Effect of Chilling on Assimilatory Sulfate Reduction and Glutathione Synthesis in Maize

• Published in: Journal of plant physiology 1995-09, Vol.146 (5), p.743-747
• Main Authors: Brunner, Monika, Kocsy, Gábor, Rftegsegger, Adrian, Schmutz, Daniel, Brunold, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adenosine 5' phosphosulfate sulfotransferase; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; chilling; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutathione; glutathione synthetase; Metabolism; nitrate reductase; Nitrogen metabolism; Nitrogen metabolism and other ones (excepting carbon metabolism); Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; Plant physiology and development; Zea mays; γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase
• ISSN: 0176-1617; 1618-1328
• DOI: 10.1016/S0176-1617(11)81942-5

The contents of cysteine, γ-glutamylcysteine and glutathione, as well as the activity of enzymes of assimilatory sulfate reduction and glutathione synthesis in second leaves and root tips of maize seedlings ( Zea mays L. cv. LG 11) cultivated at low temperatures, were compared with controls grown at 25 °C. In vitro nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) activity was measured for comparison. Compared with the controls, adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulf otransf erase activity was 3.5- and 5.5-fold higher at 12 °C in second leaves and root tips, respectively. After 3 days of growth, the activity of y,-glutamylcysteine synthetase (EC 6.3.2.2) and glutathione synthetase (EC 6.3.2.3) in the second leaves was also significantly higher at 12 °C compared with 25 °C. Consistent with these enzyme activities, there was an increase in cysteine and glutathione contents both in second leaves and root tips after 3 days of growth at 12 °C. Nitrate reductase activity of second leaves and root tips was not affected by growth at 12 °C, indicating that the increase in adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase activity and of the enzymes of glutathione synthesis was specific. Our results demonstrate that the increased activity of a key enzyme of assimilatory sulfate reduction and of the enzymes of glutathione synthesis contribute to the increased glutathione levels measured at 12 °C.