Role of C-terminal Cys-rich Region of Phytochelatin Synthase in Tolerance to Cadmium Ion Toxicity

Phytochelatins (PCs) are Cys-rich peptides, synthesized by PC synthase in response to heavy metal ions. The C-terminal Cys-rich region of the PC synthase has homology with functional domains of metallochaperone, metallothionein and thioredoxin. To test the possibility that the C-terminal Cys-rich re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plant biochemistry and biotechnology 2009, Vol.18 (2), p.175-180
Main Authors: Matsumoto, Sachiko, Vestergaard, Mun’delanji, Konishi, Takafumi, Nishikori, Shingo, Shiraki, Kentaro, Tsuji, Naoki, Hirata, Kazumasa, Takagi, Masahiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
antioxidant activity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
cadmium
Cell Biology
Life Sciences
metal ions
phytochelatins
Plant Biochemistry
point mutation
Protein Science
Receptors
toxicity
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Summary:Phytochelatins (PCs) are Cys-rich peptides, synthesized by PC synthase in response to heavy metal ions. The C-terminal Cys-rich region of the PC synthase has homology with functional domains of metallochaperone, metallothionein and thioredoxin. To test the possibility that the C-terminal Cys-rich region of PC synthase has a role in regulating PC synthesis, we introduced point mutations into the PC synthase, replacing Cys³⁵⁸, Cys³⁵⁹ Cys³⁶³ and Cys³⁶⁶ residues with Ala. The mutant PC synthase had a lower PC synthesis ability than the wild-type enzyme. Further, oxidative conditions severely damaged mutant PC synthase whilst the wild-type enzyme suffered less damage, suggesting that the Cys-rich region of PC synthase may play an important role in anti-oxidation activity. Although the C-terminal of PC synthase is not conserved, our studies support the possibility that this region performs several important biological functions.
ISSN:0971-7811
0974-1275
DOI:10.1007/BF03263316