicated in the control of sulphate reduction and cysteine biosynthesis in plants. These results suggest that specific SAT isoforms have a role in increasing cysteine production under conditions of heavy-metal stress when increased biosynthesis of glutathione and phytochelatins is required for detoxification purposes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)589-598
Number of pages10
JournalPlant Molecular Biology
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2003

Keywords

  • O-acetylserine
  • cadmium stress
  • cysteine biosynthesis
  • sulphur assimilation
  • HEAVY-METAL DETOXIFICATION
  • ACETYLSERINE THIOL LYASE
  • BRASSICA-JUNCEA L
  • CYSTEINE BIOSYNTHESIS
  • HIGHER-PLANTS
  • CYTOSOLIC ISOFORM
  • SULFATE TRANSPORT
  • ASSIMILATION
  • CLONING
  • O-ACETYLSERINE(THIOL)LYASE

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