Ndiko Ludidi

Salt and osmotic stress cause rapid increases in Arabidopsis thaliana cGMP levels

A guanylyl cyclase has been recently identified in Arabidopsis but, despite the use of pharmacological inhibitors to infer roles of the second messenger 3′,5′‐cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), very few measurements of actual cGMP levels in plants are available. Here, we demonstrate that cGMP levels in Arabidopsis seedlings increase rapidly (⩽5 s) and to different degrees after salt and osmotic stress, and that the increases are prevented by treatment with LY, an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclases. In addition, we provide evidence to suggest that salt stress activates two cGMP signalling pathways – an osmotic, calcium‐independent pathway and an ionic, calcium‐dependent pathway.

Expansin-Like Molecules: Novel Functions Derived from Common Domains

Abstract. An Arabidopsis thaliana transcript (AtPNP-A) encoding an immunoreactant plant natriuretic peptide (irPNP) analog was identified and isolated. The encoded protein shows similarity to CjBAp12, a functionally undefined protein from citrus that is induced in response to blight infection. CjBAp12 shows significant sequence identity to domains found in the cell wall loosening expansins but has tested negative for cell wall loosening activity. We have thus undertaken to establish the evolutionary and functional relationships of irPNP-like molecules within the superfamily of expansins, pollen allergens, and distantly related molecules such as endoglucanases. We show that irPNP-like molecules are related to expansins and fall in two groups; one includes CjBAp12 and the other AtPNP-A. Members of both groups share distinct sequence motifs (K[VI]VD and [LM]SxxAFxxI) but do not contain the tryptophan and tyrosine rich C-terminal putative polysaccharide-binding domain typical of expansins or bacterial cellulases and hemicellulases. We argue that both irPNP-like molecules and expansin have evolved from primitive/ancestral glucanase-like molecules that hydrolysed the cell wall. Importantly, we have previously demonstrated that irPNPs act on protoplasts, that is plant cells without cell walls as well as microsomes, indicating that these novel proteins specifically interact with the plasma membrane. It follows that the cell wall cannot be an obligatory substrate for irPNPs. Thus, both irPNP function and domain structure point to these molecules having a systemic role in H2O and solute homeostasis.

Identification of a novel Arabidopsis thaliana nitric oxide-binding molecule with guanylate cyclase activity in vitro

While there is evidence of nitric oxide (NO)‐dependent signalling via the second messenger cyclic guanosine 3′,5′‐monophosphate (cGMP) in plants, guanylate cyclases (GCs), enzymes that catalyse the formation of cGMP from guanosine 5′‐triphosphate (GTP) have until recently remained elusive and none of the candidates identified to‐date are NO‐dependent. Using both a GC and heme‐binding domain specific (H‐NOX) search motif, we have identified an Arabidopsis flavin monooxygenase (At1g62580) and shown electrochemically that it binds NO, has a higher affinity for NO than for O2 and that this molecule can generate cGMP from GTP in vitro in an NO‐dependent manner.

Gibberellic acid and cGMP-dependent transcriptional regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

An ever increasing amount of transcriptomic data and analysis tools provide novel insight into complex responses of biological systems. Given these resources we have undertaken to review aspects of transcriptional regulation in response to the plant hormone gibberellic acid (GA) and its second messenger guanosine 3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in Arabidopsis thaliana, both wild type and selected mutants. Evidence suggests enrichment of GA-responsive (GARE) elements in promoters of genes that are transcriptionally up-regulated in response to cGMP but down-regulated in a GA insensitive mutant (ga1-3). In contrast, in the genes up-regulated in the mutant, no enrichment in the GARE is observed suggesting that GARE elements are diagnostic for GA-induced and cGMP-dependent transcriptional up-regulation. Further, we review how expression studies of GA-dependent transcription factors and transcriptional networks based on common promoter signatures derived from ab initio analyses can contribute to our understanding of plant responses at the systems level.

Nitric oxide increases the enzymatic activity of three ascorbate peroxidase isoforms in soybean root nodules

Ascorbate peroxidase is one of the major enzymes regulating the levels of H2O2 in plants and plays a crucial role in maintaining root nodule redox status. We used fully developed and mature nitrogen fixing root nodules from soybean plants to analyse the effect of exogenously applied nitric oxide, generated from the nitric oxide donor 2,2′-(hydroxynitrosohydrazono)bis-ethanimine, on the enzymatic activity of soybean root nodule ascorbate peroxidase. Nitric oxide caused an increase in the total enzymatic activity of ascorbate peroxidase. The nitric oxide-induced changes in ascorbate peroxidase enzymatic activity were coupled to altered nodule H2O2 content. Further analysis of ascorbate peroxidase enzymatic activity identified three ascorbate peroxidase isoforms for which augmented enzymatic activity occurred in response to nitric oxide. Our results demonstrate that nitric oxide regulates soybean root nodule ascorbate peroxidase activity. We propose a role of nitric oxide in regulating ascorbate-dependent redox status in soybean root nodule tissue.

