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The serine acetyltransferase gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana and the regulation of its expression by cadmium

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Abstract

Expression of the serine acetyltransferase (SAT) gene family from Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated in response to treatment with the heavy metal cadmium (Cd). A fourth member of the SAT gene family, Sat-106, was also cloned and the complete SAT gene family from A. thaliana is discussed. Northern analysis of the gene family revealed tissue-specific expression patterns for each isogene. A. thaliana plants grown under 50 μM CdCl2 for a 24 h time course were also used for northern analysis. Expression of all SAT genes was increased to some extent by Cd treatment. Sat-5 expression showed particularly high levels of induction in the leaves of treated plants and was chosen for study by in situ hybridisation. Sat-5 expression was induced in the root and stem cortex and the leaf lamella and trichomes in response to heavy metal stress. SAT and its product O-acetylserine have previously been shown to be implicated in the control of sulphate reduction and cysteine biosynthesis in plants. These results suggest that specific SAT isoforms have a role in increasing cysteine production under conditions of heavy-metal stress when increased biosynthesis of glutathione and phytochelatins is required for detoxification purposes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agriculture and Environment Division, IACR-Rothamsted, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK

    Jonathan R. Howarth

  2. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de la Cartuja, Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida Américo Vespucio, s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain

    José R. Domínguez-Solís, Gloria Gutiérrez-Alcalá, Luis C. Romero & Cecilia Gotor

  3. Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Sir Harold Mitchell Building, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK

    John L. Wray

Authors
  1. Jonathan R. Howarth
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  2. José R. Domínguez-Solís
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  3. Gloria Gutiérrez-Alcalá
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  4. John L. Wray
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  5. Luis C. Romero
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  6. Cecilia Gotor
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Correspondence to Cecilia Gotor.

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Howarth, J.R., Domínguez-Solís, J.R., Gutiérrez-Alcalá, G. et al. The serine acetyltransferase gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana and the regulation of its expression by cadmium. Plant Mol Biol 51, 589–598 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022349623951

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