title: 20S proteasome and accumulation of oxidized and ubiquitinated proteins in maize leaves subjected to cadmium stress.
abstract: In order to examine the possible involvement of the 20S proteasome in degradation of oxidized proteins, the effects of different cadmium concentrations on its activities, protein abundance and oxidation level were studied using maize (Zea mays L.) leaf segments. The accumulation of carbonylated and ubiquitinated proteins was also investigated. Treatment with 50 microM CdCl(2) increased both trypsin- and PGPH-like activities of the 20S proteasome. The incremental changes in 20S proteasome activities were probably caused by an increased level of 20S proteasome oxidation, with this being responsible for degradation of the oxidized proteins. When leaf segments were treated with 100 microM CdCl(2), the chymotrysin- and trypsin-like activities of the 20S proteasome also decreased, with a concomitant increase in accumulation of carbonylated and ubiquitinated proteins. With both Cd(2+) concentrations, the abundance of the 20S proteasome protein remained similar to the control experiments. These results provide evidence for the involvement of this proteolytic system in cadmium-stressed plants.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, Buenos Aires (C1113AAC), Argentina.
authors.forename: Liliana B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pasquini
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tomaro
authors.forename: Susana M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gallego
mesh_terms: D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D025801:Ubiquitin; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D019256:Cadmium Chloride