L. Mark Lagrimini

Phytohormone control of the tobacco anionic peroxidase promoter

The tobacco anionic peroxidase gene encodes the predominant peroxidase isoenzyme in the aerial portions of tobacco. Three kb of the peroxidase promoter was joined to the coding region of theEscherichia coli β-glucuronidase gene (GUS), and transiently expressed in tobacco mesophyll protoplasts in the presence or absence of plant growth regulators. Benzyladenine, ethylene, and gibberellic acid did not affect peroxidase gene expression. Abscisic acid slightly inhibited expression at high concentrations. The auxins indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and naphthaleneacetic acid strongly suppressed peroxidase expression. We observed half maximal suppression at 30 μM IAA. An antiauxin,p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB), enhanced expression from the peroxidase promoter above that of untreated controls or restored activity when used in combination with IAA. Sequencing 3 kb of the peroxidase promoter revealed many potential regulatory elements based on sequence homology to previously characterized genes. This includes several consensus transcription factor binding sites found in auxin-regulated promoters. 5′ deletions of the peroxidase promoter/GUS fusion revealed several positive and negative regulatory elements. An upstream enhancer element was found between −3146 and −638 from the start of transcription. A strong silencer element was observed between −638 and −220. Removal of this silencer resulted in a truncated promoter (−220) with 100% activity of the full-length promoter (−3146). Inhibition by auxin was observed with all 5′ deletions.

Expression of the tobacco anionic peroxidase gene is tissue-specific and developmentally regulated

Transcriptionally regulated expression of tobacco anionic peroxidase was investigated with regard to tissue specificity and developmental regulation. Two tobacco species, Nicotiana sylvestris and Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi, were stably transformed with a gene chimera composed of 3 kb of the tobacco anionic peroxidase promoter, the Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase (GUS) coding region and the nopaline synthase terminator. Gene expression was regulated spatially and developmentally in all organs, and generally increased with age and maturity of the plant, tissue or organ. In the aerial portions of the plant, GUS activity was strongly expressed in trichomes and epidermis at nearly all developmental stages. In later stages of development, activity was also detected in ground tissue and parenchyma cells associated with vascular tissues. Activity in roots was limited to cortical cells and vascular-associated parenchyma cells. In reproductive tissue, expression was observed in sepals and petals before anthesis, and in all floral organs after anthesis. Expression was never detected in vascular tissue and was poorly correlated with lignification except in the cells surrounding primary xylem and pericyclic fibers in N. sylvestris. These studies suggest that this peroxidase isoenzyme is only limitedly involved in lignification but may be important in plant defense, growth and development.

Transformation of Liquidambar styraciflua using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

SummaryWe describe the molecular transformation of Liquidambar styraciflua using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A binary TI-plasmid vector containing a chimeric neomycin phosphotransferagene which confers resistance to kanamycin and either a chimeric Bacillus thuringiensis toxin gene, a chimeric E. coli β-glucuronida(GUS), or a chimeric tobacco anionic peroxidase gene was introduced into sweetgum by co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Sweetgum shoots regenerated in the presence of kanamycin were confirmed to be transformed by genomic DNA blots or the presence of GUS activity. The optimization of the transformation protocol and the incorporation of molecular transformation into a rapid germplasm improvement protocol are discussed.

Tobacco anionic peroxidase overexpressed in transgenic plants: Aerobic oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid

