Regulation of boron toxicity responses via glutathione-dependent detoxification pathways at biochemical and molecular levels in Arabidopsisthaliana

Abstract

The fine-tuned regulation of the Halliwell-Asada cycle (ascorbate-glutathione pathway) in Arabidopsis thaliana under boron (B) toxicity was shown in our previous report. In this study, we investigated the expression levels of some members of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily, such as phi (GSTF2, GSTF6, GSTF7, and GSTF8), tau (GSTU19), and zeta (GSTZ1) classes in Arabidopsis thaliana that were exposed to 1 mM boric acid (1B) and 3 mM boric acid (3B). Additionally, the expression levels of genes for glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatin biosynthesis as well as miR169 and miR156 were evaluated in Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to 1B and 3B. Moreover, changes in the levels of total GST activity; GSH; and total, protein-bound, and nonprotein thiols were spectrophotometrically determined. GSH levels and nonprotein thiol content did not change significantly following both B-toxicity conditions. Expression levels of GSH1 and GSH2 stayed stable under 1B toxicity; however, GSH1 expression increased significantly under 3B conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression levels of four genes from phi class members of GST were not dramatically changed under B-toxicity conditions. However, the transcript levels of miR169, ATGSTU19, and ATGSTZ1 were significantly increased after 1B and 3B exposure. These GST genes may have a role in the dramatic increase of total GST activity under toxic B. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report displaying an integrative view of high-B-induced regulation of GSH-dependent enzymatic machinery at different biological organization levels in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Recombinant expression of Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 glutathione S-transferase in Arabidopsis thaliana: an efficient tool for phytoremediation of thiocyanate

“…Studies have found that high concentrations of boric acid can induce antioxidant stress response in plants [55]. The expression levels of ATGSTU19 and ATGSTZ1 genes in A. thaliana were significantly increased under the stress of high concentration of boric acid [56]. There have been several reports demonstrating that the phytotoxicity of thiocyanates is caused by redox imbalance [57].…”