ARS | Publication request: From sulfur to homoglutathione: Thiol metabolism in soybean

Submitted to: Amino Acids
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: March 16, 2010
Publication Date: April 3, 2010
Citation: Yil, H., Ravilious, G.E., Galant, A., Krishnan, H.B., Jezl, J.M. 2010. From sulfur to homoglutathione: Thiol metabolism in soybean. Amino Acids. 39:963-978.

Technical Abstract: Sulfur is an essential plant nutrient and is metabolized into the sulfur-containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine) and into molecules that protect plants against oxidative and environmental stresses. Although studies of thiol metabolism in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) have expanded our understanding of these dynamic processes, our knowledge of how sulfur is assimilated and metabolized in crop plants, such as soybean (Glycine max), remains limited in comparison. Soybean is a major crop used worldwide for food and animal feed. Although soybeans are protein-rich, they do not contain high levels of the sulfur-containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine. Ultimately, unraveling the fundamental steps and regulation of thiol metabolism in soybean is important for optimizing crop yield and quality. Here we review the pathways from sulfur uptake to glutathione/homoglutathione synthesis in soybean, the potential biotechnology benefits of understanding and modifying these pathways, and how information from the soybean genome may guide next steps in exploring this biochemical system.