Methionine sulphoxide reductases protect iron–sulphur clusters from oxidative inactivation in yeast

Methionine residues and iron–sulphur (FeS) clusters are primary targets of reactive oxygen species in the proteins of micro-organisms. Here, we show that methionine redox modifications help to preserve essential FeS cluster activities in yeast. Mutants defective for the highly conserved methionine sulphoxide reductases (MSRs; which re-reduce oxidized methionines) are sensitive to many pro-oxidants, but here exhibited an unexpected copper resistance. This phenotype was mimicked by methionine sulphoxide supplementation. Microarray analyses highlighted several Cu and Fe homeostasis genes that were upregulated in the mxrΔ double mutant, which lacks both of the yeast MSRs. Of the upregulated genes, the Cu-binding Fe transporter Fet3p proved to be required for the Cu-resistance phenotype. FET3 is known to be regulated by the Aft1 transcription factor, which responds to low mitochondrial FeS-cluster status. Here, constitutive Aft1p expression in the wild-type reproduced the Cu-resistance phenotype, and FeS-cluster functions were found to be defective in the mxrΔ mutant. Genetic perturbation of FeS activity also mimicked FET3-dependent Cu resistance. 55Fe-labelling studies showed that FeS clusters are turned over more rapidly in the mxrΔ mutant than the wild-type, consistent with elevated oxidative targeting of the clusters in MSR-deficient cells. The potential underlying molecular mechanisms of this targeting are discussed. Moreover, the results indicate an important new role for cellular MSR enzymes in helping to protect the essential function of FeS clusters in aerobic settings.

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Effect of Metallothionein-III on Mercury-Induced Chemokine Gene Expression

Toxics ◽

10.3390/toxics6030048 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 48 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jin-Yong Lee ◽

Maki Tokumoto ◽

Gi-Wook Hwang ◽

Min-Seok Kim ◽

Tsutomu Takahashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Mercury Vapor ◽

Brain Diseases ◽

Wild Type ◽

Chemokine Gene ◽

Mercury Compounds ◽

In The Wild ◽

The Brain ◽

Chemokine Gene Expression

Mercury compounds are known to cause central nervous system disorders; however the detailed molecular mechanisms of their actions remain unclear. Methylmercury increases the expression of several chemokine genes, specifically in the brain, while metallothionein-III (MT-III) has a protective role against various brain diseases. In this study, we investigated the involvement of MT-III in chemokine gene expression changes in response to methylmercury and mercury vapor in the cerebrum and cerebellum of wild-type mice and MT-III null mice. No difference in mercury concentration was observed between the wild-type mice and MT-III null mice in any brain tissue examined. The expression of Ccl3 in the cerebrum and of Cxcl10 in the cerebellum was increased by methylmercury in the MT-III null but not the wild-type mice. The expression of Ccl7 in the cerebellum was increased by mercury vapor in the MT-III null mice but not the wild-type mice. However, the expression of Ccl12 and Cxcl12 was increased in the cerebrum by methylmercury only in the wild-type mice and the expression of Ccl3 in the cerebellum was increased by mercury vapor only in the wild-type mice. These results indicate that MT-III does not affect mercury accumulation in the brain, but that it affects the expression of some chemokine genes in response to mercury compounds.

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Mutation of a palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC18-like gene is responsible for the minute wing mutation in the silkworm (Bombyx mori)

10.1101/101618 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ye Yu ◽

Xiaojing Liu ◽

Xiao Ma ◽

Zhongjie Zhang ◽

Na Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bombyx Mori ◽

Positional Cloning ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Adult Stage ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Gene Promoter ◽

Wild Type ◽

Evolutionarily Conserved ◽

In The Wild ◽

Hippo Signalling

AbstractPulpal- and adult-stage minute wing (mw) mutants of the silkworm Bombyx mori have much smaller wings than those of the wild type. Herein, we report the genetic and molecular mechanisms underling the formation of the minute wing. Fine mapping and positional cloning revealed that a palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC18-like gene (BmAPP）was responsible for the mw mutation. CRISPR/Cas9 screening of the BmAPP gene in wild-type embryos revealed that a significant proportion of adults had the mw mutation. In an mw mutant strain, u11, a 10-bp insertion in the promoter of a novel gene resulted in low-level translation of a protein belonging to the DHHC family. A PiggyBac-based transgenic analysis showed that the promoter induced the expression of aBmAPP gene promoter in the wild type but not the mw mutant. These findings indicate that functional deletion of this gene promoter accounts for the mw mutation in silkworm. The possibility that BmAPP gene is involved in Hippo signalling pathway, an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that controls organ size, is discussed.

