The response of cell cultures of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) to osmotic st... more The response of cell cultures of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) to osmotic stress was studied by measuring cell growth and viability after exposure to polyethylene glycol (PEG) (M(r) 6000-8000). Growth of cells inoculated in a medium containing 10% PEG was slightly inhibited, whereas growth in a medium containing 15% PEG was severely inhibited. Cells grown for 6 days in nutrient medium and then subcultured in a medium containing 15% PEG to induce water stress showed high viabilities, whereas cells grown for longer than 6 days before exposure to PEG showed decreased viabilities after subculture. Cells grown in medium containing 30 mM glutamine were significantly more resistant to PEG-induced water stress, as measured by viability, than cells grown in medium without glutamine.
Summary. The study of histidine metabolism has never been at the forefront of interest in plant ... more Summary. The study of histidine metabolism has never been at the forefront of interest in plant systems despite the significant role that the analysis of this pathway has played in development of the field of molecular genetics in microbes. With the advent of methods to analyze plant gene function by complementation of microbial auxotrophic mutants and the complete analysis of plant
... Clearly, this wealth of sequence information enables now to study the evolution of metabolic ... more ... Clearly, this wealth of sequence information enables now to study the evolution of metabolic pathways ... T. pseudonana, which has a secondary plastid of red-algal origin, only genes encoding a ... APS kinase-like domain is not functional and is the site of allosteric regulation by ...
Homoserine kinase (EC 2.7.1.39) catalyzes the formation of O-phospho-l-homoserine, a branch point... more Homoserine kinase (EC 2.7.1.39) catalyzes the formation of O-phospho-l-homoserine, a branch point intermediate in the pathways for Met and Thr in plants. A genomic open reading frame located on the top arm of chromosome II and a corresponding cDNA have been identified from Arabidopsis thaliana that encode homoserine kinase. The HSK gene is composed of an 1113-bp continuous open reading frame that could produce a 38-kDa protein. The gene product has homology with homoserine kinase from bacteria and fungi. It contains a conserved motif, known as GHMP, found in a group of ATP-dependent metabolite kinases and thought to comprise the ATP binding site. The amino-terminal 50 amino acids of the HSK protein show features of a transit peptide for localization to plastids. Genomic blot analysis revealed that there is a single locus in A. thaliana to which the HSK cDNA hybridizes. The HSK protein expressed as a His-tagged construct in Escherichia coli shows a specific activity in an l-homoserin...
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, Jan 9, 1998
The gene encoding 5'-adenylylsulfate (APS) kinase (EC 2.7.1.25) (APK) was cloned from Arabido... more The gene encoding 5'-adenylylsulfate (APS) kinase (EC 2.7.1.25) (APK) was cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana. There is a single APK locus in A. thaliana. The coding sequence of the gene is composed of 7 exons, interrupted by 6 introns. A transcriptional initiation site was detected 120 bp 5' of the initiation codon. APK mRNA is slightly more abundant in leaves than in roots of A. thaliana and its level does not change in response to sulfur starvation. The APK protein, synthesized in vitro, is able to enter isolated intact chloroplasts. Recombinant APS kinase shows maximal activity at 10 microM APS with 5 mM ATP, but it is inhibited at APS concentrations above 10 microM. The inhibition is alleviated at higher ATP concentrations. Reciprocal plot analysis showed that the theoretical Vmax is approximately 1.2 mumol min-1 mg-1 at 25 degrees C, pH 8.0; the K(m) values are 3.6 microM APS and 1.8 mM ATP.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1989
A 71-kDa protein (P71) with properties similar to those of the Escherichia coli heat shock protei... more A 71-kDa protein (P71) with properties similar to those of the Escherichia coli heat shock protein DnaK has been found in extracts of HeLa cells. P71 was copurified by ATP-agarose affinity chromatography with three additional proteins of the Hsp70 family. Of these proteins, only P71 crossreacted strongly with antiserum raised against purified DnaK, and both DnaK and P71 could be phosphorylated in vitro with [gamma-32]ATP in a reaction that was markedly stimulated by Ca2+. In HeLa cells, P71 was found to be concentrated in mitochondria. A protein similar to P71 was also found in calf liver and yeast mitochondria.
The sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol is a component of plant photosynthetic membranes and... more The sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol is a component of plant photosynthetic membranes and represents one of the few naturally occurring sulfonic acids with detergent properties. Sulfolipid biosynthesis involves the transfer of sulfoquinovose, a 6-deoxy-6-sulfoglucose, from UDP-sulfoquinovose to diacylglycerol. The formation of the sulfonic acid precursor, UDP-sulfoquinovose, from UDP-glucose and a sulfur donor is proposed to be catalyzed by the bacterial SQDB proteins or the orthologous plant SQD1 proteins. To investigate the underlying enzymatic mechanism and to elucidate the de novo synthesis of sulfonic acids in biological systems, we developed an in vitro assay for the recombinant SQD1 protein from Arabidopsis thaliana. Among different possible sulfur donors tested, sulfite led to the formation of UDP-sulfoquinovose in the presence of UDP-glucose and SQD1. An SQD1 T145A mutant showed greatly reduced activity. The UDP-sulfoquinovose formed in this assay was identified by co-chromatography with standards and served as substrate for the sulfolipid synthase associated with spinach chloroplast membranes. Approximate K(m) values of 150 microm for UDP-glucose and 10 microm for sulfite were established for SQD1. Based on our results, we propose that SQD1 catalyzes the formation of UDP-sulfoquinovose from UDP-glucose and sulfite, derived from the sulfate reduction pathway in the chloroplast.
