Spatial expression of the Arabidopsis <i>hydroperoxide lyase</i> gene is controlled differently from that of the <i>allene oxide synthase</i> gene

<div><p>The hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) pathway for six carbon (C6) volatiles and the allene oxide synthase (AOS) pathway for jasmonates (JAs) share the first part of the pathway. To avoid competition, a separate localization of HPL and AOS might be important. A fusion protein comprising Arabidopsis HPL and green fluorescent protein was transported into chloroplasts, where AOS was located. Arabidopsis harboring β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene downstream of Arabidopsis HPL promoter (pAtHPL::GUS) showed different GUS activity in floral organs compared with that from pAtAOS::GUS. With pAtHPL::GUS, wounding enhanced GUS activity at the periphery of cotyledons; while with pAtAOS::GUS, GUS activity was high in the vasculature. The distribution of the ability to form C6 volatiles correlated with the profile of HPL promoter activity; however, this ability unchanged after wounding. Inconsistency between the AOS promoter activity and JA levels was also evident. Thus, an additional factor should also control the ability to form C6 volatiles and JAs.</p></div

Glutathionylation and reduction of methacrolein in tomato plants account for its absorption from the vapor phase

A large portion of the volatile organic compounds emitted by plants are oxygenated to yield reactive carbonyl species, which have a big impact on atmospheric chemistry. Deposition to vegetation driven by the absorption of reactive carbonyl species into plants plays a major role in cleansing the atmosphere, but the mechanisms supporting this absorption have been little examined. Here, we performed model experiments using methacrolein (MACR), one of the major reactive carbonyl species formed from isoprene, and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. Tomato shoots enclosed in a jar with MACR vapor efficiently absorbed MACR. The absorption efficiency was much higher than expected from the gas/liquid partition coefficient of MACR, indicating that MACR was likely metabolized in leaf tissues. Isobutyraldehyde, isobutyl alcohol, and methallyl alcohol (MAA) were detected in the headspace and inside tomato tissues treated with MACR vapor, suggesting that MACR was enzymatically reduced. Glutathione (GSH) conjugates of MACR (MACR-GSH) and MAA (MAA-GSH) were also detected. MACR-GSH was essentially formed through spontaneous conjugation between endogenous GSH and exogenous MACR, and reduction of MACR-GSH to MAA-GSH was likely catalyzed by an NADPH-dependent enzyme in tomato leaves. Glutathionylation was the metabolic pathway most responsible for the absorption of MACR, but when the amount of MACR exceeded the available GSH, MACR that accumulated reduced photosynthetic capacity. In an experiment simulating the natural environment using gas flow, MACR-GSH and MAA-GSH accumulation accounted for 30% to 40% of the MACR supplied. These results suggest that MACR metabolism, especially spontaneous glutathionylation, is an essential factor supporting MACR absorption from the atmosphere by tomato plants