Overexpression of a soybean O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase-encoding gene GmOASTL4 in tobacco increases cysteine levels and enhances tolerance to cadmium stress.
O-Acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OASTL, EC 2.5.1.47) catalyzes the final step in cysteine biosynthesis. The soybean GmOASTL4 gene was overexpressed in tobacco. Transgenic plants showed markedly increased accumulation of transcripts and higher cysteine content compared with the wild-type. Upon exposure to cadmium stress, OASTL activity and cysteine levels increased significantly in transgenic plants. Cadmium accumulation and the activity of both superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes were enhanced in transformants. These results demonstrate that overexpression of GmOASTL4 in tobacco can enhance cysteine levels and increase tolerance to cadmium stress.
Ning
Huixia
H
National Center for Soybean Improvement, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095 Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Zhang
Chunhong
C
Yao
Yao
Y
Yu
Deyue
D
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D017796:Caulimovirus / Q000235:genetics; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D003547:Cysteine Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013025:Glycine max / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002104:Cadmium; D013455:Sulfur; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003547:Cysteine Synthase; D003545:Cysteine