Nfu-type proteins are essential in the biogenesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters in numerous orga... more Nfu-type proteins are essential in the biogenesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters in numerous organisms. A number of phenotypes including low levels of Fe-S cluster incorporation are associated with the deletion of the gene encoding a chloroplast-specific Nfu-type protein, Nfu2 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtNfu2). Here, we report that recombinant AtNfu2 is able to assemble both [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S] clusters. Analytical data and gel filtration studies support cluster/protein stoichiometries of one [2Fe-2S] cluster/homotetramer and one [4Fe-4S] cluster/homodimer. The combination of UV-visible absorption and circular dichroism and resonance Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopies has been employed to investigate the nature, properties, and transfer of the clusters assembled on Nfu2. The results are consistent with subunit-bridging [2Fe-2S](2+) and [4Fe-4S](2+) clusters coordinated by the cysteines in the conserved CXXC motif. The results also provided insight into the specificity of Nfu2 for the maturation of chloroplastic Fe-S proteins via intact, rapid, and quantitative cluster transfer. [2Fe-2S] cluster-bound Nfu2 is shown to be an effective [2Fe-2S](2+) cluster donor for glutaredoxin S16 but not glutaredoxin S14. Moreover, [4Fe-4S] cluster-bound Nfu2 is shown to be a very rapid and efficient [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster donor for adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase (APR1), and yeast two-hybrid studies indicate that APR1 forms a complex with Nfu2 but not with Nfu1 and Nfu3, the two other chloroplastic Nfu proteins. This cluster transfer is likely to be physiologically relevant and is particularly significant for plant metabolism as APR1 catalyzes the second step in reductive sulfur assimilation, which ultimately results in the biosynthesis of cysteine, methionine, glutathione, and Fe-S clusters.
The response of cell cultures of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) to osmotic st... more The response of cell cultures of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) to osmotic stress was studied by measuring cell growth and viability after exposure to polyethylene glycol (PEG) (M(r) 6000-8000). Growth of cells inoculated in a medium containing 10% PEG was slightly inhibited, whereas growth in a medium containing 15% PEG was severely inhibited. Cells grown for 6 days in nutrient medium and then subcultured in a medium containing 15% PEG to induce water stress showed high viabilities, whereas cells grown for longer than 6 days before exposure to PEG showed decreased viabilities after subculture. Cells grown in medium containing 30 mM glutamine were significantly more resistant to PEG-induced water stress, as measured by viability, than cells grown in medium without glutamine.
Summary. The study of histidine metabolism has never been at the forefront of interest in plant ... more Summary. The study of histidine metabolism has never been at the forefront of interest in plant systems despite the significant role that the analysis of this pathway has played in development of the field of molecular genetics in microbes. With the advent of methods to analyze plant gene function by complementation of microbial auxotrophic mutants and the complete analysis of plant
... Clearly, this wealth of sequence information enables now to study the evolution of metabolic ... more ... Clearly, this wealth of sequence information enables now to study the evolution of metabolic pathways ... T. pseudonana, which has a secondary plastid of red-algal origin, only genes encoding a ... APS kinase-like domain is not functional and is the site of allosteric regulation by ...
Homoserine kinase (EC 2.7.1.39) catalyzes the formation of O-phospho-l-homoserine, a branch point... more Homoserine kinase (EC 2.7.1.39) catalyzes the formation of O-phospho-l-homoserine, a branch point intermediate in the pathways for Met and Thr in plants. A genomic open reading frame located on the top arm of chromosome II and a corresponding cDNA have been identified from Arabidopsis thaliana that encode homoserine kinase. The HSK gene is composed of an 1113-bp continuous open reading frame that could produce a 38-kDa protein. The gene product has homology with homoserine kinase from bacteria and fungi. It contains a conserved motif, known as GHMP, found in a group of ATP-dependent metabolite kinases and thought to comprise the ATP binding site. The amino-terminal 50 amino acids of the HSK protein show features of a transit peptide for localization to plastids. Genomic blot analysis revealed that there is a single locus in A. thaliana to which the HSK cDNA hybridizes. The HSK protein expressed as a His-tagged construct in Escherichia coli shows a specific activity in an l-homoserin...
