Arabidopsis iron superoxide dismutase 1 protects against methyl viologen-induced oxidative stress in a copper-dependent manner

Iron superoxide dismutase 1 (FSD1) was recently characterized as a plastidial, cytoplasmic, and nuclear superoxide dismutase with osmoprotective and antioxidative functions. However, its role in oxidative stress tolerance is not well understood. Here, we characterized the role of FSD1 in response to methyl viologen (MV)-induced oxidative stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. The findings demonstrated that the antioxidative function of FSD1 depends on the availability of Cu2+ in growth media. Prolonged MV exposure led to a decreased accumulation rate of superoxide, higher levels of hydrogen peroxide production, and higher protein carbonylation in the fsd1 mutants and transgenic plants lacking a plastidial pool of FSD1, compared to the wild type. MV led to a rapid increase in FSD1 activity, followed by a decrease. Chloroplastic localization of FSD1 is necessary for these changes. Proteomic analysis showed that the sensitivity of the fsd1 mutants coincided with decreased abundance of ferredoxin and light PSII harvesting complex proteins, with altered levels of signaling proteins. Collectively, the study provides evidence for the conditional antioxidative function of FSD1 and its possible role in signaling.

FSD1: a plastidial, nuclear and cytoplasmic enzyme relocalizing to the plasma membrane under salinity

Here, we aimed to resolve the developmental expression and subcellular localization of Arabidopsis iron superoxide dismutase FSD1, which belongs to the family of superoxide dismutases (SODs), prominent enzymes decomposing superoxide anion and determining abiotic stress tolerance. We found that fsd1 knockout mutants exhibit reduced lateral root number and that this phenotype was complemented by proFSD1::GFP:FSD1 and proFSD1::FSD1:GFP constructs. Light sheet fluorescence microscopy revealed a temporary accumulation of FSD1-GFP at the site of endosperm rupture during seed germination. In emerged roots, FSD1-GFP showed the highest abundance in cells of the lateral root cap, columella, and endodermis/cortex initials. The largest subcellular pool of FSD1-GFP was localized in the plastid stroma, while it was also located in the nuclei and cytoplasm. FSD1 is crucial for seed germination and salt stress tolerance, which is tightly coupled with FSD1-GFP subcellular relocation to the plasma membrane. FSD1 is most likely involved in superoxide decomposition in the periplasm. This study suggests a new osmoprotective function of SODs in plants.

Crystal structure of an iron superoxide dismutase from the pathogenic amoebaAcanthamoeba castellanii

The iron superoxide dismutase found in the pathogenic amoebaAcanthamoeba castellanii(AcFeSOD) may play essential roles in the survival of the parasite, not only by protecting it from endogenous oxidative stress but also by detoxifying oxidative killing of the parasite by host immune effector cells. TheAcFeSOD protein was expressed in a stable form using anEscherichia coliexpression system and was crystallized by the microbatch and hanging-drop vapour-diffusion methods. The structure was determined to 2.33 Å resolution from a singleAcFeSOD crystal. The crystal belonged to the hexagonal space groupP61and contained 12 molecules forming three tetramers in the asymmetric unit, with an iron ion bound in each molecule. Structural comparisons and sequence alignment ofAcFeSOD with other FeSODs showed a well conserved overall fold and conserved active-site residues with subtle differences.