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NADPH Oxidase Is Crucial for the Cellular Redox Homeostasis in Fungal Pathogen Botrytis cinerea

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-05-19-0124-r ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (11) ◽

pp. 1508-1516

Author(s):

Hua Li ◽

Shiping Tian ◽

Guozheng Qin

Keyword(s):

Nadph Oxidase ◽

Botrytis Cinerea ◽

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Redox Homeostasis ◽

Signal Transduction Pathway ◽

Regulatory Subunit ◽

Wild Type ◽

Mutant Proteins ◽

In The Wild

During interactions, both plants and pathogens produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Plants generate ROS for defense induction, while pathogens synthesize ROS for growth, sporulation, and virulence. NADPH oxidase (NOX) complex in the plasma membrane represents a main protein complex for ROS production in pathogens. Although NOX plays a crucial role in pathogenicity of pathogens, the underlying molecular mechanisms of NOX, especially the proteins regulated by NOX, remain largely unknown. Here, we applied an iodoacetyl tandem mass tag-based redox proteomic assay to investigate the protein redox dynamics in deletion mutant of bcnoxR, which encodes a regulatory subunit of NOX in the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. In total, 214 unique peptidyl cysteine (Cys) thiols from 168 proteins were identified and quantified in both the wild type and ∆bcnoxR mutant. The Cys thiols in the ∆bcnoxR mutant were generally more oxidized than those in the wild type, suggesting that BcNoxR is essential for maintaining the equilibrium of the redox state in B. cinerea. Site-specific thiol oxidation analysis indicated that 142 peptides containing the oxidized thiols changed abundance significantly in the ∆bcnoxR mutant. Proteins containing these differential peptides are classified into various functional categories. Functional analysis revealed that one of these proteins, 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, played roles in oxidative stress response and pathogenesis of B. cinerea. These results provide insight into the potential target proteins and the ROS signal transduction pathway regulated by NOX.

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The Type III Secretion Chaperone HpaB Controls the Translocation of Effector and Noneffector Proteins From Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-06-17-0138-r ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 61-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Felix Scheibner ◽

Nadine Hartmann ◽

Jens Hausner ◽

Christian Lorenz ◽

Anne-Katrin Hoffmeister ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type Iii Secretion ◽

Type Strain ◽

Xanthomonas Campestris ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Wild Type Strain ◽

Effector Proteins ◽

Wild Type ◽

Type Iii ◽

In The Wild ◽

Secretion Chaperone

Pathogenicity of the gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria depends on a type III secretion (T3S) system, which translocates effector proteins into plant cells. Effector proteins contain N-terminal T3S and translocation signals and interact with the T3S chaperone HpaB, which presumably escorts effectors to the secretion apparatus. The molecular mechanisms underlying the recognition of effectors by the T3S system are not yet understood. In the present study, we analyzed T3S and translocation signals in the type III effectors XopE2 and XopJ from X. campestris pv. vesicatoria. Both effectors contain minimal translocation signals, which are only recognized in the absence of HpaB. Additional N-terminal signals promote translocation of XopE2 and XopJ in the wild-type strain. The results of translocation and interaction studies revealed that the interaction of XopE2 and XopJ with HpaB and a predicted cytoplasmic substrate docking site of the T3S system is not sufficient for translocation. In agreement with this finding, we show that the presence of an artificial HpaB-binding site does not promote translocation of the noneffector XopA in the wild-type strain. Our data, therefore, suggest that the T3S chaperone HpaB not only acts as an escort protein but also controls the recognition of translocation signals.

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Neurofilament deficiency in quail caused by nonsense mutation in neurofilament-L gene.

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.121.2.387 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 121 (2) ◽

pp. 387-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 146

Author(s):

O Ohara ◽

Y Gahara ◽

T Miyake ◽

H Teraoka ◽

T Kitamura

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Japanese Quail ◽

Nonsense Mutation ◽

Trace Amount ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Deficient Mutant ◽

Wild Type ◽

In The Wild ◽

Genetic Events

The existence of a neurofilament-deficient mutant of Japanese quail was recently documented (Yamasaki, H., C. Itakura, and M. Mizutani. 1991. Acta Neuropathol. 82:427-434), but the genetic events leading to the neurofilament deficiency have yet to be determined. Our molecular biological analyses revealed that the expression of neurofilament-L (NF-L) gene was specifically repressed in neurons of this mutant. To search for mutation(s) responsible for the shutdown of this gene expression, we cloned and sequenced the NF-L genes in the wild-type and mutant quails. It is eventually found that the NF-L gene in the mutant includes a nonsense mutation at the deduced amino acid residue 114, indicating that the mutant is incapable of producing even a trace amount of polymerization-competent NF-L protein at any situation. The identification of this nonsense mutation provides us with a solid basis on which molecular mechanisms underlying the alteration in the neuronal cytoskeletal architecture in the mutant should be interpreted.

