A Medicago sativa haem oxygenase gene is preferentially expressed in root nodules.
Haem oxygenases (HO) are ubiquitous enzymes catalysing the oxidative degradation of haem into biliverdin, iron and carbon monoxide. Whereas animal HOs participate in multiple cellular functions including haemoglobin catabolism, antioxidant defence and iron homeostasis, to date, plant HOs have so far only been involved in phytochrome metabolism. The expression of the HO1 gene was studied in Medicago sativa, especially during the interaction with its symbiotic partner, Sinorhizobium meliloti. Transcript accumulation was higher in mature root nodules than in roots and leaves and was correlated to HO1 protein immunodetection. The analysis of HO1 expression following alfalfa root inoculation with S. meliloti indicates that transcripts do not accumulate during the early steps of symbiosis, but rather in the mature nodules. These results correlate with the expression of the leghaemoglobin gene, which encodes the major haem-containing protein present in the nodule. Contrary to its animal counterpart, alfalfa HO1 was not induced by pro- oxidant compounds including H(2)O(2), paraquat and sodium nitroprusside, suggesting that it is not involved in the antioxidant defence. The results suggest that HO1 could play a role in the alfalfa mature nodule and its involvement in leghaemoglobin metabolism is hypothesized.
Baudouin
Emmanuel
E
Laboratoire de Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie, CNRS FRE 2294, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Parc Valrose, F-06108 Nice cédex 02, France.
Frendo
Pierre
P
Le Gleuher
Marie
M
Puppo
Alain
A
D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007874:Leghemoglobin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000254:growth & development; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D007874:Leghemoglobin; D010940:Plant Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009599:Nitroprusside; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D010269:Paraquat