Molecular cloning, characterization and differential expression of novel phytocystatin gene during tropospheric ozone stress in maize (Zea mays) leaves.

In this study, a full-length cDNA encoding a novel phytocystatin gene, designated CC14, was identified in maize leaves. The CC14 gene sequence reported in this study has been deposited in the GenBank database (accession number JF290478). The CC14 gene was cloned into an expression vector pET30 EK/LIC and was then transformed into Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) pLysS to produce a recombinant CC14 protein.

Identification and characterization of MOR-CP, a cysteine protease induced by ozone and developmental senescence in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves.

Among the different classes of endoproteases, cysteine proteases are consistently associated with senescence, defense signaling pathways and cellular responses to abiotic stresses. The objectives of this work were to study the effects of various concentrations of ozone on gene expression and enzymatic activity for papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs), in the leaves of maize plants grown under field conditions. Leaves from ranks 12 and 10 (cob leaf) were harvested regularly over a long-term artificial ozone fumigation experiment (50 d).

A novel aspartic acid protease gene from pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus): cloning, characterization and relation to postharvest chilling stress resistance.

A full-length cDNA encoding a putative aspartic acid protease (AcAP1) was isolated for the first time from the flesh of pineapple (Ananas comosus) fruit. The deduced sequence of AcAP1 showed all the common features of a typical plant aspartic protease phytepsin precursor. Analysis of AcAP1 gene expression under postharvest chilling treatment in two pineapple varieties differing in their resistance to blackheart development revealed opposite trends.

The expression patterns of bromelain and AcCYS1 correlate with blackheart resistance in pineapple fruits submitted to postharvest chilling stress.

Blackheart is a physiological disorder induced by postharvest chilling storage during pineapple fruit export shipping. The aim of this study was to check the involvement of bromelain, the cysteine protease protein family abundantly present in pineapple fruits, and AcCYS1, an endogenous inhibitor of bromelain, in the development of blackheart. For this we checked the response to postharvest chilling treatment of two pineapple varieties (MD2 and Smooth Cayenne) differing in their resistance to blackheart.

Cloning, characterization and differential expression of a Bowman-Birk inhibitor during progressive water deficit and subsequent recovery in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) leaves.

Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) genes encode serine protease inhibitors well known for their anticarcinogenic properties and roles in plant defense against insects and pathogens. Here we investigated the expression of a BBI gene in response to water deficit, recovery and phytohormones. A full length cDNA encoding a novel BBI (AhBBI) was isolated from peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.

Aluminum stress response in rice: effects on membrane lipid composition and expression of lipid biosynthesis genes.

The presence of aluminum (Al) in acidic soils is a major abiotic stress limiting the production of cultivated plants. Cell membranes are the main targets of environmental stresses and there is growing evidence for the involvement of membrane lipids in plant adaptation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-long effects of Al on membrane lipid content and composition in the roots and shoots of rice plants grown under hydroponic conditions.

Ozone and aging up-regulate type II metacaspase gene expression and global metacaspase activity in the leaves of field-grown maize (Zea mays L.) plants.

Maize plants (Zea mays L. cv. NK Perform) were exposed to O(3)-enriched air, using a new field fumigation system.

An aspartic acid protease from common bean is expressed 'on call' during water stress and early recovery.

A cDNA encoding a putative aspartic acid protease precursor (PvAP1) was cloned from the leaves of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Sequence analysis showed that PvAP1 presents all the characteristic features of phytepsins, the typical plant APs. PvAP1 gene expression was tightly regulated by water stress, being significantly up-regulated under mild water stress (Ψ(w)=-1.

Homoglutathione synthetase and glutathione synthetase in drought-stressed cowpea leaves: expression patterns and accumulation of low-molecular-weight thiols.

Glutathione (GSH) is an abundant metabolite and a major antioxidant in plant cells. However, in the Leguminosae, homoglutathione (hGSH) may replace glutathione (GSH) partially or completely. To date, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) has been considered a non-hGSH-producing species, and no hGSHS cDNA has been isolated.

Accumulation of lead in the roots of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) plants triggers systemic variation in gene expression in the shoots.

The impact of lead nitrate (Pb(NO(3))(2); 0.5mM) on steady-state accumulation of messengers corresponding to stress responsive genes was studied in two local lines of 11-d grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) plants exposed for 96 h in a hydroponic system.

