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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146017
Title: SULFUR ASSIMILATION IN SOYBEAN: MOLECULAR CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF O-ACETYLSERINE (THIOL) LYASE (CYSTEINE SYNTHASE)

Author
item CHRONIS, DEMOSTHENIS - UNIV OF MISSOURI
item Krishnan, Hari

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2003
Citation: CHRONIS, D., KRISHNAN, H.B. SULFUR ASSIMILATION IN SOYBEAN: MOLECULAR CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF O-ACETYLSERINE (THIOL) LYASE (CYSTEINE SYNTHASE). CROP SCIENCE. 2003. V. 43(5). P. 1819-1827.

Interpretive Summary: Soybean is a rich source of protein. Unfortunately, soybean proteins contain low amounts of two important amino acids, methionine and cysteine, that are vital for optimal growth of humans and animals. Therefore, attempts are being made to increase the amount of these two amino acids in soybean proteins. This study reports the cloning and characterization of a key enzyme that catalyzes the last step in the production cysteine. The activity of this enzyme declines during the time period when the bulk of storage protein accumulation occurs. Since this enzyme plays a major role in the synthesis of cysteine, it is desirable to elevate its expression during soybean seed development. The information obtained from this basic study will help biotechnologists to genetically manipulate the sulfur assimilatory enzyme expression levels so that we can improve the overall quality of soybean seed proteins. Superior quality soy proteins can be utilized to meet the nutritional requirements of the multitude of malnourished people around the world.

Technical Abstract: Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is a good protein source for both humans and livestock. However, soybean seed proteins are deficient in the sulfur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine. This deficiency has stimulated efforts to improve the amino acid composition of soybean seed proteins. Our overall goal is to improve the sulfur amino acid content of soybean seed proteins by genetic manipulation. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OAS-TL), a key enzyme that catalyzes the last step in the production of cysteine. A full-length cDNA clone encoding a cytosolic isoform of OAS-TL was isolated by screening a soybean seed cDNA library with a 32P-labeled expressed sequence tag. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed a single open-reading frame of 978 base pairs encoding a 34 kDa protein. The authenticity of the isolated cDNA was confirmed by the functional complementation of an Escherichia coli cysteine auxotrophic mutant. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that OAS-TL mRNA was abundant during the early stages of seed development. Western blot analysis using antibodies generated against the recombinant soybean OAS-TL demonstrated that the abundance of this protein gradually declined during later stages of seed development. The OAS-TL activity peaked in young developing seeds and declined steadily during the time period when the bulk of seed storage protein accumulation occurred. Thus, elevating the specific activity of OAS-TL during later stages of seed development could lead to an increase in cysteine synthesis in soybean seeds.