Transcriptional responses of Medicago truncatula upon sulfur deficiency stress and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

International audienceSulfur plays an essential role in plants' growth and development and in their response to various abiotic and biotic stresses despite its leachability and its very low abundance in the only form that plant roots can uptake (sulfate). It is part of amino acids, glutathione (GSH), thiols of proteins and peptides, membrane sulfolipids, cell walls and secondary products, so reduced availability can drastically alter plant growth and development. The nutritional benefits of symbiotic interactions can help the plant in case of S deficiency. In particular the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) interaction improves N, P and S plant nutrition, but the mechanisms behind these exchanges are not fully known yet. Although the transcriptional changes in the leguminous model plant Medicago truncatula have been already assessed in several biotic and/or abiotic conditions, S deficiency has not been considered so far. The aim of this work is to get a first overview on S-deficiency responses in the leaf and root tissues of plants interacting with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Several hundred genes displayed significantly different transcript accumulation levels. Annotation and GO ID association were used to identify biological processes and molecular functions affected by sulfur starvation. Beside the beneficial effects of AM interaction, plants were greatly affected by the nutritional status, showing various differences in their transcriptomic footprints. Several pathways in which S plays an important role appeared to be differentially affected according to mycorrhizal status, with a generally reduced responsiveness to S deficiency in mycorrhized plants

Measurement of carbon flux through the MEP pathway for isoprenoid synthesis by (31)P-NMR spectroscopy after specific inhibition of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase. Effect of light and temperature.

International audienceThe methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) and the mevalonate pathways are the unique synthesis routes for the precursors of all isoprenoids. An original mean to measure the carbon flux through the MEP pathway in plants is proposed by using cadmium as a total short-term inhibitor of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate (MEcDP) reductase (GcpE) and measuring the accumulation rate of its substrate MEcDP by (31) P-NMR spectroscopy. The MEP pathway metabolic flux was determined in spinach (Spinacia oleracea), pea (Pisum sativum), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) and boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) leaves. In spinach, flux values were compared with the synthesis rate of major isoprenoids. The flux increases with light intensity (fourfold in the 200-1200 µmol m(-2) s(-1) PPFR range) and temperature (sevenfold in the 25-37 °C range). The relationship with the light and the temperature dependency of isoprenoid production downstream of the MEP pathway is discussed

Rapid analysis of organic acids in plant extracts by capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection. Directed metabolic analyses during metal stress.

A fast, reliable capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with indirect UV detection was optimized and validated to determine the main organic acids contained in plants. Citric, malic, succinic, oxalic, formic, fumaric, acetic acids, and phosphate were quantified. A rapid separation while keeping a good resolution was obtained by optimizing capillary length, separation voltage, electrolyte composition, and pH. Such performances were perfectly adapted to high-throughput routine determinations of organic acids in research or industry. Organic acids were assayed in different plant tissues and cells, including sycamore, arabidopsis, buttercup, and pea. Citrate and malate were the most abundant in all plants tested with concentrations reaching 18.9 and 22.3 μmol/g fresh matter, respectively. Cadmium effect on pea leaves metabolism was also assessed

AtPME3, a ubiquitous cell wall pectin methylesterase of Arabidopsis thaliana, alters the metabolism of cruciferin seed storage proteins during post-germinative growth of seedlings

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