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Journal ArticleDOI

Role of superoxide dismutases (SODs) in controlling oxidative stress in plants

15 May 2002-Journal of Experimental Botany (Oxford University Press)-Vol. 53, Iss: 372, pp 1331-1341
TL;DR: The finding that the upstream sequences of Mn and peroxisomal Cu/Zn SODs have three common elements suggests a common regulatory pathway, which is borne out in the research literature.
Abstract: Reactive O2 species (ROS) are produced in both unstressed and stressed cells. Plants have welldeveloped defence systems against ROS, involving both limiting the formation of ROS as well as instituting its removal. Under unstressed conditions, the formation and removal of O2 are in balance. However, the defence system, when presented with increased ROS formation under stress conditions, can be overwhelmed. Within a cell, the superoxide dismutases (SODs) constitute the first line of defence against ROS. Specialization of function among the SODs may be due to a combination of the influence of subcellular location of the enzyme and upstream sequences in the genomic sequence. The commonality of elements in the upstream sequences of Fe, Mn and CuuZn SODs suggests a relatively recent origin for those regulatory regions. The differences in the upstream regions of the three FeSOD genes suggest differing regulatory control which is borne out in the research literature. The finding that the upstream sequences of Mn and peroxisomal CuuZn SODs have three common elements suggests a common regulatory pathway. The tools are available to dissect further the molecular basis for antioxidant defence responses in plant cells. SODs are clearly among the most important of those defences, when coupled with the necessary downstream events for full detoxification of ROS.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The biochemistry of ROS and their production sites, and ROS scavenging antioxidant defense machinery are described, which protects plants against oxidative stress damages.

8,259 citations


Cites background from "Role of superoxide dismutases (SODs..."

  • ...The Fe-SOD isozymes, often not detected in plants [120] are usually associated with the chloroplast compartment when present [121]...

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The field of antioxidants and free radicals is often perceived as focusing around the use of antioxidant supplements to prevent human disease, but in fact, antioxidants/free radicals permeate the whole of life, creating the field of redox biology.
Abstract: The field of antioxidants and free radicals is often perceived as focusing around the use of antioxidant supplements to prevent human disease. In fact, antioxidants/free radicals permeate the whole of life, creating the field of redox biology. Free radicals are not all bad, nor antioxidants all good

2,034 citations


Cites background from "Role of superoxide dismutases (SODs..."

  • ...Plants have more or less the same, but some have iron-containing SODs (FeSOD) in the chloroplast (in addition to CuZnSOD; Alscher et al., 2002)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The regulated overexpression of Escherichia coli trehalose biosynthetic genes (otsA and otsB) as a fusion gene for manipulating abiotic stress tolerance in rice demonstrates the feasibility of engineering rice for increased tolerance of abiotics stress and enhanced productivity through tissue-specific or stress-dependent overproduction of trehalOSE.
Abstract: Trehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide of glucose that functions as a compatible solute in the stabilization of biological structures under abiotic stress in bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates. With the notable exception of the desiccation-tolerant “resurrection plants,” trehalose is not thought to accumulate to detectable levels in most plants. We report here the regulated overexpression of Escherichia coli trehalose biosynthetic genes (otsA and otsB) as a fusion gene for manipulating abiotic stress tolerance in rice. The fusion gene has the advantages of necessitating only a single transformation event and a higher net catalytic efficiency for trehalose formation. The expression of the transgene was under the control of either tissue-specific or stress-dependent promoters. Compared with nontransgenic rice, several independent transgenic lines exhibited sustained plant growth, less photo-oxidative damage, and more favorable mineral balance under salt, drought, and low-temperature stress conditions. Depending on growth conditions, the transgenic rice plants accumulate trehalose at levels 3–10 times that of the nontransgenic controls. The observation that peak trehalose levels remain well below 1 mg/g fresh weight indicates that the primary effect of trehalose is not as a compatible solute. Rather, increased trehalose accumulation correlates with higher soluble carbohydrate levels and an elevated capacity for photosynthesis under both stress and nonstress conditions, consistent with a suggested role in modulating sugar sensing and carbohydrate metabolism. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of engineering rice for increased tolerance of abiotic stress and enhanced productivity through tissue-specific or stress-dependent overproduction of trehalose.

1,282 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Genetic engineering of ion transporters and their regulators, and of the CBF (C-repeat-binding factor) regulons, holds promise for future development of salt-tolerant crops.
Abstract: One-fifth of irrigated agriculture is adversely affected by soil salinity. Hence, developing salt-tolerant crops is essential for sustaining food production. Progress in breeding for salt-tolerant crops has been hampered by the lack of understanding of the molecular basis of salt tolerance and lack of availability of genes that confer salt tolerance. Genetic evidence suggests that perception of salt stress leads to a cytosolic calcium-signal that activates the calcium sensor protein SOS3. SOS3 binds to and activates a ser/thr protein kinase SOS2. The activated SOS2 kinase regulates activities of SOS1, a plasma membrane Na + /H + antiporter, and NHX1, a tonoplast Na + /H + anti-porter. This results in Na + efflux and vacuolar compartmentation. A putative osmosensory histidine kinase (AtHKI)-MAPK cascade probably regulates osmotic homeostasis and ROS scavenging. Osmotic stress and ABA (abscisic acid)-mediated regulation of LEA (late-embryogenesis-abundant)-type proteins also play important roles in plant salt tolerance. Genetic engineering of ion transporters and their regulators, and of the CBF (C-repeat-binding factor) regulons, holds promise for future development of salt-tolerant crops.