Molecular cloning and characterization of novel cystatin gene in leaves Cakile maritima halophyte.

Cakile maritima (Brassicaceae) is a halophyte that thrives on dunes along Mediterranean seashores, with high tolerance to salty and dry environments. We have previously shown that there is great morphological and physiological diversity between ecotypes. We investigated the expression of cysteine protease inhibitor (cystatin) genes in the response to hydric and saline constraints, as cystatins are known to participate in the response to environmental constraints in plants.

Lead accumulation in the roots of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.): a novel plant for phytoremediation systems?

Eleven day-old grass pea plants (Lathyrus sativus L.) were grown hydroponically for 96 h in the presence of 0.5 mM lead nitrate (Pb(NO(3))(2)).

Cloning and characterization of drought-stimulated phosphatidic acid phosphatase genes from Vigna unguiculata.

Under environmental stresses, several lipolytic enzymes are known to be activated and to contribute to membrane lipid turnover and generation of second messengers. In animal cells, phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP, EC 3.1.

Effects of progressive drought stress on the expression of patatin-like lipid acyl hydrolase genes in Arabidopsis leaves.

Patatin-like genes have recently been cloned from several plant species and found to be involved in stress responses and development. In previous work, we have shown that a patatin-like gene encoding a galactolipid acyl hydrolase (EC 3.1.

Drought stress and rehydration affect the balance between MGDG and DGDG synthesis in cowpea leaves.

Membranes are main targets of drought, and there is growing evidence for the involvement of membrane lipid in plant adaptation to such an environmental stress. Biosynthesis of the galactosylglycerolipids, monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyl-diacylglycerol (DGDG), which are the main components of chloroplast envelope and thylakoid membranes, could be important for plant tolerance to water deficit and for recovery after rehydration. In this study, galactolipid (GL) biosynthesis in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.

Molecular cloning of glutathione reductase cDNAs and analysis of GR gene expression in cowpea and common bean leaves during recovery from moderate drought stress.

Two cDNAs of the enzyme glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.

Water deficit induces variation in expression of stress-responsive genes in two peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars with different tolerance to drought.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important subsistence and cash crop in the semi-arid tropics where it often suffers from drought stress. Although its ecophysiological responses are studied, little is known about the molecular events involved in its adaptive responses to drought.

Glutathione reductase in leaves of cowpea: cloning of two cDNAs, expression and enzymatic activity under progressive drought stress, desiccation and abscisic acid treatment.

Background And Aims: Reactive oxygen species are frequently produced when plants are exposed to abiotic stresses. Among the detoxication systems, two enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase (GR) play key roles. GR has also a central role in keeping the reduced glutathione pool during stress thus allowing the adjustments on the cellular redox reactions.

Isolation and characterization of four ascorbate peroxidase cDNAs responsive to water deficit in cowpea leaves.

Background And Aims: Abiotic stresses stimulate formation of active oxygen species in plant tissues. Among antioxidant mechanisms, H2O2 detoxication by ascorbate peroxidases (APX) plays an important role. Several APX isoforms exist in plant cells, and they have rarely been studied separately.

A multicystatin is induced by drought-stress in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) leaves.

Cystatins are protein inhibitors of cystein proteinases belonging to the papain family. In cowpea, cystatin-like polypeptides and a cDNA have been identified from seeds and metabolic functions have been attributed to them. This paper describes VuC1, a new cystatin cDNA isolated from cowpea leaves (Vigna unguiculata (L.

Isolation and characterization of an aspartic proteinase gene from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) .

A cowpea (Vigna unguiculata cv. EPACE-1) aspartic proteinase (AP) gene was isolated by genomic Library screening. Sequence analysis shows that this AP gene follows the same pattern of intron/exon number and organization as the other isolated plant AP genes, which are distinct from other solved AP genes.

Effect of drought stress on lipid metabolism in the leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia).

Background And Aims: Cell membranes are major targets of environmental stresses. Lipids are important membrane components, and changes in their composition may help to maintain membrane integrity and preserve cell compartmentation under water stress conditions. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of water stress on membrane lipid composition and other aspects of lipid metabolism in the leaves of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana.