Characterization of Maize Superoxide Dismutase Gene Family: Identification of Two Novel Transcripts of Chloroplast SODs and Analysis of Potential DNA-protective Function of Mitochondrial MnSOD

• Published in: Journal of Stress Physiology & Biochemistry
• Main Authors: A.I. Katyshev, V.V. Chernikova, I.Y. Subota, V.I. Tarasenko, E.S. Klimenko, V.N. Shmakov, P.A. Grebnev, Y.M. Konstantinov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: "Vikol publishing" ST Kolesnichenko V.V. 2013-11-01
• Subjects: reactive oxygen species; superoxide dismutase; chloroplasts; mitochondria
• Online Access: http://www.jspb.ru/issues/2013/N4/JSPB_2013_4_352-361.pdf
• ISSN: 1997-0838

The families of genes encoding such key antioxidant enzymes as superoxide dismutases usually have complex structure. They consist of genes encoding enzymes which differ by their metal cofactor, origin and subcellular localization. The maize SOD family consisting of multiple genes is one of the most interesting among the characterized plant SOD gene families. We re-investigated the structure of maize SOD gene family using different approaches. We revealed two novel gene transcripts encoding chloroplast Fe- and Cu/Zn-SOD. This finding indicates that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxication system in maize chloroplasts has more complicated organization than it was considered earlier. At the same time it appeared that the number of maize genes encoding mitochondrial Mn-SODs is less than it was supposed. Using the recombinant proteins we showed that the functioning of MnSOD enzymes is posttranslationally regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. Possible involvement of Mn-SOD in the protection of mitochondrial DNA from oxidative damage is investigated.