1,183 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review is to assess the mode of action and role of antioxidants in protecting plants from stress caused by the presence of heavy metals in the environment.
Abstract: The contamination of soils and water with metals has created a major environmental problem, leading to considerable losses in plant productivity and hazardous health effects. Exposure to toxic metals can intensify the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are continuously produced in both unstressed and stressed plants cells. Some of the ROS species are highly toxic and must be detoxified by cellular stress responses, if the plant is to survive and grow. The aim of this review is to assess the mode of action and role of antioxidants in protecting plants from stress caused by the presence of heavy metals in the environment.

1,065 citations


Cites background from "Role of superoxide dismutases (SODs..."

  • ...2002) but has been shown to be associated with the chloroplasts (Alscher et al. 2002), while the Cu / Zn-SODs are located in the cytosol, chloroplasts and peroxisomes (del Rio et al....

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  • ...Three distinct types ofSOD isoenzymeshavebeendetected in plants, which are classified according to their metal cofactor; Mn, Fe and Cu / Zn (Alscher et al. 2002)....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
14 Dec 2000-Nature
TL;DR: This is the first complete genome sequence of a plant and provides the foundations for more comprehensive comparison of conserved processes in all eukaryotes, identifying a wide range of plant-specific gene functions and establishing rapid systematic ways to identify genes for crop improvement.
Abstract: The flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana is an important model system for identifying genes and determining their functions. Here we report the analysis of the genomic sequence of Arabidopsis. The sequenced regions cover 115.4 megabases of the 125-megabase genome and extend into centromeric regions. The evolution of Arabidopsis involved a whole-genome duplication, followed by subsequent gene loss and extensive local gene duplications, giving rise to a dynamic genome enriched by lateral gene transfer from a cyanobacterial-like ancestor of the plastid. The genome contains 25,498 genes encoding proteins from 11,000 families, similar to the functional diversity of Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans--the other sequenced multicellular eukaryotes. Arabidopsis has many families of new proteins but also lacks several common protein families, indicating that the sets of common proteins have undergone differential expansion and contraction in the three multicellular eukaryotes. This is the first complete genome sequence of a plant and provides the foundations for more comprehensive comparison of conserved processes in all eukaryotes, identifying a wide range of plant-specific gene functions and establishing rapid systematic ways to identify genes for crop improvement.

8,742 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1976-Planta
TL;DR: It is proposed that glutathione functions to stabilise enzymes of the Calvin cycle, and it may also act to keep ascorbic acid in chloroplasts in the reduced form.
Abstract: Both glutathione and an NADPH-dependent glutathione reductase are present in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. It is proposed that glutathione functions to stabilise enzymes of the Calvin cycle, and it may also act to keep ascorbic acid in chloroplasts in the reduced form.

2,351 citations


"Role of superoxide dismutases (SODs..." refers background in this paper

  • ...This protective effect was less observable in plants that were kept in the dark, since the H2O2 scavenging system is not activated without light (Foyer and Halliwell, 1976; Nakano and Asada, 1980)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The evidence supports at least a partial antioxidant role in vivo for many classes of plant metabolite, and many other compounds as potential antioxidants can be inferred by their similarity to synthetic antioxidants of related structure.

1,809 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new family of ABRE binding factors indeed exists that have the potential to activate a large number of ABA/stress-responsive genes in Arabidopsis under stress conditions, and belong to a distinct subfamily of bZIP proteins.

1,090 citations


"Role of superoxide dismutases (SODs..." refers background in this paper

  • ...The ABA responsive element (ABRE) appears to be associated with genes responding to osmotic stress (high osmoticum, salt, desiccation, and cold) and binds to several similar sequences of eight nucleotides (Choi et al., 2000; Guan and Scandalios, 1998); the consensus sequence YACGTGGC was used....

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  • ...) The ABA responsive element (ABRE) appears to be associated with genes responding to osmotic stress (high osmoticum, salt, desiccation, and cold) and binds to several similar sequences of eight nucleotides (Choi et al., 2000; Guan and Scandalios, 1998); the consensus sequence YACGTGGC was used....

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Book
21 Dec 1993
TL;DR: The contributors highlight many areas of current research and explore the causes of photo-oxidative stress in plants and the environmental consequences, as well as the biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology of protective systems.
Abstract: The volume contains full coverage of research on photo-oxidative stress, from photochemistry to molecular genetics. The text includes a comprehensive collection of major reviews providing a broad perspective. The contributors highlight many areas of current research and explore the causes of photo-oxidative stress in plants and the environmental consequences, as well as the biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology of protective systems. They also examine how these systems can be manipulated to improve stress tolerance.

826 citations


"Role of superoxide dismutases (SODs..." refers background in this paper

  • ...The effect of high light stress is inhibition of photosystem II through D1 protein, which is associated with PSII electron transduction reactions (Foyer and Mullineaux, 1994)....

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