The role of GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase in the control of ascorbate biosynthesis. Issue 4 (25th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fenech, Mario; Amorim-Silva, Vítor; Esteban del Valle, Alicia; Arnaud, Dominique; Ruiz-Lopez, Noemi; Castillo, Araceli G; Smirnoff, Nicholas; Botella, Miguel A
• Is Part Of: Plant physiology. Volume 185:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 1574
• Page End: 1594
• Publication Date: 2021-01-25
• Subjects: Plant physiology -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.2
• DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0889

Abstract

Abstract: The enzymes involved in l -ascorbate biosynthesis in photosynthetic organisms (the Smirnoff–Wheeler [SW] pathway) are well established. Here, we analyzed their subcellular localizations and potential physical interactions and assessed their role in the control of ascorbate synthesis. Transient expression of C terminal-tagged fusions of SW genes in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana mutants complemented with genomic constructs showed that while GDP-d -mannose epimerase is cytosolic, all the enzymes from GDP-d -mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP) to l -galactose dehydrogenase (l -GalDH) show a dual cytosolic/nuclear localization. All transgenic lines expressing functional SW protein green fluorescent protein fusions driven by their endogenous promoters showed a high accumulation of the fusion proteins, with the exception of those lines expressing GDP-l -galactose phosphorylase (GGP) protein, which had very low abundance. Transient expression of individual or combinations of SW pathway enzymes in N. benthamiana only increased ascorbate concentration if GGP was included. Although we did not detect direct interaction between the different enzymes of the pathway using yeast-two hybrid analysis, consecutive SW enzymes, as well as the first and last enzymes (GMP and l -GalDH) associated in coimmunoprecipitation studies. This association was supported by gel filtration chromatography, showing the presence of SW proteins in high-molecular weight fractions. Finally, metabolic control analysis incorporating known kinetic characteristics showed that previously reported feedback repression at the GGP step, combined with its relatively low abundance, confers a high-flux control coefficient and rationalizes why manipulation of other enzymes has little effect on ascorbate concentration. Abstract : Metabolic engineering, genetic analysis, and functional mutant complementation identify GDP-l -galactose phosphorylase as the main control point in ascorbate biosynthesis in green tissues.