Overexpression of ATP sulfurylase in Indian mustard: effects on tolerance and accumulation of twelve metals.

Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] transgenics overexpressing ATP sulfurylase (APS plants) were shown previously to have higher levels of total thiols, S, and Se.

Overexpression of cystathionine-gamma-synthase enhances selenium volatilization in Brassica juncea.

Selenium (Se) can be assimilated and volatilized via the sulfate assimilation pathway. Cystathionine-gamma-synthase (CGS) is thought to catalyze the synthesis of Se-cystathionine from Se-cysteine, the first step in the conversion of Se-cysteine to volatile dimethylselenide. Here the hypothesis was tested that CGS is a rate-limiting enzyme for Se volatilization.

Analysis of transgenic Indian mustard plants for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated mine tailings.

Transgenic Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] plants overproducing the enzymes gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (ECS) or glutathione synthetase (GS) were shown previously to have increased levels of the metal-binding thiol peptides phytochelatins and glutathione, and enhanced Cd tolerance and accumulation.

Characterization of a NifS-like chloroplast protein from Arabidopsis. Implications for its role in sulfur and selenium metabolism.

NifS-like proteins catalyze the formation of elemental sulfur (S) and alanine from cysteine (Cys) or of elemental selenium (Se) and alanine from seleno-Cys. Cys desulfurase activity is required to produce the S of iron (Fe)-S clusters, whereas seleno-Cys lyase activity is needed for the incorporation of Se in selenoproteins. In plants, the chloroplast is the location of (seleno) Cys formation and a location of Fe-S cluster formation.