Plant Physiology 132:2184-2195 (2003)
© 2003 American Society of Plant Biologists
BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSES AND MACROMOLECULAR STRUCTURES
Characterization of Tocopherol Cyclases from Higher Plants and Cyanobacteria. Evolutionary Implications for Tocopherol Synthesis and Function1
Scott E. Sattler,
Edgar B. Cahoon2,
Sean J. Coughlan3 and
Dean DellaPenna*
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry Building,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824–1319 (S.E.S.,
D.D.P.); and DuPont Crop Genetics, Experimental Station, Wilmington, Delaware
19880–0402 (E.B.C., S.J.C.)
Tocopherols are lipophilic antioxidants synthesized exclusively by
photosynthetic organisms and collectively constitute vitamin E, an essential
nutrient for both humans and animals. Tocopherol cyclase (TC) catalyzes the
conversion of various phytyl quinol pathway intermediates to their
corresponding tocopherols through the formation of the chromanol ring. Herein,
the molecular and biochemical characterization of TCs from Arabidopsis (VTE1
[VITAMIN E 1]), Zea mays (SXD1 [Sucrose Export Deficient 1]) and
Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (slr1737) are described. Mutations in the
VTE1, SXD1, or slr1737 genes resulted in both tocopherol deficiency
and the accumulation of 2,3-dimethyl-6-phytyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DMPBQ), a TC
substrate. Recombinant SXD1 and VTE1 proteins are able to convert DMPBQ to
 -tocopherol in vitro. In addition, expression of maize SXD1 in a
Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 slr1737 knockout mutant restored tocopherol
synthesis, indicating that TC activity is evolutionarily conserved between
plants and cyanobacteria. Sequence analysis identified a highly conserved
30-amino acid C-terminal domain in plant TCs that is absent from
cyanobacterial orthologs. vte1-2 causes a truncation within this
C-terminal domain, and the resulting mutant phenotype suggests that this
domain is necessary for TC activity in plants. The defective export of Suc in
sxd1 suggests that in addition to presumed antioxidant activities,
tocopherols or tocopherol breakdown products also function as signal
transduction molecules, or, alternatively, the DMPBQ that accumulates in
sxd1 disrupts signaling required for efficient Suc export in
maize.
1 This work was supported in part by the Michigan State University Center for
Novel Plant Products.
2 Present address: U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research
Service Plant Genetics Research Unit, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center,
975 N. Warson Rd., St. Louis, MO 63132.
3 Present address: Agilent Technologies Inc., Little Falls Site, 2850
Centreville Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808.
*
Corresponding author; e-mail
dellapen{at}msu.edu;
fax 517–353–9334.
Received March 25, 2003;
returned for revision May 2, 2003;
accepted May 12, 2003.
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