Abstract We have investigated the catalytic properties of the tobacco anionic peroxidase with regards to the oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). As judged by oxygen uptake, the homogeneous enzyme was capable of oxidizing IAA in the absence of additional cofactors such as manganese ion, hydrogen peroxide and phenols. Phenolic substrates such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acids, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt or phenol inhibited the oxidation of IAA. The spectral changes in the course of IAA oxidation allow us to conclude that the oxidation cycle is functioning separately from peroxidation. The addition of trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide to the reaction eliminates a distinctive lag phase in the consumption of oxygen. This activation by hydrogen peroxide is connected with the formation of compound II, which appears to be a key intermediate in the oxidation process. However, there is still no direct evidence regarding the mechanism of initiation of IAA oxidation, though the appearance of the ferrous form has been clearly demonstrated. There is some indirect evidence of IAA hydroperoxide formation in the course of aerobic oxidation of IAA by the tobacco enzyme based on the slight inhibition effect of catalase. The results obtained have been rationalized in the reaction scheme, which proposes the existence of an enzyme-substrate complex and is in agreement with the previous data on IAA oxidation catalysed by horseradich and turnip peroxidases.

Aerobic oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid catalysed by anionic and cationic peanut peroxidase

The catalytic properties of anionic and cationic peanut peroxidases with regards to the oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by molecular oxygen at low pH have been studied. Transient kinetic studies demonstrate that only cationic peroxidases (peanut and horseradish) but not anionic peroxidases (such as anionic tobacco and anionic peanut peroxidases) form a stable compound III in the course of IAA oxidation. The failure to observe inhibition in the presence of superoxide dismutase is consistent with the formation of compound III from a ternary complex comprising ferric enzyme, IAA and dioxygen at the initiation step. Product analysis by HPLC showed an enhanced rate of IAA oxidation in the presence of superoxide dismutase. Co-addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase demonstrates that this stimulation is not due to the formation of hydrogen peroxide. The correlation between initial rates of IAA degradation and product accumulation indicates that skatole hydroperoxide is a primary reaction product and indole-3-methanol is the product of its subsequent enzymatic reduction. The relative catalytic activities for IAA oxidation by tobacco:horseradish isoenzyme c:anionic peanut:cationic peanut peroxidase are 28:20:2:1.

Relative Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Tissues Expressing High Levels of Tobacco Anionic Peroxidase to Different Insect Species

Different parts of genetically transformed tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants that express the tobacco anionic peroxidase were compared for insect resistance with corresponding wild type plants. Leaf feeding by first instar Helicoverpa zea and Manduca sexta was often significantly reduced on intact transgenic plants and/or leaf disks compared to wild type plants, but the effect could depend on leaf age. Leaves of transgenic plants were generally as susceptible to feeding damage by third instar Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Manduca sexta (L.) as wild type plants. Green fruit was equally susceptible to third instar larvae of H. zea in both type plants, but fruit of transgenic plants were more resistant to first instar larvae as indicated by significantly greater mortality. Basal stem sections were more resistant to neonate larvae of H. zea and adults of Carpophilus lugubris Murray compared to wild type plants as indicated by significantly greater mortality and/or reduced feeding damage. Thus, tobacco anionic peroxidase activity can increase plant resistance to insects in tomato, a plant species closely related to the original source plant species, when expressed at sufficiently high levels. However, the degree of resistance is dependent on the size of insect and plant tissue involved.

Tobacco anionic peroxidase often increases resistance to insects in different dicotyledonous species

Different species and strains of tobacco (Nicotiana spp), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) that had total peroxidase activity enhanced by a few- to over 100-fold through the expression of a tobacco anionic peroxidase gene driven by a cauliflower mosaic promoter were compared with wild-type plants for resistance to relevant insects. Reduced levels of feeding were generally noticed for leaves, stems and fruit, but the age of tissues and insects influenced the response. Enhanced resistance to Helicoverpa zea and Manduca sexta were noted for tobacco and tomato, and resistance to Hyphantria cunea and Lymantria dispar were noted for sweetgum. In several cases increased mortality and/or reduced growth rates were noted for the high-peroxidase plants. Although many modes of action are possible, indirect comparisons and gravitational nutritional studies suggest peroxidase-enhanced rates of production of compounds toxic to the insects are the most important.

