O proteassomo é o componente do sistema Ubiquitina-Proteassomo (UPS), responsável pela degradação de proteínas intracelulares marcadas com cauda de ubiquitina. No entanto, a unidade catalítica do proteassomo (20SPT), destituída de unidades regulatórias, é capaz de degradar proteínas de maneira ubiquitina-independente. Diversas modificações pós-traducionais já foram descritas para o 20SPT, incluindo a S-glutatiolação. De acordo com Demasi e col., (2003) o 20SPT da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae possui a atividade tipo-quimiotripsina modulada por glutationa e o mecanismo de glutatiolação implica na formação do intermediário ácido sulfênico. No presente trabalho, identificamos por espectrometria de massas (MS/MS) um total de sete resíduos diferentes de cisteína glutatiolados no 20SPT, sendo seis in vitro por incubação com GSH e três in vivo, extraído de células crescidas até atingir fase estacionária tardia em meio rico. Analisando a estrutura 3D do 20SPT, observou-se que os resíduos de cisteína glutatiolados não estão localizados na entrada da câmara catalítica nem próximos aos sítios-ativos, indicando um mecanismo alostérico da modulação da atividade proteassomal. O proteassomo glutatiolado extraído de leveduras é capaz de degradar proteínas oxidadas de maneira mais eficiente que o proteassomo reduzido por DTT, e ainda, esta degradação gera perfis peptídicos diferenciados por utilizar distintamente as atividades sítio-especificas, como visualizado por análises de HPLC e MS/MS. Por microscopia eletrônica verificamos a conformação aberta da câmara catalítica do proteassomo glutatiolado, sendo esta imediatamente fechada pela remoção da glutationa do 20SPT na presença de DTT. Caracterizamos ainda, enzimas reponsáveis pela desglutatiolação do 20SPT, capazes de recuperar as atividades proteassomais que haviam sido diminuídas pela glutatiolação: as oxidoredutases glutarredoxina 2 e as tiorredoxinas citosólicas. O mecanismo ainda inclui a hidrólise dessas oxidorredutases, fenômeno também verificado para diversas proteínas da suprafamília tiorredoxina, provavelmente devido a propriedades estruturais desta família. A glutatiolação do proteassomo apresenta-se como uma nova modificação pós-traducional de ocorrência fisiológica dependente do estado redox celular. Esta modificação promove aumento da atividade proteolítica, sugerindo uma função antioxidante atuante na remoção de proteínas oxidadas durante desafios oxidativos / The proteasome is the protease of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) responsible for the breakdown of intracellular ubiquitin-tagged proteins. However, the catalytic particle of the proteasome (20SPT) is capable of hydrolyzing some substrates in an ubiquitin-independent fashion. The S-glutathiolation of the 20SPT was described among several post-translational modifications and according to Demasi et. al. (2003), the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasome from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by glutathione. The mechanism of S-glutathiolation is dependent on the formation of the sulfenic acid intermediate in the cisteine residues of the 20SPT. In this present work, we identified in vitro and in vivo, a total of seven different S-glutathiolated proteasomal cysteine residues by mass spectrometry studies (MS/MS) and, by analyzing the 3D structure of the 20SPT, the modified cysteine residues are not located either on the entrance of the catalytic core or near to the active sites, indicating an allosteric mechanism of proteasomal modulation. During protein degradation, the natively S-glutathiolated 20SPT produces different patterns of peptide products when compared to the DTT-reduced particle through distinct site-specific cleavage of the protein substrates, as herein demonstrated by HPLC and MS/MS analyses. Furthermore, by electron microscopy, we showed that the entrance of the natively glutathiolated 20SPT is in the open conformation that immediately shifts to the closed conformation in the presence of DTT. We have also characterized the deglutathiolase role of the oxidoreductases Glutaredoxin 2 and Citosolic Thioredoxins 1 and 2 which recover the partially inhibited 20SPT activities. The deglutathiolation mechanism also includes the oxidoreductase degradation dependent on the 20SPT activation. The proteasome Sglutathiolation emerges as a new physiological post-translational modification correlated to the cellular redox state. Moreover, the S-glutathiolation of the 20SPT increases its proteolytic activity suggesting an antioxidant role by removing oxidized proteins generated during oxidative challenges.

