Riccardo Angelini

A 30 Å long U-shaped catalytic tunnel in the crystal structure of polyamine oxidase

Abstract Background: Polyamines are essential for cell growth and differentiation; compounds interfering with their metabolism are potential anticancer agents. Polyamine oxidase (PAO) plays a central role in polyamine homeostasis. The enzyme utilises an FAD cofactor to catalyse the oxidation of the secondary amino groups of spermine and spermidine. Results: The first crystal structure of a polyamine oxidase has been determined to a resolution of 1.9 A. PAO from Zea mays contains two domains, which define a remarkable 30 Along U-shaped catalytic tunnel at their interface. The structure of PAO in complex with the inhibitor MDL72527 reveals the residues forming the catalytic machinery and unusual enzyme-inhibitor CH···O H bonds. A ring of glutamate and aspartate residues surrounding one of the two tunnel openings contributes to the steering of the substrate towards the inside of the tunnel. Conclusions: PAO specifically oxidises substrates that have both primary and secondary amino groups. The complex with MDL72527 shows that the primary amino groups are essential for the proper alignment of the substrate with respect to the flavin. Conservation of an N-terminal sequence motif indicates that PAO is member of a novel family of flavoenzymes. Among these, monoamine oxidase displays significant sequence homology with PAO, suggesting a similar overall folding topology.

Heterologous expression and biochemical characterization of a polyamine oxidase from Arabidopsis involved in polyamine back conversion

Polyamine oxidase (PAO) is a flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent enzyme involved in polyamine catabolism. Animal PAOs oxidize spermine (Spm), spermidine (Spd), and/or their acetyl derivatives to produce H2O2, an aminoaldehyde, and Spd or putrescine, respectively, thus being involved in a polyamine back-conversion pathway. On the contrary, plant PAOs that have been characterized to date oxidize Spm and Spd to produce 1,3-diaminopropane, H2O2, and an aminoaldehyde and are therefore involved in the terminal catabolism of polyamines. A database search within the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome sequence showed the presence of a gene (AtPAO1) encoding for a putative PAO with 45% amino acid sequence identity with maize (Zea mays) PAO. The AtPAO1 cDNA was isolated and cloned in a vector for heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography on guazatine-Sepharose 4B and was shown to be a flavoprotein able to oxidize Spm, norspermine, and N1-acetylspermine with a pH optimum at 8.0. Analysis of the reaction products showed that AtPAO1 produces Spd from Spm and norspermidine from norspermine, demonstrating a substrate oxidation mode similar to that of animal PAOs. To our knowledge, AtPAO1 is the first plant PAO reported to be involved in a polyamine back-conversion pathway.

Spatial and functional correlation between diamine-oxidase and peroxidase activities and their dependence upon de-etiolation and wounding in chick-pea stems

The activities of diamine oxidase (DAO, EC 1.4.3.6) and peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) were determined along the stems of light-grown Cicer arietinum L. (chick-pea) seedlings. Enzyme activities were evaluated in the soluble, lightly bound (salt extraction) and tightly bound (Driselase digestion) wall fractions, and in residual fractions obtained from the different internodes. Apparent tissue distributions of both enzymes and lignin depositions were visualised by means of histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. A close relationship was found between DAO and POD activities in the soluble and wall fractions along the stem. The biochemical activities of both enzymes decreased from the base to the apex of the stem in parallel with the distribution pattern of lignifying tissues in this organ. A similar activity gradient was found for each enzyme along the epidermis of the whole organ. Moreover, deetiolation elicited a rise in the activities of both enzymes in this tissue. Wounding chick-pea stems induced parallel increases in DAO and POD activities in the soluble and wall fractions. In-situ histochemical detection of both enzymes demonstrated the parallel occurrence of the DAO/POD system and lignosuberised depositions in the cell walls adjacent to the wound site. The patterns of POD isoforms resulting from the wound-healing process were determined by means of starch-gel electrophoresis. In addition to changes in relative intensity of enzyme bands in soluble and wall fractions, a new POD isoform, possibly related to the wounding response, appeared in the soluble fraction. This isoform was shown to be lightly bound to cell walls as it could be detected in the extracellular fluids obtained from wound-healed seedlings. On the basis of the above-mentioned results, a strict spatial and functional correlation can be inferred between DAO and POD in chick-pea, and probably in other Leguminosae species, in accordance with previous evidence indicating an integrated role for these enzymes in the apoplast.