Direct and Mediated Electron Transfer Catalyzed by Anionic Tobacco Peroxidase: Effect of Calcium Ions

The properties of anionic tobacco peroxidase (TOP) adsorbed on graphite electrode have been studied in direct and mediated electron transfer in a wall-jet flow injection system. The percentage of tobacco peroxidase molecules active in directelectron transfer is about 83%, which is higher than that for horeradish peroxidase (40–50%). This observation is explained in terms of the lower degree of glycosylation of TOP compared with horseradish peroxidase and, therefore, a reduced in terference from the oligosaccharide chains with direct electron transfer. Calcium ions cause an 11% drop in the reaction rate constant toward hydrogen peroxide. The detection limit of calcium chloride has been estimated as 5 m M. The results obtained by means of bioeletrochemistry, stopped-flow kinetics, and structural modeling provide evidence for the interaction between calcium cations and negatively charged residues at the distal domain (Glu-141, heme propionates, Asp-79, Asp-80) blocking the activesite. The observation that both soluble and immobilized enzyme under go conformational changes resulting in the blockade of the active site indicates that the immobilized enzyme preserves conformational flexibility. An even stronger suppressing effect of calcium ions on the rate constant for mediated electron transfer was observed. In the case of direct electron transfer, this couldmean that there is nodirect contact between the electrode and the active site of TOP. The electrons are shuttled from the active site to the surface of the electrode through electron transfer pathways in the protein globule that are sensitive to protein conformational changes.

Luminol Oxidation by Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by Tobacco Anionic Peroxidase: Steady‐State Luminescent and Transient Kinetic Studies

The properties of a newly isolated anionic tobacco peroxidase from transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the enzyme have been studied with respect to the chemiluminescent reaction of luminol oxidation. These were compared to the properties of horseradish peroxidase in the cooxidation of luminol and p‐iodophenol, the enhanced chemiluminescence reaction. The pH, luminol and hydrogen peroxide concentrations were optimized for maximum sensitivity using the tobacco enzyme. The detection limit for the latter under the optimal conditions (2.5 mM luminol, 2 mM hydrogen peroxide, 100 mM Naborate buffer, pH 9.3) was about 0.1 pM, which is at least five times lower than that for horseradish peroxidase in enhanced chemiluminescence with p‐iodophenol. The rate constants for the elementary steps of the enzyme‐catalyzed reaction have been determined: k1= 4.9 × 106M−1 s1, k2= 7.3 × 106M−1 s−1, k3= 2.1 × 106M−1 s−1 (pH 9.3). The similarity of these rate constants is unusual for plant peroxidases. The high catalytic activity of tobacco peroxidase in the luminescent reaction is explained by the high reactivity of its Compound II toward luminol and the high stability of the holoenzyme with respect to heme dissociation. This seems to be a unique property of this particular enzyme among other plant peroxidases.

Anaerobic stopped-flow studies of indole-3-acetic acid oxidation by dioxygen catalysed by horseradish C and anionic tobacco peroxidase at neutral pH: catalase effect

The effect of order of reagent mixing in the absence and in the presence of catalase on the transient kinetics of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) oxidation by dioxygen catalysed by horseradish peroxidase C and anionic tobacco peroxidase at neutral pH has been studied. The data suggest that haem-containing plant peroxidases are able to catalyse the reaction in the absence of exogenous hydroperoxide. The initiation proceeds via the formation of the ternary complex enzyme-->IAA-->oxygen responsible for IAA primary radical generation. The horseradish peroxidase-catalysed reaction is independent of catalase indicating a significant contribution of free radical processes into the overall mechanism. This is in contrast to the tobacco peroxidase-catalysed reaction where the peroxidase cycle plays an important role. The transient kinetics of IAA oxidation catalysed by tobacco peroxidase exhibits a biphasic character with the first phase affected by catalase. The first phase is therefore associated with the common peroxidase cycle while the second is ascribed to native enzyme interaction with skatole peroxy radicals yielding directly Compound II.