title: Influence of light on the free amino acid content and γ-aminobutyric acid synthesis in Brassica juncea seedlings.
abstract: Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD; EC 4.1.1.15) is an important enzyme in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthesis. Here we report the influence of light on amino acid accumulation and investigate the molecular mechanism by which light influences GABA biosynthesis at the seedling stage of two mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivars (green-leaf and purple-leaf). Gene expression profiles of four GAD-encoding genes (GAD1, GAD2, GAD4a, and GAD4b) and their impact on GABA biosynthesis were analyzed. Light exerted an obvious influence on amino acid accumulation in mustard seedlings. GAD gene expression was also significantly regulated by light/dark or dark treatment, which differentially regulated GABA biosynthesis in B. juncea seedlings. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that the seeds of purple cultivars contain a higher amount of free amino acids and GABA than do the seeds of green cultivars. After seed germination, however, the accumulation of free amino acids peaked in dark-treated seedlings on day 9 in both cultivars, whereas GABA synthesis peaked at 9 days under light conditions. This study may provide a foundation for understanding the effect of light on amino acids, particularly GABA biosynthesis in Brassica plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science and ‡Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, Chungnam National University , 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-764, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yeon Bok
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Md Romij
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.forename: Sanghyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Un
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000528:radiation effects; D018525:Germination; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics; D008027:Light; D009149:Mustard Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase