The multifunctional protein AtMFP2 is co-ordinately expressed with other genes of fatty acid beta-oxidation during seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.
In germinating oilseeds peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation is responsible for the mobilization of storage lipids. This pathway also occurs in other tissues where it has a variety of additional physiological functions. The central enzymatic steps of peroxisomal beta-oxidation are performed by acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX), the multifunctional protein (MFP) and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (thiolase). In order to investigate the function and regulation of beta-oxidation in plants it is first necessary to identify and characterize genes encoding the relevant enzymes in a single model species. Recently we and others have reported on the cloning and characterization of genes encoding four ACOXs and a thiolase from the oilseed Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we identify a gene encoding an Arabidopsis MFP (AtMFP2) that is induced transiently during germination. The pattern of AtMFP2 expression closely reflects changes in the activities of 2-trans-enoyl-CoA hydratase and L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase. Similar patterns of expression have previously been reported for ACOX and thiolase genes. We conclude that genes encoding the three main proteins responsible for beta-oxidation are co-ordinately expressed during oilseed germination and may share a common mechanism of regulation.
Eastmond
P J
PJ
Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.
Graham
I A
IA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018525:Germination / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020675:Peroxisomes / Q000201:enzymology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; C411817:MFP2 protein, Arabidopsis; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger