| Abstract Detail
Metabolism Mehrshahi, Payam [1], Tucker, Greg [2], Bennett, Malcolm J. [3]. Characterising the Functional Importance of Folate Polyglutamylation in Plants. Tetrahydrofolates (THF) function as coenzymes in single carbon transfer reactions necessary to synthesise components of DNA, RNA, and proteins. A significant proportion of cellular THF are polyglutamylated, a process catalyzed by folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS). The polyglutamate chain is the principal means by which THF is compartmentalised within cells. In plants, polyglutamated THF represents the preferred substrate for key enzymes such as methionine synthase, serine hydroxymethyltransferase and thymidylate synthase (Ravanel et al., 2004; Huang et al., 1998; Kamb et al., 1992). The objective of this study is to systematically explore the role of THF polyglutamylation on one-carbon metabolism and plant development. In Arabidopsis, FPGS is encoded by 3 genes reported to encode cytosolic, plastidic and mitochondrial isoforms (Ravanel et al., 2001). Knockout (KO) mutants have been isolated in all 3 FPGS genes. Whilst KO mutations in individual FPGS genes appear largely normal, multiple FPGS mutant combinations exhibit specific developmental defects. These range from embryo lethality to dwarfism, highlighting the functional importance of THF polyglutamylation to plant metabolism and development.
References:
Kamb et al (1992) Biochemistry 31: 9883-9890.
Ravanel et al (2001) PNAS 98: 15360-15365.
Ravanel et al (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279: 22548-22557.
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Characterising the Functional Importance of Folate Polyglutamylation in Plants
1 - The University Of Nottingham, Plant Sciences Division, School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
2 - The University Of Nottingham, Plant Biochemistry Division
3 - The University Of Nottingham, Plant Sciences Division
Keywords:
tetrahydrofolate
polyglutamylation
folylpolyglutamate synthetase
folate.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P19018
Abstract ID:468 |
