Regulation of glutamine synthetase 1 and amino acids transport in the phloem of young wheat plants

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2009 May;47(5):335-42. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2009.01.003. Epub 2009 Jan 30.

Abstract

The possible regulation of amino acid remobilization via the phloem in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by the primary enzyme in nitrogen (N) assimilation and re-assimilation, glutamine synthetase (GS, E.C. 6.3.1.2) was studied using two conditions known to alter N phloem transport, N deficiency and cytokinins. The plants were grown for 15 days in controlled conditions with optimum N supply and then N was depleted from and/or 6-benzylaminopurine was added to the nutrient solution. Both treatments generated an induction of GS1, monitored at the level of gene expression, protein accumulation and enzyme activity, and a decrease in the exudation of amino acids to the phloem, obtained with EDTA technique, which correlated negatively. GS inhibition by metionine sulfoximide (MSX) produced an increase of amino acids exudation and the inhibitor successfully reversed the effect of N deficiency and cytokinin addition over phloem exudation. Our results point to an important physiological role for GS1 in the modulation of amino acids export levels in wheat plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / metabolism*
  • Benzyl Compounds
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / classification
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / genetics*
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / metabolism
  • Isoenzymes / classification
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Kinetin / pharmacology
  • Methionine Sulfoximine / pharmacology
  • Nitrates / pharmacology
  • Phloem / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Purines
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Triticum / enzymology
  • Triticum / genetics*
  • Triticum / metabolism

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Benzyl Compounds
  • Isoenzymes
  • Nitrates
  • Plant Proteins
  • Purines
  • Methionine Sulfoximine
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase
  • benzylaminopurine
  • Kinetin