Glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase from golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and the production of formaldehyde detoxifying plants

Abstract

Glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH) is an enzyme involved in formaldehyde metabolism in eukaryotes. FALDH cDNA was cloned from golden pothos, which is reported to effectively purify gaseous formaldehyde from enclosed room atmosphere. FALDH cDNAs from Arabidopsis, rice and golden pothos were overexpressed in transgenic Arabidopsis, and the enzyme activity was compared to determine the one most suitable for the molecular breeding of formaldehyde-detoxifying plants. The transgenic lines exhibited modified levels of the FALDH transcript, i.e. 10-800% compared to the endogenous transcript, due to either an overexpression or a cosuppression phenotype. The enzyme activity in the crude leaf extract was not proportionate, but did correlate with the transcription levels with certain exceptions. The FALDHs from the three plant species indicated similar enzymatic activity on average. The capacity to detoxify exogenous formaldehyde in the transformants with the FALDHs was determined at the whole plant level. Plants overexpressing FALDH from the three plant species displayed up to a 40% increase in their efficiency to take up exogenous formaldehyde as compared with the wild-type plants. On the other hand, no difference in the survival rate was observed among the transformants and wild type plants on formaldehyde-containing agar medium. These results show the FALDH from golden pothos to be similarly or more effective for detoxifying formaldehyde in transgenic plants compared with Arabidopsis and rice, and that this cDNA is applicable to the molecular breeding of formaldehyde detoxifying plants.Key words: Formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH), golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum), sick house.Plant Biotechnology 28, 373-378 (2011) DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.11.0620a Original PaperAbbreviations: FALDH, formaldehyde dehydrogenase; RACE, rapid amplification of cDNA ends; RT, Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase This article can be found at

Enhanced removal of exogenous formaldehyde gas by AtFALDH-transgenic petunia

“…Because some plants have the ability to remove airborne volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde (Meagher and Heaton, 2005), many researchers recommend to use plants in order to reduce indoor air pollutants (phytoremediation). Several recent studies have shown that genetic transformation techniques can enhance the ability of plants to remove these pollutants (Tada and Kidu, 2011;Zhang et al, 2011). In Korea, there are several reports in aiming to expand the selection of ornamental species that are useful for phytoremediation and suitable for indoor use (Kil et al, 2008;Kim et al, 2010;Son et al, 2000).…”

“…Orthologs of the Arabidopsis gene have subsequently been isolated from other plant species. Fliegmann and Sandermann (1997) and Tada and Kidu (2011) isolated the gene from maize (Zea mays) and golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum), respectively.…”

Studies for Absorption of Formaldehyde by Using Foliage on Wild Tomato Species

“…In addition to this study, it was indicated that HCHO was metabolized by plant organs such as seeds and leaves by detecting the enzymatic activity related to metabolism of HCHO (Schmitz et al, 2000;Uotila and Koivusalo, 1979). Transgenic plants overexpressing FALDH such as Arabidopsis and golden pothos showed an increased efficiency to take up exog-enous HCHO as compared with wild type plants (Achkor et al, 2003;Tada and Kidu, 2011). Therefore, our research also supported the notion that the HCHO absorbed in plants was not decomposed by microorganisms in the rhizosphere on soil, but was metabolized by plant organs.…”

Formaldehyde degradation by a newly isolated fungus Aspergillus sp. HUA

“…Achkor et al (2003) reported that transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing AtFADH show a 25 % increase in the detoxification rate compared with the wild-type plants. Recently, FADH genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, golden pothos, and rice were isolated and characterized (Tada and Kidu 2011). Studies on gene cloning of this fungus were in progress to elucidate the gene regulation of formaldehyde metabolism.…”

“…One of which is the combination of formaldehyde with cofactors, the combination product then is oxidized into CO 2 and generated energy (Hanson and Roje 2001). The glutathione (GSH)-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FADH) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) participate in the above strategy (Tada and Kidu 2011). In addition, formaldehyde participate the C 1 assimilation pathways, the xylulose monophosphate pathway in yeasts, and the ribulose monophosphate pathway in methylotrophic bacteria (Yurimoto et al 2009).…”