O proteassomo é o componente do sistema Ubiquitina-Proteassomo (UPS), responsável pela degradação de proteínas intracelulares marcadas com cauda de ubiquitina. No entanto, a unidade catalítica do proteassomo (20SPT), destituída de unidades regulatórias, é capaz de degradar proteínas de maneira ubiquitina-independente. Diversas modificações pós-traducionais já foram descritas para o 20SPT, incluindo a S-glutatiolação. De acordo com Demasi e col., (2003) o 20SPT da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae possui a atividade tipo-quimiotripsina modulada por glutationa e o mecanismo de glutatiolação implica na formação do intermediário ácido sulfênico. No presente trabalho, identificamos por espectrometria de massas (MS/MS) um total de sete resíduos diferentes de cisteína glutatiolados no 20SPT, sendo seis in vitro por incubação com GSH e três in vivo, extraído de células crescidas até atingir fase estacionária tardia em meio rico. Analisando a estrutura 3D do 20SPT, observou-se que os resíduos de cisteína glutatiolados não estão localizados na entrada da câmara catalítica nem próximos aos sítios-ativos, indicando um mecanismo alostérico da modulação da atividade proteassomal. O proteassomo glutatiolado extraído de leveduras é capaz de degradar proteínas oxidadas de maneira mais eficiente que o proteassomo reduzido por DTT, e ainda, esta degradação gera perfis peptídicos diferenciados por utilizar distintamente as atividades sítio-especificas, como visualizado por análises de HPLC e MS/MS. Por microscopia eletrônica verificamos a conformação aberta da câmara catalítica do proteassomo glutatiolado, sendo esta imediatamente fechada pela remoção da glutationa do 20SPT na presença de DTT. Caracterizamos ainda, enzimas reponsáveis pela desglutatiolação do 20SPT, capazes de recuperar as atividades proteassomais que haviam sido diminuídas pela glutatiolação: as oxidoredutases glutarredoxina 2 e as tiorredoxinas citosólicas. O mecanismo ainda inclui a hidrólise dessas oxidorredutases, fenômeno também verificado para diversas proteínas da suprafamília tiorredoxina, provavelmente devido a propriedades estruturais desta família. A glutatiolação do proteassomo apresenta-se como uma nova modificação pós-traducional de ocorrência fisiológica dependente do estado redox celular. Esta modificação promove aumento da atividade proteolítica, sugerindo uma função antioxidante atuante na remoção de proteínas oxidadas durante desafios oxidativos / The proteasome is the protease of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) responsible for the breakdown of intracellular ubiquitin-tagged proteins. However, the catalytic particle of the proteasome (20SPT) is capable of hydrolyzing some substrates in an ubiquitin-independent fashion. The S-glutathiolation of the 20SPT was described among several post-translational modifications and according to Demasi et. al. (2003), the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasome from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by glutathione. The mechanism of S-glutathiolation is dependent on the formation of the sulfenic acid intermediate in the cisteine residues of the 20SPT. In this present work, we identified in vitro and in vivo, a total of seven different S-glutathiolated proteasomal cysteine residues by mass spectrometry studies (MS/MS) and, by analyzing the 3D structure of the 20SPT, the modified cysteine residues are not located either on the entrance of the catalytic core or near to the active sites, indicating an allosteric mechanism of proteasomal modulation. During protein degradation, the natively S-glutathiolated 20SPT produces different patterns of peptide products when compared to the DTT-reduced particle through distinct site-specific cleavage of the protein substrates, as herein demonstrated by HPLC and MS/MS analyses. Furthermore, by electron microscopy, we showed that the entrance of the natively glutathiolated 20SPT is in the open conformation that immediately shifts to the closed conformation in the presence of DTT. We have also characterized the deglutathiolase role of the oxidoreductases Glutaredoxin 2 and Citosolic Thioredoxins 1 and 2 which recover the partially inhibited 20SPT activities. The deglutathiolation mechanism also includes the oxidoreductase degradation dependent on the 20SPT activation. The proteasome Sglutathiolation emerges as a new physiological post-translational modification correlated to the cellular redox state. Moreover, the S-glutathiolation of the 20SPT increases its proteolytic activity suggesting an antioxidant role by removing oxidized proteins generated during oxidative challenges.