The saccharopine pathway in seed development and stress response of maize.
Lysine is catabolized in developing plant tissues through the saccharopine pathway. In this pathway, lysine is converted into α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (AASA) by the bifunctional enzyme lysine-ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH). AASA is then converted into aminoadipic acid (AAA) by aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (AASADH). Here, we show that LKR/SDH and AASADH are co-expressed in the sub-aleurone cell layers of the developing endosperm; however, although AASADH protein is produced in reproductive and vegetative tissues, the LKR/SDH protein is detectable only in the developing endosperm. AASADH showed an optimum pH of 7.4 and Kms for AASA and NAD(+) in the micromolar range. In the developing endosperm, the saccharopine pathway is induced by exogenous lysine and repressed by salt stress, whereas proline and pipecolic acid synthesis are significantly repressed by lysine. In young coleoptiles, the LKR/SDH and AASADH transcriptions are induced by abiotic stress, but while the AASADH protein accumulates in the stressed tissues, the LKR/SDH protein is not produced. In the developing seeds, the saccharopine pathway is used for pipecolic acid synthesis although proline may play a major role in abiotic stress response. The results indicate that the saccharopine pathway in maize seed development and stress responses significantly differ from that observed for dicot plants.
Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-875, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Eduardo
E
Kiyota
Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-875, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Izabella Agostinho
IA
Pena
Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-875, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.|Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-875, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Paulo
P
Arruda
D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007700:Kinetics; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D008954:Models, Biological; D012443:Saccharopine Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D000447:Aldehydes; D012443:Saccharopine Dehydrogenases; D008239:Lysine
lysine catabolism; osmotic stress; pipecolic acid; transcription regulation