Histochemical evidence of polyamine oxidation and generation of hydrogen peroxide in the cell wall

Summary Hydrogen peroxide generation by polyamine oxidation in the apoplast of some members of Leguminosae and Gramineae was investigated using biochemical, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Transversal sections obtained from the basal internode of light-grown epicotyls of Cicer arietinum L. and from mesocotyls of Zea mais L. were tested histochemically for peroxidase activity. The sections, incubated in syringaldazine or 4-chloro-l-naphthol, plus H202, showed a strong staining of the apoplast of sclerenchymatous fibers, endodermis (maize mesocotyl), xylem and vascular parenchyma. A positive reaction was also observed in the cell walls of the epidermis. All these structures, except in the epidermis, were positive with the phloroglucinol/HCI test for lignin. Control sections, incubated with catalase plus syringaldazine or 4-chloro-l-naphthol showed no staining. Addition of putrescine (chick-pea) or spermine (maize) to these sections gave the same histochemical pattern as observed after addition of hydrogen peroxide. These results indicate the occurrence of both peroxidases and amine oxidases in the apoplast of the above-mentioned tissues. Diamine oxidase occurrence in the apoplast of different tissues of chick-pea epicotyls was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry. These results suggest an involvement of polyamine oxidation in the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide possibly utilized by wall isoperoxidases for lignification and wall stiffening.

Plant amine oxidases “on the move”: An update

Amine oxidases (AOs) catalyse the oxidative de-amination of polyamines, ubiquitous polycationic compounds involved in important events of cell life. They include the copper-containing amine oxidases (CuAOs; EC 1.4.3.6) and the flavin-containing polyamine oxidases (PAOs; EC 1.5.3.11). The main physiological role of these moonlighting proteins has been linked to compartment-specific H2O2 synthesis in different phases of development and differentiation as well as in the course of defence mechanisms against pathogens and abiotic stress. Moreover, several studies evidenced a correlation of AO expression levels with physiological stages characterized by intense metabolism, such as cell division or organ formation, thus leaving open the hypothesis that AOs may have also a role in the regulation of cell cycle through the modulation of polyamine cellular content. This update will deal with recent reports on the involvement of CuAOs and PAOs in abiotic (salt) stress, wound-healing and host-pathogen interactions.

Copper amine oxidase expression in defense responses to wounding and Ascochyta rabiei invasion.

Wounding chickpea (Cicer arietinum) internodes or cotyledons resulted in an increase in the steady-state level of copper amine oxidase (CuAO) expression both locally and systemically. Dissection of the molecular mechanisms controlling CuAO expression indicated that jasmonic acid worked as a potent inducer of the basal and wound-inducible CuAO expression, whereas salicylic acid and abscisic acid caused a strong reduction of the wound-induced CuAO expression, without having any effect on the basal levels. Epicotyl treatment with the CuAO mechanism-based inhibitor 2-bromoethylamine decreased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in all the internodes, as evidenced in vivo by 3,3′-diaminobenzidine oxidation. Moreover, inhibitor pretreatment of wounded epicotyls resulted in a lower accumulation of H2O2 both at the wound site and in distal organs. In vivo CuAO inhibition by 2-bromoethylamine after inoculation of resistant chickpea cv Sultano with Ascochyta rabiei resulted in the development of extended necrotic lesions, with extensive cell damage occurring in sclerenchyma and cortical parenchyma tissues. These results, besides stressing the fine-tuning by key signaling molecules in wound-induced CuAO regulation, demonstrate that local and systemic CuAO induction is essential for H2O2 production in response to wounding and indicate the relevance of these enzymes in protection against pathogens.

FAD-containing polyamine oxidases: a timely challenge for researchers in biochemistry and physiology of plants

Recent investigations on plant polyamine oxidase (PAO) are reviewed. The enzyme belongs to a new class of flavoenzymes with similar structural features including, among others, monoamine oxidase. Plant PAOs catalyse the oxidation of the polyamine substrates spermidine and spermine. The reaction products are propane-1,3-diamine and 1-pyrroline or 1-(3-aminopropyl)pyrrolinium, respectively, along with hydrogen peroxide. Plant PAOs are predominantly localised in the cell wall. Purification procedures and molecular properties of several plant PAOs are compared. A special attention is being paid to the recently solved crystal structure of the maize enzyme and its implications for the substrate binding and catalytic mechanism. Substrate specificity and inhibitors of plant PAOs are also described. The potential roles for PAO-generated H(2)O(2) in lignin biosynthesis and cell wall cross-linking reactions, which may regulate growth and contribute to cell defence, are discussed.