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / In tropical regions, where there is a high incidence of light, electrons can accumulate in the transport chain (PET) producing large quantities of H 2 O 2 and other ROS, which might generate photodamage and photoinhibition. To survive to these challenges, plants have developed several mechanisms to mitigate the excess energy in photosystems, besides having an efficient machinery for removal of excess H 2 O 2 , which includes cytosolic APX (cAPX). However, double - silenced rice plants for cAPX (OsAPX1/2) do not show large differences in morpho - phenotype when compared to non - transformed (NT), although OsAPX1/2 presents induction of expression on several proteins re lated to photosynthesis. The physiological implications of this induction, as well as its consequences for OsAPX1/2 resistance against stresses of high light (HL), are still poorly known. Aiming to clarify the role of cAPx in pho tosynthesis, OsAPX1/2 plant s were produced, subjected to 24 hours of HL (2 , 000 μ mol m - 2 s - 1 ) and studied for the expression and activity of proteins related to photosynthesis , ph otorespira tion and redox homeostasis . The amount of several PET proteins (Lhcb1, PsbO, Psb P, PsbQ, PSAC, P C, FNR and FDX) and Chl and Pheo were increased in OsAPX1/2 in normal growth conditions, however without causing changes in the in vivo photochemistry activity parameters (Fv /Fm and ΔFm/Fm'). In contrast, expression of proteins associated with Calvin - Benso n cycle (Rls, ativase RBC) and rubisco carboxylation activity ( in vivo and in vitro ) were not altered in mutants under normal growth conditions . In HL, the expression of proteins related to photosynthesis was strongly repressed in all genotypes , as well as gas exchange parameters and Fv/Fm, the latter being strong indication of photoinhibition. Moreover, proteins related to photorespiration showed increased expression/activity in response to HL in NT and maintenance of already high levels in OsAPX1/2. In OsAPX1/2 t h e expression and activity of chloroplastic Cu/Zn - SOD showed a similar response exhibited by photorespiration - related proteins, although the activity of thylakoid APX has been greatly reduced, meaning deficiency in water - water cycle. Taken togeth er, these data demonstrate that induction of expression of proteins related PET in OsAPX1/2 plants may represent a compensatory mechanism for maintaining the photosynthetic activity levels similar to NT. Moreover, in HL, it is possible that the increased e xpression of photorespiration - related proteins in OsAPX1/2 acts as alternative electron sink, compensating the deficiency in the water - water cycle from these plants / Em regiÃes tropicais, onde existe alta incidÃncia luminosa, os elÃtrons podem se acumular na cadeia transportadora (PET) produzindo grandes quantidades de H 2 O 2 e outras ROS, que podem gerar fotodano e fotoinibiÃÃo. Para sobreviver a esse desafio, plantas desenvolveram vÃrios mecanismos de atenuaÃÃo do excesso de energia nos fotossistemas, alÃm de contar com uma eficiente ma quinaria de remoÃÃo do excesso de H 2 O 2 , da qual fazem parte as APX citosÃlicas (cAPX). Entretanto, plantas duplamente silenciadas para as cAPX (OsAPX1/2) nÃo apresentam grandes diferenÃas morfo - fenotÃpicas quando comparadas Ãs nÃo transformadas (NT), embor a OsAPX1/2 apresente induÃÃo de expressÃo de diversas proteÃnas relacionadas com a fotossÃntese, comparadas com as NT. As implicaÃÃes fisiolÃgicas dessa induÃÃo, assim como suas consequÃncias para a resistÃncia de OsAPX1/2 contra estresses de alta luz (HL) , ainda sÃo pouco conhecidas. Objetivando clarificar o papel das cAPx na fotossÃntese, plantas de arroz OsAPX1/2 foram produzidas, submetidas a 24 horas de HL (2000 μ mol m - 2 s - 1 ) e estudadas quanto à expressÃo e atividade de proteÃnas relacionadas com a fotossÃntese, fotorespiraÃÃo e homeostase redox. A quantidade de diversas proteÃnas da PET (Lhcb1, PsbO, PsbP, PsbQ, PSAC, PC, e FDX FNR), bem como teores de Chl e Pheo