Protein lysine methylation contributes to modulating the response of sensitive and tolerant Arabidopsis species to cadmium stress

Abstract

The mechanisms underlying the response and adaptation of plants to excess of trace elements are not fully described. Here, we analysed the importance of protein lysine methylation for plants to cope with cadmium. We analysed the effect of cadmium on lysine‐methylated proteins and protein lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) in two cadmium‐sensitive species, Arabidopsis thaliana and A. lyrata, and in three populations of A. halleri with contrasting cadmium accumulation and tolerance traits. We showed that some proteins are differentially methylated at lysine residues in response to Cd and that a few genes coding KMTs are regulated by cadmium. Also, we showed that 9 out of 23 A. thaliana mutants disrupted in KMT genes have a tolerance to cadmium that is significantly different from that of wild‐type seedlings. We further characterized two of these mutants, one was knocked out in the calmodulin lysine methyltransferase gene and displayed increased tolerance to cadmium, and the other was interrupted in a KMT gene of unknown function and showed a decreased capacity to cope with cadmium. Together, our results showed that lysine methylation of non‐histone proteins is impacted by cadmium and that several methylation events are important for modulating the response of Arabidopsis plants to cadmium stress.

Development of a metalloproteomic approach to analyse the response of Arabidopsis cells to uranium stress

“…We showed that U induced a modification of the methylation pattern of some proteins, as previously observed in Arabidopsis plants treated with cadmium. 46 Also, MS/MS analysis identified that the 40S ribosomal protein RPS10C was dimethylated at Arg159 and Arg163 following U stress. This is the first evidence of methylation of this protein in plants despite the comprehensive analysis of post-translational modifications of the 80S cytosolic ribosome.…”

“…[43][44][45] In support of this assumption, we have recently shown that protein Lys methylation contributes in modulating the response of Arabidopsis plants to a stress induced by cadmium. 46 Immunoblots with total soluble proteins revealed a few methylated polypeptides whereas those realized with the fractions separated by AEC showed additional methylated proteins. We further analysed the dimethylated Arg signal that was detected in a 15-20 kDa polypeptide in F100 and that was more strongly immuno-labelled in U-stressed than in control cells (Fig.…”

Heavy metals modulate DNA compaction and methylation at CpG sites in the metal hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri

“…(2020) showed that DNA demethylation enhances plant tolerance to Cd toxicity in A. thaliana , while Serre et al . (2020) pointed out differences in the Lys methylation of nonhistone proteins in two Cd‐sensitive species, A. thaliana and A. lyrata , and in three populations of A. halleri AU, I16 and PL22 with contrasting Cd accumulation and tolerance.…”

Lysine, Lysine-Rich, Serine, and Serine-Rich Proteins: Link Between Metabolism, Development, and Abiotic Stress Tolerance and the Role of ncRNAs in Their Regulation

“…The effect of Cd on Lys-methylated proteins and KMTs were studied in A. thaliana, A. lyrata, and A. halleri, which have differential tolerance to Cd. Gene expression, protein mass spectrometric, and immunoblotting techniques revealed significant expressions in Lys-methylated proteins and regulation of genes coding KMTs by Cd (Serre et al, 2020). Interruption of KMT gene in A. thaliana displayed a significant increase in Cd tolerance in comparison with wild type plants.…”

“…It has been found that variability exists among different populations of A. halleri for Cd accumulation (Stein et al, 2017;Corso et al, 2018). Such an intraspecific variability has prompted Serre et al (2020) to investigate the molecular mechanisms associated with metal tolerance, especially the Lys-methylated proteins in plants. The effect of Cd on Lys-methylated proteins and KMTs were studied in A. thaliana, A. lyrata, and A. halleri, which have differential tolerance to Cd.…”