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Citrus PH4–Noemi regulatory complex is involved in proanthocyanidin biosynthesis via a positive feedback loop

Journal of Experimental Botany ◽

10.1093/jxb/erz506 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 71 (4) ◽

pp. 1306-1321 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yin Zhang ◽

Junli Ye ◽

Chaoyang Liu ◽

Qiang Xu ◽

Lichang Long ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Positive Feedback ◽

Feedback Loop ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Citrus Fruit ◽

Wild Type ◽

Biosynthetic Genes ◽

Positive Feedback Loop ◽

Regulatory Complex ◽

In The Wild

Abstract Proanthocyanidins (PAs; or condensed tannins) are a major class of flavonoids that contribute to citrus fruit quality. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for PA biosynthesis and accumulation in citrus remains unclear. Here, we identify a PH4–Noemi regulatory complex that regulates proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in citrus. Overexpression of PH4 or Noemi in citrus calli activated the expression of PA biosynthetic genes and significantly increased the PA content. Interestingly, Noemi was also shown to be up-regulated in CsPH4-overexpressing lines compared with wild-type calli. Simultaneously, CsPH4 partially complemented the PA-deficient phenotype of the Arabidopsis tt2 mutant and promoted PA accumulation in the wild-type. Further analysis revealed that CsPH4 interacted with Noemi, and together these proteins synergistically activated the expression of PA biosynthetic genes by directly binding to the MYB-recognizing elements (MRE) of the promoters of these genes. Moreover, CsPH4 could directly bind to the promoter of Noemi and up-regulate the expression of this gene. These findings explain how the CsPH4–Noemi regulatory complex contributes to the activation of PA biosynthetic genes via a positive feedback loop and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying PA biosynthesis, which can be effectively employed for metabolic engineering to improve citrus fruit quality.

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Identification of DIR1-Dependant Cellular Responses in Guard Cell Systemic Acquired Resistance

Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences ◽

10.3389/fmolb.2021.746523 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Lisa David ◽

Jianing Kang ◽

Josh Nicklay ◽

Craig Dufresne ◽

Sixue Chen

Keyword(s):

Guard Cell ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Systemic Acquired Resistance ◽

Lipid Transfer Protein ◽

Acquired Resistance ◽

Guard Cells ◽

Lipid Transfer ◽

Wild Type ◽

Transfer Protein ◽

In The Wild

After localized invasion by bacterial pathogens, systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is induced in uninfected plant tissues, resulting in enhanced defense against a broad range of pathogens. Although SAR requires mobilization of signaling molecules via the plant vasculature, the specific molecular mechanisms remain elusive. The lipid transfer protein defective in induced resistance 1 (DIR1) was identified in Arabidopsis thaliana by screening for mutants that were defective in SAR. Here, we demonstrate that stomatal response to pathogens is altered in systemic leaves by SAR, and this guard cell SAR defense requires DIR1. Using a multi-omics approach, we have determined potential SAR signaling mechanisms specific for guard cells in systemic leaves by profiling metabolite, lipid, and protein differences between guard cells in the wild type and dir1-1 mutant during SAR. We identified two long-chain 18 C and 22 C fatty acids and two 16 C wax esters as putative SAR-related molecules dependent on DIR1. Proteins and metabolites related to amino acid biosynthesis and response to stimulus were also changed in guard cells of dir1-1 compared to the wild type. Identification of guard cell-specific SAR-related molecules may lead to new avenues of genetic modification/molecular breeding for disease-resistant plants.

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The Tonoplast-Localized Transporter OsNRAMP2 is involved in Fe Homeostasis and affects Seed Germination in rice

Journal of Experimental Botany ◽

10.1093/jxb/erab161 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yun Li ◽

Jingjun Li ◽

Yihong Yu ◽

Xia Dai ◽

Changyi Gong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Natural Resistance ◽