foram aum entadas em OsAPX1/2 em condiÃÃes normais de crescimento sem causar alteraÃÃes nos parÃmetros de atividade fotoquÃmica in vivo (Fv/Fm e Δ Fm/Fm'). Em contraste, as proteÃnas relacionadas com expressÃo ciclo de Calvin - Benson (Rls, ativase de Rbc) e a ativida de de carboxilaÃÃo da rubisco ( in vivo e in vitro ) nÃo foram alterados nos mutantes em condiÃÃes normais de crescimento. Em HL, a expressÃo de proteÃnas relacionadas com fotossÃntese foi fortemente reprimida em ambos os genÃtipos, assim como os parÃmetros de trocas gasosas e Fv/Fm, sendo esse Ãltimo forte indÃcio de fotoinibiÃÃo. Por outro lado, as proteÃnas relacionadas com a fotorespiraÃÃo, ou mostraram aumento na expressÃo/atividade em resposta à luz elevada (NT) ou manutenÃÃo de nÃveis jà elevados (OsAP X1/2) . A expressÃo e atividade de Cu/Zn - SOD de cloroplastos mostrou resposta similar a exibida pelas proteÃnas da fotorespiraÃÃo, embora a atividade de APX de tilacÃides tenha sido fortemente reduzida em OsAPX1/2, evidenciando deficiÃncia no ciclo Ãgua - Ãgu a. Tomados em conjunto, estes dados demonstram que a induÃÃo da expressÃo de proteÃnas relacionadas com o PET em OsAPX1/2 pode representar um mecanismo compensatÃrio para a manutenÃÃo da atividade fotossintÃtica aos nÃveis da NT. Por outro lado, sob HL, à possÃvel que o aumento da expressÃo de proteÃnas associadas com fotorespira ÃÃo em OsAPX1/2 atue como dissipador alternativo de elÃtrons, compensando a deficiÃncia no ciclo da Ãgua - Ãgua dessas plantas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Colletotrichum gloeosporioides à um importante patÃgeno hemibiotrÃfico com uma ampla gama de hospedeiros que causa perdas substanciais de colheitas. Dados recentes mostraram que a resposta hipersensitiva (HR) à um evento envolvido na resistÃncia do feijÃo-de-corda (V.unguiculata) genÃtipo BR-3 contra C.gloeosporioides (isolado LPVD-1). VÃrios estudos tÃm sido realizados sobre os mecanismos de defesa de plantas a patÃgenos hemibiotrÃficos, mas em geral eles continuam a ser mal compreendidos. Anteriormente, comparamos mudanÃas na expressÃo de proteÃnas induzidas em genÃtipos resistentes de feijÃo-de-corda apÃs a infecÃÃo com C. gloeosporioides utilizando uma abordagem proteÃmica. Com base nesses resultados, no presente estudo, avaliamos as respostas de defesa induzidas por C.gloeosporioides em V.unguiculata associadas com a explosÃo oxidativa, o acÃmulo de espÃcies reativas de oxigÃnio (EROs), como o Ãnion superÃxido (O2â-), e o perÃxido de hidrogÃnio (H2O2), bem como a expressÃo de genes antioxidantes, utilizando anÃlise por RT-qPCR. Ao mesmo tempo foi analisada a cinÃtica de infecÃÃo de C.gloeosporioides por microscopia Ãptica (MO) e microscopia eletrÃnica de varredura (MEV). O aumento de O2â- e H2O2 foi detectado em feijÃo-de-corda, 2 horas apÃs a inoculaÃÃo (hai) utilizando coloraÃÃo por NBT e DAB, respectivamente. A quantificaÃÃo espectrofotomÃtrica demonstrou dois picos de produÃÃo de H2O2, 2 e 12 hai, mostrando uma cinÃtica bifÃsica. O aumento de H2O2 foi acompanhado por peroxidaÃÃo lipÃdica 2 e 48 hai. As anÃlises de MO e MEV mostraram que C.gloeosporioides foi capaz de gerar estruturas tais como tubos germinativos e apressÃrios e se desenvolver sob a superfÃcie das folhas. No entanto, apesar do desenvolvimento e tentativa de infecÃÃo, alteraÃÃes ultra-estruturais foram observadas na superfÃcie de conÃdios e hifas 8 hai levando a nÃo infecÃÃo de cÃlulas hospedeiras. AnÃlise por RT-qPCR demonstrou que os genes VuFeSODI e VuCuZnSODII apresentaram aumento de expressÃo 4 hai, enquanto que o gene VuCuZnSODI foi bem expresso 12 hai. Em relaÃÃo aos genes associados à regulaÃÃo de H2O2, VuPrxIIBCD mostrou uma forte aumento de transcristos em 2 hai enquanto que, VuAPXI mostrou aumento de expressÃo apenas 12 hai. VuCATI e VuCATII mostram aumento de expressÃo quantitativa dos transcritos 12 hai, indicando que eles sÃo associados a manutenÃÃo de H2O2 em peroxissomos. Contrariamente, a expressÃo dos transcritos de VuPrxIIE foi reprimida nas primeiras horas apÃs a inoculaÃÃo, contudo, apresentaram nÃveis aumentados de expressÃo em 48 hai, sugerindo participar na regulaÃÃo de H2O2 nos cloroplastos. O presente estudo indica que H2O2 tem um papel importante nas estratÃgias de defesa iniciais de feijÃo-de-corda, agindo contra C.gloeosporioides e funcionando como uma molÃcula sinalizadora. AlÃm disso, os genes associados com defesas antioxidantes estudados parecem estar