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, Jan 9, 1998
The gene encoding 5'-adenylylsulfate (APS) kinase (EC 2.7.1.25) (APK) was cloned from Arabido... more The gene encoding 5'-adenylylsulfate (APS) kinase (EC 2.7.1.25) (APK) was cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana. There is a single APK locus in A. thaliana. The coding sequence of the gene is composed of 7 exons, interrupted by 6 introns. A transcriptional initiation site was detected 120 bp 5' of the initiation codon. APK mRNA is slightly more abundant in leaves than in roots of A. thaliana and its level does not change in response to sulfur starvation. The APK protein, synthesized in vitro, is able to enter isolated intact chloroplasts. Recombinant APS kinase shows maximal activity at 10 microM APS with 5 mM ATP, but it is inhibited at APS concentrations above 10 microM. The inhibition is alleviated at higher ATP concentrations. Reciprocal plot analysis showed that the theoretical Vmax is approximately 1.2 mumol min-1 mg-1 at 25 degrees C, pH 8.0; the K(m) values are 3.6 microM APS and 1.8 mM ATP.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1989
A 71-kDa protein (P71) with properties similar to those of the Escherichia coli heat shock protei... more A 71-kDa protein (P71) with properties similar to those of the Escherichia coli heat shock protein DnaK has been found in extracts of HeLa cells. P71 was copurified by ATP-agarose affinity chromatography with three additional proteins of the Hsp70 family. Of these proteins, only P71 crossreacted strongly with antiserum raised against purified DnaK, and both DnaK and P71 could be phosphorylated in vitro with [gamma-32]ATP in a reaction that was markedly stimulated by Ca2+. In HeLa cells, P71 was found to be concentrated in mitochondria. A protein similar to P71 was also found in calf liver and yeast mitochondria.
The sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol is a component of plant photosynthetic membranes and... more The sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol is a component of plant photosynthetic membranes and represents one of the few naturally occurring sulfonic acids with detergent properties. Sulfolipid biosynthesis involves the transfer of sulfoquinovose, a 6-deoxy-6-sulfoglucose, from UDP-sulfoquinovose to diacylglycerol. The formation of the sulfonic acid precursor, UDP-sulfoquinovose, from UDP-glucose and a sulfur donor is proposed to be catalyzed by the bacterial SQDB proteins or the orthologous plant SQD1 proteins. To investigate the underlying enzymatic mechanism and to elucidate the de novo synthesis of sulfonic acids in biological systems, we developed an in vitro assay for the recombinant SQD1 protein from Arabidopsis thaliana. Among different possible sulfur donors tested, sulfite led to the formation of UDP-sulfoquinovose in the presence of UDP-glucose and SQD1. An SQD1 T145A mutant showed greatly reduced activity. The UDP-sulfoquinovose formed in this assay was identified by co-chromatography with standards and served as substrate for the sulfolipid synthase associated with spinach chloroplast membranes. Approximate K(m) values of 150 microm for UDP-glucose and 10 microm for sulfite were established for SQD1. Based on our results, we propose that SQD1 catalyzes the formation of UDP-sulfoquinovose from UDP-glucose and sulfite, derived from the sulfate reduction pathway in the chloroplast.
Nfu-type proteins are essential in the biogenesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters in numerous orga... more Nfu-type proteins are essential in the biogenesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters in numerous organisms. A number of phenotypes including low levels of Fe-S cluster incorporation are associated with the deletion of the gene encoding a chloroplast-specific Nfu-type protein, Nfu2 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtNfu2). Here, we report that recombinant AtNfu2 is able to assemble both [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S] clusters. Analytical data and gel filtration studies support cluster/protein stoichiometries of one [2Fe-2S] cluster/homotetramer and one [4Fe-4S] cluster/homodimer. The combination of UV-visible absorption and circular dichroism and resonance Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopies has been employed to investigate the nature, properties, and transfer of the clusters assembled on Nfu2. The results are consistent with subunit-bridging [2Fe-2S](2+) and [4Fe-4S](2+) clusters coordinated by the cysteines in the conserved CXXC motif. The results also provided insight into the specificity of Nfu2 for the maturation of chloroplastic Fe-S proteins via intact, rapid, and quantitative cluster transfer. [2Fe-2S] cluster-bound Nfu2 is shown to be an effective [2Fe-2S](2+) cluster donor for glutaredoxin S16 but not glutaredoxin S14. Moreover, [4Fe-4S] cluster-bound Nfu2 is shown to be a very rapid and efficient [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster donor for adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase (APR1), and yeast two-hybrid studies indicate that APR1 forms a complex with Nfu2 but not with Nfu1 and Nfu3, the two other chloroplastic Nfu proteins. This cluster transfer is likely to be physiologically relevant and is particularly significant for plant metabolism as APR1 catalyzes the second step in reductive sulfur assimilation, which ultimately results in the biosynthesis of cysteine, methionine, glutathione, and Fe-S clusters.
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Papers by T. Leustek