Barley DNA-binding methionine aminopeptidase, which changes the localization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm by low temperature, is involved in freezing tolerance

doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2010.09.004

Plant Science

Volume 180, Issue 1, January 2011, Pages 53-60

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2010.09.004 Get rights and content

Abstract

The polymerase chain reaction-based Mirror Orientation Selection (MOS) method was used to isolate low temperature-induced genes from cold-treated winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Dongbori). MOS screening identified a novel methionine (Met) aminopeptidase (MAP) designated as HvMAP. The deduced HvMAP protein was determined to possess an aminopeptidase domain and a nuclear localization signal. An in vitro enzyme assay using recombinant HvMAP protein demonstrated MAP activity. The expression of this gene was induced by low temperature and abscisic acid treatment, and overexpression of this gene conferred stronger freezing tolerance to Arabidopsis transgenic plants as compared to wild-type plants. Interestingly, low temperature treatment changed the localization of HvMAP from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. These findings suggest that HvMAP is a novel MAP that functions in freezing tolerance by facilitating protein maturation.

Research highlights

▶ Finding novel nuclear localized and DNA-binding methionine aminopeptidase (MAP) in barley. ▶ Translocation of MAP protein from nuclear to cytoplasm by low temperature. ▶ Overexpression of MAP confers strong freezing tolerance to Arabidopsis.

Introduction

Low temperature is one of the most important environmental stresses affecting plant growth and crop productivity [1]. It causes a delay of biosynthesis and deranged metabolism. However, many plants from temperate regions are able to increase their freezing tolerance in response to low but non-freezing temperatures. This adaptive process is known as cold acclimation [2]. The acclimation of plants is a fairly complex phenomenon. Changes in gene expression, membrane composition, enzyme activities and compounds such as sugars are thought to be associated with cold acclimation [3]. At the molecular level, numerous genes are induced and proteins encoded by the corresponding genes are activated during the acclimation process to prepare plants for survival under freezing conditions [4], [5]. These proteins, which include transcription factors, ubiquitination proteins and anti-freeze proteins, are subject to modification processes for proper chilling and freezing-tolerant functions.

Most proteins are synthesized with a Met as the first amino acid and this first Met is specifically removed by Met aminopeptidase (MAP) cleavage in a process termed N-terminal Met excision (NME) in the first modification process [6], [7], [8]. Post-translational modifications and life-span determination of proteins, such as N-acylation, N-acetylation, N-myristoylation and ubiquitination are dependent on the NME process [9], [10], [11], [12]. Eukaryotic organisms possess two types of MAPs: MAP1 and MAP2 [13], [14]. In plants, the MAP1 group contains one cytoplasmic MAP1A and three organelle-targeted MAPs: MAP1B, MAP1C and MAP1D. Unlike the MAP1 group, MAP2s possess two members, MAP2A and MAP2B, which are found only in the cytoplasm [15]. The NME process is regulated by stress, changes of developmental stage and tissue types [15], [16], [17], [18], [19]. In Arabidopsis, MAPs are well-known to be required for correct plant development [20]. However, there is no report on the effect of MAPs in stress responses in plants.

We report here a novel barley MAP protein (HvMAP) having an aminopeptidase domain and a nuclear localization signal. This HvMAP protein showed MAP activity and bound to DNA in the nucleus during normal growth conditions. However, by treating low temperature not only its expression was induced, but also the localization of HvMAP was translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Moreover, overexpressed Arabidopsis transgenic lines exhibited stronger freezing tolerance than wild type plants. These results suggest the possibility that HvMAP might function in freezing tolerance by facilitating protein maturation through the acclimation process.

Section snippets

Plant materials and RNA preparation

Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Dongbori) seeds were sown on wet filter paper and placed in magenta jars containing MS salt solution (Sigma–Aldrich). To choose the plants in the same developmental stage, the vigorous seedlings with same height were selected, covered with perlite, and grown for approximately 3 weeks at 25 °C/20 °C in day/night. Light intensity was approximately 100 μE m⁻² s⁻¹ photosynthetically active radiation at soil level. In the third leaf stage, each of the plants was

Low temperature and ABA responsive expression of HvMAP

To isolate genes induced by low temperature in barley, the PCR-based MOS method was conducted using the control plant as a background and the low temperature-treated plant as a target. Of more than 3000 clones obtained, 379 putative low temperature-induced clones were screened by reverse Northern analysis (Supplementary Figs. 1A, 1B) and subsequently sequenced. The low-temperature induction of the sequenced clones was evaluated by Northern blot analysis (Supplementary Fig. 1C). HvMAP was one of

Discussion

In this study, we show that the novel MAP in barley is expressed differentially in response to low-temperature and ABA treatment. Overexpression of this gene confers strong freezing tolerance to Arabidopsis plants after an acclimation period. The results also demonstrate that HvMAP localizes to the nucleus where it could not play its own peculiar role, N-terminal Met excision. Interestingly, low-temperature treatment alters the localization of HvMAP from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. These

Acknowledgement

This investigation was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government [KRF-2008-359-F00005] and by a grant from the BioGreen21 program by the Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea. We thank Dr. Qi-Zhuang Ye, Chinese National Center for Drug Screening, China, for providing Met aminopeptidase substrate (Met-S-Gly-Phe).

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¹: Both authors corresponded equally to this work.

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Barley DNA-binding methionine aminopeptidase, which changes the localization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm by low temperature, is involved in freezing tolerance

Abstract

Research highlights

Introduction

Section snippets

Plant materials and RNA preparation

Low temperature and ABA responsive expression of HvMAP

Discussion

Acknowledgement

Curr. Opin. Plant Biol.

Curr. Opin. Plant Biol.

Biochimie

Trends Biochem. Sci.

Trends Plant Sci.

J. Biol. Chem.

Trends Cell Biol.

J. Biol. Chem.

Arch. Biochem. Biophys.

J. Biol. Chem.

J. Biol. Chem.

J. Biol. Chem.

Gene

Mech. Dev.

Chem. Biol.

Curr. Opin. Plant Biol.

Responses of Plants to Environmental Stress, vol. 1. Chilling, Freezing, and High Temperature Stress

Plant cold acclimation: freezing tolerance genes and regulatory mechanisms

Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol.

The sfr 6 mutation in Arabidopsis suppresses low-temperature induction of genes dependent on the CRT/DRE sequence motif

Plant Cell