PLANT PHYSIOLOGY , Vol 103, Issue 4 1385-1391, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Plant Biologists
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MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENE REGULATION |
Molecular Responses to Photooxidative Stress in Pinus sylvestris (L.) (II. Differential Expression of CuZn-Superoxide Dismutases and Glutathione Reductase
S. Karpinski, G. Wingsle, B. Karpinska and J. E. Hallgren
Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Forestry, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, S-901 83 Umea, Sweden
The influence of photooxidative stress on genes expressing superoxide
dismutase (Sod) and glutathione reductase (Gor) was analyzed in needles of
top and side shoots of 3-year-old Pinus sylvestris (L.) seedlings. The
study was carried out in the field during spring recovery. From mid-April
the top shoots of seedlings protruded above the snow and thus were exposed
to sunlight, whereas the side shoots were covered with snow until May 4.
Needles were sampled from top and side shoots on five different occasions.
At the beginning of May the mRNA levels for cytosolic CuZn-Sod were
significantly higher in top-shoot needles than in side-shoot needles.
Similar results were obtained for chloroplastic CuZn-Sod mRNA. After May 6
we could not detect any significant differences between top- and side-shoot
needles for either CuZn-Sod mRNA level. Transcript accumulation for the
chloroplastic CuZn-Sod was up to 4-fold higher than for cytosolic CuZn-Sod
in both types of shoots. On June 1 minimum transcript levels were observed
for both CuZn-SOD isoforms. Protein activity analysis for CuZn-SOD isozymes
did not reveal any significant differences between top- and side-shoot
needles during the whole period of measurements. The mRNA level for
chloroplastic Gor was similar in both types of shoots. However, the total
GR activity was significantly higher in top-shoot needles than in
side-shoot needles at the beginning of May. The analysis of mRNA
accumulation for chloroplastic CuZn-Sod and Gor indicates that transcript
levels were at least 5- to 20-fold higher for CuZn-Sod than for
chloroplastic Gor. The differential expressions of Sod and Gor genes are
discussed in relation to regulation of the enzymic scavenging system during
photooxidative stress conditions.