Biomedical subjects

S C Smeekens

Publications and source records attributed to S C Smeekens.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Fructans insert between the headgroups of phospholipids.

Fructans are polysaccharides consisting of one glucose unit and two or more fructose units. It was hypothesized that fructans play a role in drought tolerance in plants by interacting directly with the membrane. In this paper we investigated this hypothesis by studying fructan-membrane interactions in hydrated mono- and bilayer systems. It was found that fructans inserted between the headgroups of different kinds of phospholipids with some preference for phosphatidylethanolamine. Insertion occurred even under conditions of very tight lipid packing. The presence of a surface associated layer of fructan was observed in both model systems. This layer was able to reduce the ability of a surface-active protein to interact with the lipids. Fructans showed a much stronger effect on the different lipid systems than other (poly)saccharides, which appears to be related to their hydrophobic properties. Fructans were able to stabilize the liquid-crystalline lamellar phase, which is consistent with a drought protecting role in plants.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

PubMed2001

Sucrose metabolism in plastids.

The question whether sucrose (Suc) is present inside plastids has been long debated. Low Suc levels were reported to be present inside isolated chloroplasts, but these were argued to be artifacts of the isolation procedures used. We have introduced Suc-metabolizing enzymes in plastids and our experiments suggest substantial Suc entry into plastids. The enzyme levansucrase from Bacillus subtilis efficiently synthesizes fructan from Suc. Targeting of this enzyme to the plastids of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants leads to high-level fructan accumulation in chloroplasts and amyloplasts, respectively. Moreover, introduction of this enzyme in amyloplasts leads to an altered starch structure. Expression of the yeast invertase in potato tuber amyloplasts results in an 80% reduction of total Suc content, showing efficient hydrolysis of Suc by the plastidic invertase. These observations suggest that Suc can enter plastids efficiently and they raise questions as to its function and metabolism in this organelle.

Chloroplasts↗

PubMed2000

Plant fructokinases: a sweet family get-together.

Plant fructokinases are the gateway to fructose metabolism. Here, we discuss the properties of published plant fructokinases and compare the available protein sequences. In addition, we speculate on the possible function of fructokinases as sugar sensors. A proposal is presented to clarify the confusing fructokinase nomenclature. Only a few plant fructokinase genes have been cloned but the recent isolations of two such genes in tomato and three in Arabidopsis have given this research an important impulse.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Characterization of three cloned and expressed 13-hydroperoxide lyase isoenzymes from alfalfa with unusual N-terminal sequences and different enzyme kinetics.

Three full-length cDNAs from alfalfa seedlings coding for hydroperoxide lyases were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized as cytochrome P450 enzymes. The isoenzymes were specific for 13-hydroperoxy linoleic and linolenic acids and did not use the 9-hydroperoxy isomers as substrates. Because alfalfa contains both specificities, this indicates the presence of two different types of hydroperoxide lyases, each specific for one kind of substrate. The enzymes contain 480 amino acids (54 kDa) and contain an unusual, nonplastidic N-terminal sequence of 22 amino acids, which strongly reduces the enzyme activity. The only known presequence of a hydroperoxide lyase (from Arabidopsis thaliana) was considered to be a transit sequence. The reduced enzyme activity, however, indicates that the hydroperoxide lyases with N-terminal extensions could be pro-enzymes. This hypothesis is supported by the fast release of hydroperoxide lyase products by plants upon wounding. One of the isoenzymes showed a strongly decreased Vmax and Km compared to the other two. Because this is probably due to the substitution of Ser377 by Phe; the residue at position 377 seems to be important. This is the first time that sufficient quantities of hydroperoxide lyase have been obtained for characterization studies, by circumventing difficult purification procedures and degradation of the enzyme. The high expression level, easy purification, good stability and high specificity make these cloned hydroperoxide lyases excellent tools to study the reaction mechanism and structure. We postulate an integrated reaction mechanism, based on the known chemistry of cytochrome P450 enzymes. This is the first mechanism that unifies all observed features of hydroperoxide lyases.

Aldehyde-Lyases↗

PubMed2000

Photosynthesis, sugars and the regulation of gene expression.

Sugar-mediated regulation of gene expression is a mechanism controlling the expression of many different plant genes. In this review, a compilation of the genes encoding photosynthetic proteins, subject to this mode of regulation, is presented. Several groups have devised different screening strategies to obtain Arabidopsis mutants in sugar sensing and signalling. An overview of these strategies has been included. Sugar-mediated regulation of gene expression is thought to require the hexokinase (HXK) protein. It has previously been shown that one such sugar, mannose, is capable of blocking germination in Arabidopsis. This inhibition is also mediated by HXK and occurs in the low millimolar concentration range. Here, the use of germination on mannose as an effective screening strategy for putative sugar sensing and signalling mutants is reported. T-DNA- and EMS-mutagenized collections were used to isolate 31 mannose-insensitive germination (mig) mutants. With the use of these mutants, a comparison between this screen and other existing sugar-sensing screens is presented.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed1999

A bipartite sequence element associated with matrix/scaffold attachment regions.

We have identified a MAR/SAR recognition signature (MRS) which is common to a large group of matrix and scaffold attachment regions. The MRS is composed of two degenerate sequences (AATAAYAA and AWWRTAANNWWGNNNC) within close proximity. Analysis of >300 kb of genomic sequence from a variety of eukaryotic organisms shows that the MRS faithfully predicts 80% of MARs and SARs. In each case where we find a MRS, the corresponding DNA region binds specifically to the nuclear scaffold. Although all MRSs are associated with a SAR, not all known SARs and MARs contain a MRS, suggesting that at least two classes exist, one containing a MRS, the other not. Evidence is presented that the two sequence elements of the bipartite MRS occupy a position on the nucleosome near the dyad axis, together creating a putative protein binding site. The identification of a MAR- and SAR-associated DNA element is an important step forward towards understanding the molecular mechanisms of these elements. It will allow: (i) analysis of the genomic location of SARs, e.g. in relationship to genes, based on sequence information alone, rather than on the basis of an elaborate biochemical assay; (ii) identification and analysis of proteins that specifically bind to the MRS.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Mannose inhibits Arabidopsis germination via a hexokinase-mediated step.

Low concentrations of the glucose (Glc) analog mannose (Man) inhibit germination of Arabidopsis seeds. Man is phosphorylated by hexokinase (HXK), but the absence of germination was not due to ATP or phosphate depletion. The addition of metabolizable sugars reversed the Man-mediated inhibition of germination. Carbohydrate-mediated regulation of gene expression involving a HXK-mediated pathway is known to be activated by Glc, Man, and other monosaccharides. Therefore, we investigated whether Man blocks germination through this system. By testing other Glc analogs, we found that 2-deoxyglucose, which, like Man, is phosphorylated by HXK, also blocked germination; no inhibition was observed with 6-deoxyglucose or 3-O-methylglucose, which are not substrates for HXK. Since these latter two sugars are taken up at a rate similar to that of Man, uptake is unlikely to be involved in the inhibition of germination. Furthermore, we show that mannoheptulose, a specific HXK inhibitor, restores germination of seeds grown in the presence of Man. We conclude that HXK is involved in the Man-mediated repression of germination of Arabidopsis seeds, possibly via energy depletion.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

PubMed1997

Analysis of the chromatin domain organisation around the plastocyanin gene reveals an MAR-specific sequence element in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The Arabidopsis thaliana genome is currently being sequenced, eventually leading towards the unravelling of all potential genes. We wanted to gain more insight into the way this genome might be organized at the ultrastructural level. To this extent we identified matrix attachment regions demarking potential chromatin domains, in a 16 kb region around the plastocyanin gene. The region was cloned and sequenced revealing six genes in addition to the plastocyanin gene. Using an heterologous in vitro nuclear matrix binding assay, to search for evolutionary conserved matrix attachment regions (MARs), we identified three such MARs. These three MARs divide the region into two small chromatin domains of 5 kb, each containing two genes. Comparison of the sequence of the three MARs revealed a degenerated 21 bp sequence that is shared between these MARs and that is not found elsewhere in the region. A similar sequence element is also present in four other MARs of Arabidopsis.Therefore, this sequence may constitute a landmark for the position of MARs in the genome of this plant. In a genomic sequence database of Arabidopsis the 21 bp element is found approximately once every 10 kb. The compactness of the Arabidopsis genome could account for the high incidence of MARs and MRSs we observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

An Arabidopsis mutant showing reduced feedback inhibition of photosynthesis.

Many plant genes are responsive to sugars but the mechanisms used by plants to sense sugars are unknown. A genetic approach has been used in Arabidopsis to identify genes involved in perception and transduction of sugar signals. For this purpose, an in vivo reporter system was established consisting of the light- and sugar-regulated plastocyanin promoter, fused to the luciferase coding sequence (PC-LUC construct). At the seedling stage, expression of the PC-LUC gene is repressed by sucrose, and a number of sucrose-uncoupled (sun) mutants were selected in which sucrose is unable to repress the activity of the PC promoter. Three mutants have been characterized in more detail. The sugar analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) was used to repress whole plant photosynthesis, PC-LUC gene expression and total ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate activity. It was found that the sun6 mutation makes plants unresponsive to these 2DG-induced effects. Moreover, unlike wild-type plants, sun6 mutants are insensitive to elevated levels of glucose in the growth medium. These findings suggest that the SUN6 gene is active in a hexose-activated signal transduction pathway.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed1997

Sucrose control of phytochrome A signaling in Arabidopsis.

The expression of the Arabidopsis plastocyanin (PC) gene is developmentally controlled and regulated by light. During seedling development, PC gene expression is transiently induced, and this induction can be repressed by sucrose. In transgenic seedlings carrying a PC promoter-luciferase fusion gene, the luciferase-induced in vivo luminescence was similarly repressed by sucrose. From a mutagenized population of such transgenic seedlings, we selected for mutant seedlings that displayed a high luminescence level when grown on a medium with 3% sucrose. This screening of mutants resulted in the isolation of several sucrose-uncoupled (sun) mutants showing reduced repression of luminescence by sucrose. Analysis of the sun mutants revealed that the accumulation of PC and chlorophyll a/b binding protein (CAB) mRNA was also sucrose uncoupled, although the extent of uncoupling varied. The effect of sucrose on far-red light high-irradiance responses was studied in wild-type, sun1, sun6, and sun7 seedlings. In wild-type seedlings, sucrose repressed the far-red light-induced cotyledon opening and inhibition of hypocotyl elongation. sun7 seedlings showed reduced repression of these responses. Sucrose also repressed the far-red light-induced block of greening in wild-type seedlings, and both sun6 and sun7 were affected in this response. The results provide evidence for a close interaction between sucrose and light signaling pathways. Moreover, the sun6 and sun7 mutants genetically identify separate branches of phytochrome A-dependent signal transduction pathways.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed1994

Accumulation of fructose polymers in transgenic tobacco.

Fructan, a polyfructose molecule, is a storage compound in a limited number of plant species. Usually these species accumulate fructan with a low degree of polymerization (DP) and most of these plants have properties which preclude their use as a fructan source. With the eventual aim of allowing the accumulation of high DP fructans in non-fructan storing plants, we have investigated whether carbohydrate flow in the plant cell can be directed to produce this polymer. For this purpose the SacB gene from Bacillus subtilis, which encodes levansucrase, was modified and introduced into tobacco plants. Transgenic plants containing the sacB gene accumulate fructans. The size and properties of this fructan are similar to fructan produced by Bacillus subtilis, and is stable in plants. Although the level of fructan accumulation in the transgenic tobacco plants ranged from 3-8 percent of the dry weight, no levansucrase mRNA or protein could be detected in these plants. Extension of this work should permit the production of this high molecular weight biopolymer in crop plants for applications in food and non-food products.

Bacillus subtilis↗