UGT74D1 is a novel auxin glycosyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 16;8(4):e61705. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061705. Print 2013.

Abstract

Auxin is one type of phytohormones that plays important roles in nearly all aspects of plant growth and developmental processes. The glycosylation of auxins is considered to be an essential mechanism to control the level of active auxins. Thus, the identification of auxin glycosyltransferases is of great significance for further understanding the auxin regulation. In this study, we biochemically screened the group L of Arabidopsis thaliana glycosyltransferase superfamily for enzymatic activity toward auxins. UGT74D1 was identified to be a novel auxin glycosyltransferase. Through HPLC and LC-MS analysis of reaction products in vitro by testing eight substrates including auxins and other compounds, we found that UGT74D1 had a strong glucosylating activity toward indole-3-butyric acid [IBA], indole-3-propionic acid [IPA], indole-3-acetic acid [IAA] and naphthaleneacetic acid [NAA], catalyzing them to form corresponding glucose esters. Biochemical characterization showed that this enzyme had a maximum activity in HEPES buffer at pH 6.0 and 37°C. In addition, the enzymatic activity analysis of crude protein and the IBA metabolite analysis from transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing UGT74D1 gene were also carried out. Experimental results indicated that over-production of the UGT74D1 in plants indeed led to increased level of the glucose conjugate of IBA. Moreover, UGT74D1 overexpression lines displayed curling leaf phenotype, suggesting a physiological role of UGT74D1 in affecting the activity of auxins. Our current data provide a new target gene for further genetic studies to understand the auxin regulation by glycosylation in plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / enzymology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • Glycosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Indoleacetic Acids / metabolism
  • Naphthaleneacetic Acids / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Naphthaleneacetic Acids
  • indoleacetic acid
  • Glycosyltransferases
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • UGT74D1 protein, Arabidopsis

Grants and funding

This research was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 90917006 and No. 30971543 to B.K.H.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.