Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are commonly found in plants as natural by-products of the metabolism but their production is greatly enhanced under abiotic stresses. Particular metabolites and enzymes belonging to the ascorbate-glutathione cycle are able to scavenge these deleterious molecules and modulate the cellular redox-status. In the March issue of Journal of Plant Physiology, we have shown that drought stress induces a raise in glutathione reductase (GR) activity and gene expression that could be related to the intensity of the drought treatment and the drought susceptibility of the bean cultivar (cowpea and/or common bean). In the present addendum we show new data on GR specific activity during progressive drought stress and recovery of the drought-susceptible bean cultivar which can be related to the previously found dual-targeted GR gene expression. Furthermore, since in leguminous plants homoglutathione (hGSH) is generally the most abundant low molecular weight thiol form, we discuss on the occurrence of a (homo)glutathione reductase activity in beans.
Addendum to: Torres-Franklin ML, Contour-Ansel D, Zuily-Fodil Y, Pham-Thi AT. Molecular cloning of glutathione reductase cDNAs and analysis of GR gene expression in cowpea and common bean leaves during recovery from moderate drought stress. J Plant Physiol 2008; 165:514-21.
Figures and Tables
Figure 1 GR-specific activity and relative water content (RWC%) in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) ‘Carioca’ leaves. GR-specific activity and RWC were measured in control, severely drought stressed and on rewatered plants. Values are means ± s.d. of three to five independent measurements. GR activity was assayed by following the oxidation of NADPH (decrease in absorbance at 340 nm) and expressed in nmoles min−1 mg−1 protein. RWC was measured according to Weatherley.24 Control plants (C), Ψw = −0.5 MPa; severely droughted plants (S3), Ψw = −2.0 MPa; 24 h rehydrated plant (24R), Ψw = −0.5 MPa; 48 h rehydrated plant (48R), Ψw = −0.5 MPa.
![Figure 1 GR-specific activity and relative water content (RWC%) in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) ‘Carioca’ leaves. GR-specific activity and RWC were measured in control, severely drought stressed and on rewatered plants. Values are means ± s.d. of three to five independent measurements. GR activity was assayed by following the oxidation of NADPH (decrease in absorbance at 340 nm) and expressed in nmoles min−1 mg−1 protein. RWC was measured according to Weatherley.24 Control plants (C), Ψw = −0.5 MPa; severely droughted plants (S3), Ψw = −2.0 MPa; 24 h rehydrated plant (24R), Ψw = −0.5 MPa; 48 h rehydrated plant (48R), Ψw = −0.5 MPa.](/cms/asset/907e2059-ecce-4a21-b6e8-5ef40e80938b/kpsb_a_10905918_f0001.gif)
Addendum to: