An exception among diatoms: unique organization of genes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis in Rhizosolenia setigera CCMP 1694.

The marine diatom Rhizosolenia setigera is unique among this group of microalgae given that it is only one of a handful of diatom species that can produce highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) hydrocarbons. In our efforts to determine distinguishing molecular characteristics in R. setigera CCMP 1694 that could help elucidate the underlying mechanisms for its ability to biosynthesize HBIs, we discovered the occurrence of independent genes encoding for two isopentenyl diphosphate isomerases (RsIDI1 and RsIDI2) and one squalene synthase (RsSQS), enzymes that catalyze non-consecutive steps in isoprenoid biosynthesis. These genes are peculiarly fused in all other genome-sequenced diatoms to date, making their organization in R. setigera CCMP 1694 a clear distinguishing molecular feature. Phylogenetic and sequence analysis of RsIDI1, RsIDI2, and RsSQS revealed that such an arrangement of individually transcribed genes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis could have arisen through a secondary gene fission event. We further demonstrate that inhibition of squalene synthase (SQS) shifts the flux of exogenous isoprenoid precursors towards HBI biosynthesis suggesting the competition for isoprenoid substrates in the form of farnesyl diphosphate between the sterol and HBI biosynthetic pathways in this diatom.

Characterization of marine diatom-infecting virus promoters in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

Viruses are considered key players in phytoplankton population control in oceans. However, mechanisms that control viral gene expression in prominent microalgae such as diatoms remain largely unknown. In this study, potential promoter regions isolated from several marine diatom-infecting viruses (DIVs) were linked to the egfp reporter gene and transformed into the Pennales diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. We analysed their activity in cells grown under different conditions. Compared to diatom endogenous promoters, novel DIV promoter (ClP1) mediated a significantly higher degree of reporter transcription and translation. Stable expression levels were observed in transformants grown under both light and dark conditions, and high levels of expression were reported in cells in the stationary phase compared to the exponential phase of growth. Conserved motifs in the sequence of DIV promoters were also found. These results allow the identification of novel regulatory regions that drive DIV gene expression and further examinations of the mechanisms that control virus-mediated bloom control in diatoms. Moreover, the identified ClP1 promoter can serve as a novel tool for metabolic engineering of diatoms. This is the first report describing a promoter of DIVs that may be of use in basic and applied diatom research.

Light regulation of ascorbic acid biosynthesis in rice via light responsive cis-elements in genes encoding ascorbic acid biosynthetic enzymes.

The ascorbic acid (AsA) content and the mRNA levels of L-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase (GPPase), and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) increased by intense light, and decreased in the dark. Moreover, the promoter regions of GPPase and GalLDH contained light responsible cis-elements. These results suggest that in rice, AsA synthesis is regulated by light.

Increase in ascorbate content of transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the acerola (Malpighia glabra) phosphomannomutase gene.

Phosphomannomutase (PMM; EC 5.4.2.8) catalyzes the interconversion of mannose-6-phosphate to mannose-1-phosphate in the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway for the biosynthesis of l-ascorbic acid (AsA). We have cloned the PMM cDNA from acerola (Malpighia glabra), a plant containing an enormous amount of AsA. The AsA contents correlate with the PMM gene expression of the ripening fruits and leaves. The PMM activities in the leaves of acerola, tomato and Arabidopsis correlate with their respective AsA contents. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the acerola PMM gene showed about a 2-fold increase in AsA contents compared with the wild type, with a corresponding correlation with the PMM transcript levels and activities.

Formation of unidentified nitrogen in plants: an implication for a novel nitrogen metabolism.

Plants take up inorganic nitrogen and store it unchanged or convert it to organic forms. The nitrogen in such organic compounds is stoichiometrically recoverable by the Kjeldahl method. The sum of inorganic nitrogen and Kjeldahl nitrogen has long been known to equal the total nitrogen in plants. However, in our attempt to study the mechanism of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) metabolism, we unexpectedly discovered that about one-third of the total nitrogen derived from (15)N-labeled NO(2) taken up by Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. plants was converted to neither inorganic nor Kjeldahl nitrogen, but instead to an as yet unknown nitrogen compound(s). We here refer to this nitrogen as unidentified nitrogen ( UN). The generality of the formation of UN across species, nitrogen sources and cultivation environments for plants has been shown as follows. Firstly, all of the other 11 plant species studied were found to form the UN in response to fumigation with (15)NO(2). Secondly, tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants fed with (15)N-nitrate appeared to form the UN. And lastly, the leaves of naturally fed vegetables, grass and roadside trees were found to possess the UN. In addition, the UN appeared to comprise a substantial proportion of total nitrogen in these plant species. Collectively, all of our present findings imply that there is a novel nitrogen mechanism for the formation of UN in plants. Based on the analyses of the exhaust gas and residue fractions of the Kjeldahl digestion of a plant sample containing the UN, probable candidates for compounds that bear the UN were deduced to be those containing the heat-labile nitrogen-oxygen functions and those recalcitrant to Kjeldahl digestion, including organic nitro and nitroso compounds. We propose UN-bearing compounds may provide a chemical basis for the mechanism of the reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and thus that cross-talk may occur between UN and RNS metabolisms in plants. A mechanism for the formation of UN-bearing compounds, in which RNS are involved as intermediates, is proposed. The important broad impact of this novel nitrogen metabolism, not only on the general physiology of plants, but also on plant substances as human and animal food, and on plants as an integral part of the global environment, is discussed.