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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2001; 3(1): 24-31
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-11745
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Influence of Chilling Stress on the Intercellular Distribution of Assimilatory Sulfate Reduction and Thiols in Zea mays

S. Kopriva 1,2 , S. Jones 1,3 , A. Koprivova 1,4 , M. Suter 1 , P. von Ballmoos 1 , K. Brander 1,5 , J. Flückiger 1 , C. Brunold 1
  • 1 Institute of Plant Physiology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
  • 2 Present address: Professur für Baumphysiologie, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 3 Present address: Institut für Umwelt und Landwirtschaft, Liebefeld, Switzerland
  • 4 Present address: Lehrstuhl für Pflanzenbiotechnologie, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 5 Present address: Integra Biosciences, Wallisellen, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

July 28, 2000

October 24, 2000

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Abstract

The effect of chilling on the intercellular distribution of mRNAs for enzymes of assimilatory sulfate reduction, the activity of adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase (APR), and the level of glutathione was analysed in leaves and roots of maize (Zea mays L). At 25 °C the mRNAs for APR, ATP sulfurylase, and sulfite reductase accumulated in bundle-sheath only, whereas the mRNA for O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase was also detected in mesophyll cells. Glutathione was predominantly detected in mesophyll cells; however, oxidized glutathione was equally distributed between the two cell types. Chilling at 12 °C induced oxidative stress which resulted in increased concentrations of oxidized glutathione in both cell types and a prominent increase of APR mRNA and activity in bundle-sheath cells. After chilling, mRNAs for APR and sulfite reductase, as well as low APR activity, were detected in mesophyll cells. In roots, APR mRNA and activity were at higher levels in root tips than in the mature root and were greatly increased after chilling. These results demonstrate that chilling stress affected the levels and the intercellular distribution of mRNAs for enzymes of sulfate assimilation.

Abbreviations

APR: adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase

ATPS: adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase

BSC: bundle sheath cells

GSH: glutathione

GSSG: glutathione oxidized

MC: mesophyll cells

NR: nitrate reductase

OAS-TL: O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase

ROS: reactive oxygen species

Rubisco: ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase

SiR: sulfite reductase

Key words

C4 photosynthesis - cysteine biosynthesis - glutathione - in situ RNA hybridization - maize - oxidative stress - sulfate assimilation

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S. Kopriva

Institut für Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie

Am Flughafen 17
79085 Freiburg
Germany

Email: kopriva@uni-freiburg.de

Section Editor: H. Rennenberg