Caspase-like enzymatic activity and the ascorbate-glutathione cycle participate in salt stress tolerance of maize conferred by exogenously applied nitric oxide

Salinity stress causes ionic stress (mainly from high Na+ and Cl- levels) and osmotic stress (as a result of inhibition of water uptake by roots and amplified water loss from plant tissue), resulting in cell death and inhibition of growth and ultimately adversely reducing crop productivity. In this report, changes in root nitric oxide content, shoot and root biomass, root H2O2 content, root lipid peroxidation, root cell death, root caspase-like enzymatic activity, root antioxidant enzymatic activity and root ascorbate and glutathione contents/redox states were investigated in maize (Zea mays L. cv Silverking) after long-term (21 d) salt stress (150 mM NaCl) with or without exogenously applied nitric oxide generated from the nitric oxide donor 2,2′-(Hydroxynitrosohydrazano)bis-ethane. In addition to reduced shoot and root biomass, salt stress increased the nitric oxide and H2O2 contents in the maize roots and resulted in elevated lipid peroxidation, caspase-like activity and cell death in the roots. Altered antioxidant enzymatic activities, along with changes in ascorbate and glutathione contents/redox status were observed in the roots in response to salt stress. The detrimental effects of salt stress in the roots were reversed by exogenously applied nitric oxide. These results demonstrate that exogenously applied nitric oxide confers salt stress tolerance in maize by reducing salt stress-induced oxidative stress and caspase-like activity through a process that limits accumulation of reactive oxygen species via enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activity.

Endogenous NO levels regulate nodule functioning Potential role of cGMP in nodule functioning

Nitric oxide is a small gaseous signaling molecule which functions in the regulation of plant development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Recently, we have shown that nitric oxide is required for development of functional nodules. Here, we show that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase enzymatic activity (using Nω-nitro-L-arginine) reduces nitric oxide content in soybean root nodules and this is coupled by reduction of endogenous cyclic guanosine monophosphate content in the nodules. We postulate that the regulation of soybean nodule development by nitric oxide is transduced via cyclic guanosine monophosphate through activation of nitric oxide-responsive soluble guanylate cyclase. Furthermore, we hypothesize that this signaling cascade is mediated via modulation of the activities of antioxidant metabolic pathways.

Nitric oxide affects salt-induced changes in free amino acid levels in maize

It was assumed that salt-induced redox changes affect amino acid metabolism in maize (Zea mays L.), and this influence may be modified by NO. The applied NaCl treatment reduced the fresh weight of shoots and roots. This decrease was smaller after the combined application of NaCl and an NO-donor ((Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate, DETA/NO) in the shoots, while it was greater after simultaneous treatment with NaCl and nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, inhibitor of NO synthesis) in the roots. The quantum yield efficiency of photosystem II was not influenced by the treatments. NaCl had a significant effect on the redox environment in the leaves as it was shown by the increase in the amount of glutathione disulphide and in the redox potential of the glutathione/glutathione disulphide redox pair. This influence of NaCl was modified by DETA/NO and L-NNA. Pharmacological modification of NO levels affected salt-induced changes in both the total free amino acid content and in the free amino acid composition. NaCl alone increased the concentration of almost all amino acids which effect was strengthened by DETA/NO in the case of Pro. L-NNA treatment resulted in a significant increase in the Ala, Val, Gly and Tyr contents. The Ile, Lys and Val concentrations rose considerably after the combined application of NaCl and DETA/NO compared to NaCl treatment alone in the recovery phase. NaCl also increased the expression of several genes related to the amino acid and antioxidant metabolism, and this effect was modified by DETA/NO. In conclusion, modification of NO levels affected salt-induced, glutathione-dependent redox changes and simultaneously the free amino acid composition and the level of several free amino acids. The observed much higher Pro content in plants treated with both NaCl and DETA/NO during recovery may contribute to the protective effect of NO against salt stress.

Modification of cadaverine content by NO in salt-stressed maize

NO has an important role in the control of plant development, growth, and the response to abiotic stress. In our recent paper it was demonstrated that NO affected the salt-induced changes in free amino acid levels in maize.1 Since polyamines are synthesized from lysine and arginine, it was supposed that their concentrations are also influenced by NO. Cadaverine levels were increased by a NO donor and decreased by an inhibitor of NO synthesis in salt-stressed maize. These findings indicate that NO participates in the mediation of the effect of salt on cadaverine content. The coordinated changes in the NO and cadaverine levels may be involved in regulating of the response to salt stress in maize.

Measurement of Nitric Oxide in Plant Tissue Using Difluorofluorescein and Oxyhemoglobin

Nitric oxide (NO) is now well established as a signalling molecule in plants, regulating various physiological processes ranging from development to responses to pathogens and changes in the physical environment. Various methods for the detection of NO in plant tissue have been described, and all of these methods have serious limitations that impact their utility for accurate detection of NO in plant tissues. Despite such limitations, both difluorofluorescein diacetate and oxyhemoglobin present convenient and relatively easy approaches for measuring NO in plant tissue and their utility can be enhanced by including appropriate controls to address some of the limitations that these two methods have. This chapter provides methods for measuring or detecting NO production in plant tissue using either difluorofluorescein diacetate or oxyhemoglobin.