Three Arabidopsis genes encoding proteins with differential activities for cysteine synthase and β-cyanoalanine synthase

Yube Yamaguchi, Tatsuo Nakamura, Tomonobu Kusano, Hiroshi Sano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Three cDNA clones encoding putative cysteine synthases (O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase, EC 4.2.99.8) were isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana and designated AtcysC1, AtcysD1 and AtcysD2, respectively. Southern blot analyses suggested that the corresponding genes were present as a single copy, or at most two copies, in the A. thaliana genome. Escherichia coli complementation analyses confirmed that the cDNAs encode cysteine synthase and the corresponding proteins produced in E. coli clearly showed cysteine synthase activity. In addition, AtcysC1 protein showed β-cyanoalanine synthase (EC 4.4.1.9) activity, but the other two did not. Kinetic analysis suggests that AtcysC1 actually functions as β-cyanoalanine synthase rather than cysteine synthase in vivo. The mRNA accumulation of AtcysC1, AtcysD1 and AtcysD2 differed in various organs, but did not change markedly when A. thaliana seedlings were subjected to various stresses, including nutrient deprivation. In vivo targeting experiments indicated that AtcysD1 and AtcysD2 are cytoplasmic isozymes, and AtcysC1 is a mitochondrial isozyme.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)465-476
Number of pages12
JournalPlant and Cell Physiology
Volume41
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Arabidopsis thaliana
  • Cysteine synthase
  • Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate
  • β-cyanoalanine synthase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Plant Science
  • Cell Biology

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