envolvidos, em combinaÃÃo com outras molÃculas, na regulaÃÃo dos nÃveis de H2O2 para prevenir a morte celular e regular a homeostase redox, eventos importantes nos mecanismos de resistÃncia de plantas a patÃgenos. / Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is an important hemibiotrophic pathogen with a broad host range that causes substantial crop losses. Recent data have shown that the hypersensitive response (HR) is one event involved in the resistance of cowpea (V.unguiculata) genotype BR-3 against C.gloeosporioides (LPVD-1 isolate). Several studies have been undertaken on the defense mechanism of plant to hemibiotrophic pathogen, but overall they remain poorly understood. Previously, we have compared changes in protein expression induced in resistant cowpea genotype after infection with C.gloeosporioides using a proteomic approach. Based on these results, in the present study, we evaluated the defense responses induced by C.gloeosporioides in V.unguiculata associated with oxidative burst, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion (O2â-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as well expression of antioxidant genes using RT-qPCR analysis. At the same time, we analyzed the C.gloeosporioides infection kinetics by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Increased O2â- and H2O2 was detected in cowpea 2 hours after inoculation (hai) using NBT and DAB staining, respectively. Spectrophotometric measurements showed two peaks H2O2 production, 2 and 12 hai, showing a biphasic kinetics. The increase of H2O2 was accompanied by lipid peroxidation 2 and 48 hai. OM and SEM analyzes showed that C.gloeosporioides was able to generate germ tubes and structures such as apressoria and develop under the surface of the leaves. However, despite of the development and attempt to infection, ultra-structural changes were observed on the surface of conidia and hyphae, 8 hai led to no infection of host cells. Analysis by RT-qPCR demonstrated that the genes VuFeSODI and VuCuZnSODII are up- regulated in chloroplasts at 4 hai, while the gene VuCuZnSODI was well up-regulated 12 hai. In relation to genes associated to scavenging of H2O2, VuPrxIIBCD showed a strong up-regulated of transcript at 2 hai while that VuAPXI showed up-regulated only 12 hai. VuCATI and VuCATII showed that the quantitative level of transcript expression was up- regulated 12 hai, indicating that they are important in the maintenance of H2O2 in peroxisomes. Contrarily, VuPrxIIE transcript was down-regulated in the early hours after inoculation, but showed increased expression levels at 48 hai suggesting participate in the regulation of H2O2 in chloroplasts. The present study indicates that H2O2 has an important role in the initial defense strategies of cowpea acting against C.gloeosporioides and functioning as a signaling molecule. Furthermore, genes associated with antioxidant defenses studied here seem to be involved, in combination with other molecules, in the regulation of H2O2 levels toward preventing cell death and regulating the cell redox homeostasis, important events in the resistance mechanisms of plants to pathogens.

During this PhD project three technical platforms were either improved or newly established in order to identify interesting genes involved in SNF, validate their expression and functionally characterise them. An existing 5.6K cDNA array (Colebatch et al., 2004) was extended to produce the 9.6K LjNEST array, while a second array, the 11.6K LjKDRI array, was also produced. Furthermore, the protocol for array hybridisation was substantially improved (Ott et al., in press). After functional classification of all clones according to the MIPS database and annotation of their corresponding tentative consensus sequence (TIGR) these cDNA arrays were used by several international collaborators and by our group (Krusell et al., 2005; in press). To confirm results obtained from the cDNA array analysis different sets of cDNA pools were generated that facilitate rapid qRT-PCR analysis of candidate gene expression. As stable transformation of Lotus japonicus takes several months, an Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformation system was established in the lab and growth conditions for screening transformants for symbiotic phenotypes were improved. These platforms enable us to identify genes, validate their expression and functionally characterise them in the minimum of time.