ABSTRACT
Plants have developed several external and internal aluminium (Al) tolerance mechanisms. The external mechanism best characterised is the exudation of organic acids induced by Al. Rye (Secale cereale L.), one of the most Al-tolerant cereal crops, secretes both citrate and malate from its roots in response to Al. However, the role of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) genes in Al-induced stress has not been studied in rye. We have isolated the ScMDH1 and ScMDH2 genes, encoding two different mitochondrial MDH isozymes, in three Al-tolerant rye cultivars (Ailés, Imperial and Petkus) and one sensitive inbred rye line (Riodeva). These genes, which have seven exons and six introns, were located on the 1R (ScMDH1) and 3RL (ScMDH2) chromosomes. Exon 1 of ScMDH1 and exon 7 of ScMDH2 were the most variable among the different ryes. The hypothetical proteins encoded by these genes were classified as putative mitochondrial MDH isoforms. The phylogenetic relationships obtained using both cDNA and protein sequences indicated that the ScMDH1 and ScMDH2 proteins are orthologous to mitochondrial MDH1 and MDH2 proteins of different Poaceae species. The expression studies of the ScMDH1 and ScMDH2 genes indicate that it is more intense in roots than in leaves. Moreover, the amount of their corresponding mRNAs in roots from plants treated and not treated with Al was higher in the tolerant cultivar Petkus than in the sensitive inbred line Riodeva. In addition, ScMDH1 and ScMDH2 mRNA levels decreased in response to Al stress (repressive behaviour) in the roots of both the tolerant Petkus and the sensitive line Riodeva.
Subject(s)
Aluminum/metabolism , Malate Dehydrogenase/genetics , Secale/physiology , Base Sequence , Chromosome Mapping , Lipid Peroxidation , Malates/metabolism , Mitochondria/enzymology , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , Plant Leaves/enzymology , Plant Leaves/genetics , Plant Leaves/physiology , Plant Proteins/genetics , Plant Roots/enzymology , Plant Roots/genetics , Plant Roots/physiology , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Plant/genetics , Secale/enzymology , Secale/genetics , Seedlings/enzymology , Seedlings/genetics , Seedlings/physiology , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Aluminium (Al) is the main factor that limits crop production in acidic soils. There is evidence that antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) play a key role against Al-induced oxidative stress in several plant species. Rye is one of the most Al-tolerant cereals and exudes both citrate and malate from the roots in response to Al. The role of SOD against Al-induced oxidative stress has not been studied in rye. Al accumulation, lipid peroxidation, H2O2 production and cell death were significantly higher in sensitive than in tolerant rye cultivars. Also, we characterised two genes for rye SOD: ScCu/ZnSOD and ScMnSOD. These genes were located on the chromosome arms of 2RS and 3RL, respectively, and their corresponding hypothetical proteins were putatively classified as cytosolic and mitochondrial, respectively. The phylogenetic relationships indicate that the two rye genes are orthologous to the corresponding genes of other Poaceae species. In addition, we studied Al-induced changes in the expression profiles of mRNAs from ScCu/ZnSOD and ScMnSOD in the roots and leaves of tolerant Petkus and sensitive Riodeva rye. These genes are mainly expressed in roots in both ryes, their repression being induced by Al. The tolerant cultivar has more of both mRNAs than the sensitive line, indicating that they are probably involved in Al tolerance.