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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 589-598 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Plant Molecular Biology |
Volume | 51 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 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