Recruitment of a double bond isomerase to serve as a reductive dehalogenase during biodegradation of pentachlorophenol.

Tetrachlorohydroquinone dehalogenase catalyzes the replacement of chlorine atoms on tetrachlorohydroquinone and trichlorohydroquinone with hydrogen atoms during the biodegradation of pentachlorophenol by Sphingomonas chlorophenolica. The sequence of the active site region of tetrachlorohydroquinone dehalogenase is very similar to those of the corresponding regions of maleylacetoacetate isomerases, enzymes that catalyze the glutathione-dependent isomerization of a cis double bond in maleylacetoacetate to the trans configuration during the catabolism of phenylalanine and tyrosine. Furthermore, tetrachlorohydroquinone dehalogenase catalyzes the isomerization of maleylacetone (an analogue of maleylacetoacetate) at a rate nearly comparable to that of a bona fide bacterial maleylacetoacetate isomerase. Since maleylacetoacetate isomerase is involved in a common and presumably ancient pathway for catabolism of tyrosine, while tetrachlorohydroquinone dehalogenase catalyzes a more specialized reaction, it is likely that tetrachlorohydroquinone dehalogenase arose from a maleylacetoacetate isomerase. The substrates and overall transformations involved in the dehalogenation and isomerization reactions are strikingly different. This enzyme provides a remarkable example of Nature's ability to recruit an enzyme with a useful structural scaffold and elaborate upon its basic catalytic capabilities to generate a catalyst for a newly needed reaction.

Manipulating the desiccation tolerance and vigor of dry somatic embryos of Medicago sativa L. with sucrose, heat shock and abscisic acid.

The effects of sucrose concentration in the maturation medium in combination with a heat shock treatment at 36°C were investigated in an attempt to improve the vigor of seedlings grown from dry somatic embryos of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Callus was formed from petiole expiants and dispersed in liquid suspension medium in the presence of 5 µM 2,4-D. The cell suspension was sieved to synchronize embryo development. The 200 - 500 µm fraction was plated on embryo development medium without 2,4-D, grown for 14 days, and transferred to maturation medium. With 3% sucrose in the maturation medium, the somatic embryos germinated precociously and were unable to survive desiccation. At higher sucrose concentrations, germination was delayed and the embryos continued to accumulate dry matter. After 13 days on 6% sucrose medium (27 days after sieving), the somatic embryos were tolerant of drying to 12% moisture without exposure to exogenous ABA. Heat shock, which presumably stimulates endogenous ABA synthesis, improved the desiccation tolerance of somatic embryos if applied prior to day 27 after sieving, but its effects were minimal after day 27. High sucrose concentrations up to 9% in the maturation medium were optimal during the first 8 days on maturation medium (days 14 to 22 after sieving), but a lower concentration (6%) was optimal during the later stages of embryo maturation (days 22 to 30 after sieving). The inclusion of 10(-5) M ABA in the maturation medium with 6% sucrose further improved embryo quality if applied approximately 20 days after sieving.