Polyamine oxidase, a hydrogen peroxide-producing enzyme, is up-regulated by light and down-regulated by auxin in the outer tissues of the maize mesocotyl.

Exogenously supplied auxin (1-naphthaleneacetic acid) inhibited light-induced activity increase of polyamine oxidase (PAO), a hydrogen peroxide-producing enzyme, in the outer tissues of maize (Zea mays) mesocotyl. The same phenomenon operates at PAO protein and mRNA accumulation levels. The wall-bound to extractable PAO activity ratio was unaffected by auxin treatment, either in the dark or after light exposure. Ethylene treatment did not affect PAO activity, thus excluding an effect of auxin via increased ethylene biosynthesis. The auxin polar transport inhibitorsN 1-naphthylphthalamic acid or 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid caused a further increase of PAO expression in outer tissues after light treatment. The small increase of PAO expression, normally occurring in the mesocotyl epidermis during plant development in the dark, was also inhibited by auxin, although to a lesser extent with respect to light-exposed tissue, and was stimulated by N 1-naphthylphthalamic acid or 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, thus suggesting a complex regulation of PAO expression. Immunogold ultrastructural analysis in epidermal cells revealed the association of PAO with the secretory pathway and the cell walls. The presence of the enzyme in the cell walls of this tissue greatly increased in response to light treatment. Consistent with auxin effects on light-induced PAO expression, the hormone treatment inhibited the increase in immunogold staining both intraprotoplasmically and in the cell wall. These results suggest that both light and auxin finely tune PAO expression during the light-induced differentiation of the cell wall in the maize mesocotyl epidermal tissues.

Involvement of Polyamine Oxidase in Wound Healing

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is involved in plant defense responses that follow mechanical damage, such as those that occur during herbivore or insect attacks, as well as pathogen attack. H2O2 accumulation is induced during wound healing processes as well as by treatment with the wound signal jasmonic acid. Plant polyamine oxidases (PAOs) are H2O2 producing enzymes supposedly involved in cell wall differentiation processes and defense responses. Maize (Zea mays) PAO (ZmPAO) is a developmentally regulated flavoprotein abundant in primary and secondary cell walls of several tissues. In this study, we investigated the effect of wounding on ZmPAO gene expression in the outer tissues of the maize mesocotyl and provide evidence that ZmPAO enzyme activity, protein, and mRNA levels increased in response to wounding as well as jasmonic acid treatment. Histochemically detected ZmPAO activity especially intensified in the epidermis and in the wound periderm, suggesting a tissue-specific involvement of ZmPAO in wound healing. The role played by ZmPAO-derived H2O2 production in peroxidase-mediated wall stiffening events was further investigated by exploiting the in vivo use of N-prenylagmatine (G3), a selective and powerful ZmPAO inhibitor, representing a reliable diagnostic tool in discriminating ZmPAO-mediated H2O2 production from that generated by peroxidase, oxalate oxidase, or by NADPH oxidase activity. Here, we demonstrate that G3 inhibits wound-induced H2O2 production and strongly reduces lignin and suberin polyphenolic domain deposition along the wound, while it is ineffective in inhibiting the deposition of suberin aliphatic domain. Moreover, ZmPAO ectopic expression in the cell wall of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants strongly enhanced lignosuberization along the wound periderm, providing evidence for a causal relationship between PAO and peroxidase-mediated events during wound healing.

Maize polyamine oxidase: primary structure from protein and cDNA sequencing

The first complete amino acid sequence of a flavin‐containing polyamine oxidase was solved by a combined approach of nucleotide and peptide sequence analysis. A cDNA of 1737 bp, isolated from maize seedlings by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends strategies, was cloned and its sequence determined. This cDNA contains information for a polypeptide chain of 500 amino acids. Its amino‐terminal sequence shows the typical features of secretion signal peptides. The primary structure of the mature protein was independently confirmed by extensive amino acid sequencing. Structural relationships with flavin‐containing monoamine oxidases are also discussed.