Fe Deficiency ◽

Shoot Biomass ◽

Wild Type ◽

Crop Development ◽

In The Wild ◽

Macrophage Protein ◽

Fe Homeostasis ◽

Fe Toxicity

Abstract Vacuolar storage of iron (Fe) is important for Fe homeostasis in plants. When sufficient, the excess Fe could be stored in vacuoles for remobilization in case of Fe deficiency. Although the mechanism of Fe remobilization from vacuoles is critical for crop development under low Fe stress, the transporters that mediate vacuolar Fe translocation into the cytosol in rice remains unknown. Here, we showed that under higher Fe 2+ concentrations, the Δccc1 yeast mutant transformed with rice natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 2 (OsNRAMP2) became more sensitive to Fe toxicity. In rice protoplasts and transgenic plants expressing Pro35S: OsNRAMP2-GFP, OsNRAMP2 was localized to tonoplast. Vacuolar Fe contents in osnramp2 knockdown lines were higher than in the wild-type, while the growth of osnramp2 knockdown plants was significantly influenced by Fe deficiency. Furthermore, the germination of osnramp2 knockdown plants was arrested. Inversely, the vacuolar Fe contents of Pro35S: OsNRAMP2-GFP lines were significantly lower than in the wild-type, and overexpression of OsNRAMP2 increased shoot biomass under Fe deficiency. Taken together, we propose that OsNRAMP2 transports Fe from the vacuole to the cytosol and plays a pivotal role in seed germination.

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Freeze-substituted fungal cells of Nectria haematococca: A comparison of the macroconidial walls of the adhesion-competent wild type with an adhesion-reduced mutant

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100160996 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 688-689

Author(s):

Thecan Caesar-Ton That ◽

Lynn Epstein

Keyword(s):

Freeze Substitution ◽

Uranyl Acetate ◽

Wild Type ◽

Nectria Haematococca ◽

Fruit Extract ◽

Dialysis Tubing ◽

Tube Emergence ◽

Contrast Microscopy ◽

In The Wild ◽

Freeze Damage

Nectria haematococca mating population I (anamorph, Fusarium solani) macroconidia attach to its host (squash) and non-host surfaces prior to germ tube emergence. The macroconidia become adhesive after a brief period of protein synthesis. Recently, Hickman et al. (1989) isolated N. haematococca adhesion-reduced mutants. Using freeze substitution, we compared the development of the macroconidial wall in the wild type in comparison to one of the mutants, LEI.Macroconidia were harvested at 1C, washed by centrifugation, resuspended in a dilute zucchini fruit extract and incubated from 0 - 5 h. During the incubation period, wild type macroconidia attached to uncoated dialysis tubing. Mutant macroconidia did not attach and were collected on poly-L-lysine coated dialysis tubing just prior to freezing. Conidia on the tubing were frozen in liquid propane at 191 - 193C, substituted in acetone with 2% OsO4 and 0.05% uranyl acetate, washed with acetone, and flat-embedded in Epon-Araldite. Using phase contrast microscopy at 1000X, cells without freeze damage were selected, remounted, sectioned and post-stained sequentially with 1% Ba(MnO4)2 2% uranyl acetate and Reynold’s lead citrate. At least 30 cells/treatment were examined.

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Rad51-Independent Interchromosomal Double-Strand Break Repair by Gene Conversion Requires Rad52 but Not Rad55, Rad57, or Dmc1

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.00524-07 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 897-906 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Thomas J. Pohl ◽

Jac A. Nickoloff

Keyword(s):

Gene Conversion ◽

Strand Break ◽

Double Strand Break ◽

Single Strand ◽

Homology Search ◽

Wild Type ◽

Dsb Repair ◽

Single Strand Annealing ◽

In The Wild ◽

Break Induced Replication

ABSTRACT Homologous recombination (HR) is critical for DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and genome stabilization. In yeast, HR is catalyzed by the Rad51 strand transferase and its “mediators,” including the Rad52 single-strand DNA-annealing protein, two Rad51 paralogs (Rad55 and Rad57), and Rad54. A Rad51 homolog, Dmc1, is important for meiotic HR. In wild-type cells, most DSB repair results in gene conversion, a conservative HR outcome. Because Rad51 plays a central role in the homology search and strand invasion steps, DSBs either are not repaired or are repaired by nonconservative single-strand annealing or break-induced replication mechanisms in rad51Δ mutants. Although DSB repair by gene conversion in the absence of Rad51 has been reported for ectopic HR events (e.g., inverted repeats or between plasmids), Rad51 has been thought to be essential for DSB repair by conservative interchromosomal (allelic) gene conversion. Here, we demonstrate that DSBs stimulate gene conversion between homologous chromosomes (allelic conversion) by >30-fold in a rad51Δ mutant. We show that Rad51-independent allelic conversion and break-induced replication occur independently of Rad55, Rad57, and Dmc1 but require Rad52. Unlike DSB-induced events, spontaneous allelic conversion was detected in both rad51Δ and rad52Δ mutants, but not in a rad51Δ rad52Δ double mutant. The frequencies of crossovers associated with DSB-induced gene conversion were similar in the wild type and the rad51Δ mutant, but discontinuous conversion tracts were fivefold more frequent and tract lengths were more widely distributed in the rad51Δ mutant, indicating that heteroduplex DNA has an altered structure, or is processed differently, in the absence of Rad51.

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