<br> The resources that I helped to establish, were used in collaboration with other people to characterise several genes like the potassium transporter LjKup and the sulphate transporter LjSst1, that were transcriptionally induced in nodules compared to uninfected roots, in more detail (Desbrosses et al., 2004; Krusell et al., 2005). Another gene that was studied in detail was LjAox1. This gene was identified during cDNA array experiments and detailed expression analysis revealed a strong and early induction of the gene during nodulation with high expression in young nodules which declines with the age of the nodule. Therefore, LjAox1 is an early nodulin. Promoter:gus fusions revealed an LjAox1 expression around the nodule endodermis. The physiological role of LjAox1 is currently being persued via RNAi.<br> Using RNA interference, the synthesis of all symbiotic leghemoglobins was silenced simultaneously in Lotus japonicus. As a result, growth of LbRNAi lines was severely inhibited compared to wild-type plants when plants were grown under symbiotic conditions in the absence of mineral nitrogen. The nodules of these plants were arrested in growth 14 post inoculation and lacked the characteristic pinkish colour. Growing these transgenic plants in conditions where reduced nitrogen is available for the plant led to normal plant growth and development. This demonstrates that leghemoglobins are not required for plant development per se, and proves for the first time that leghemoglobins are indispensable for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Absence of leghemoglobins in LbRNAi nodules led to significant increases in free-oxygen concentrations throughout the nodules, a decrease in energy status as reflected by the ATP/ADP ratio, and an absence of the bacterial nitrogenase protein. The bacterial population within nodules of LbRNAi plants was slightly reduced. Alterations of plant nitrogen and carbon metabolism in LbRNAi nodules was reflected in changes in amino acid composition and starch deposition (Ott et al., 2005). These data provide strong evidence that nodule leghemoglobins function as oxygen transporters that facilitate high flux rates of oxygen to the sites of respiration at low free oxygen concentrations within the infected cells. / Pflanzen der Ordnung der Leguminosen sind von weltweiter Bedeutung für Landwirtschaft und die allgemeine Nährstoffzusammensetzung von Böden. Die physiologische Besonderheit der Leguminosen liegt in ihrer Fähigkeit begründet, zusammen mit Bakterien, den sogenannten Rhizobien, eine Symbiose einzugehen, im Zuge derer es möglich wird, molekularen Luftstickstoff zu binden. Dieser biochemische Prozess findet in neu gebildeten Pflanzenorganen, den sogenannten Wurzelknöllchen statt.<br> In den Pflanzenwissenschaften werden Gene, die im Zuge der Infektion von Leguminosen mit Rhizobien reguliert werden und für den Entwicklungsprozess der Knöllchen eine wichtige Rolle zu spielen scheinen, als Noduline bezeichnet. Mit Hilfe von sogenannten Hochdurchsatzverfahren ist es in den letzten Jahren möglich geworden, die differentielle Expression von Tausenden von Genen gleichzeitig zu beobachten. Zu diesen Verfahren gehören sogenannte cDNA Arrays. Im Zuge dieser Doktorarbeit wurden die weltweit zweitgrößten cDNA Arrays für die Modell-Leguminose Hornklee (Lotus japonicus), der in unserer Gruppe als Untersuchungsobjekt verwendet wird, entwickelt. Mit Hilfe dieser Methode ist es uns möglich, die Regulation von etwa 15.000 Genen gleichzeitig zu untersuchen. Im Zuge von Untersuchungen, die sich mit der Entwicklung von Wurzelknöllchen in Lotus japonicus beschäftigten wurde ein Nodulin, dessen Existenz früher schon einmal beschrieben wurde, noch einmal bestätigt und die Funktion dieses Genes genauer untersucht. Es kodiert für das Enzym Vitamin C Oxidase, das unter Verwendung von molekularem Sauerstoff reduziertes Vitamin C zu einer anderen Form, dem Dehydroascorbat, oxidiert. Dabei wird Wasserstoffperoxid gebildet. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich die Transkription dieses Gens in infizierten Wurzeln kontinuierlich im Verlauf der Symbiose erhöht, jedoch ist die Transkription in jungen Wurzelknöllchen höher als in alten. Darüber hinaus ist es in nur einer Zellschicht der Wurzelknöllchen, die sehr wichtig für die Entwicklung und tatsächliche Funktion der Knöllchen ist, aktiv. Aus den Beobachtungen kann geschlossen werden, dass dieses Gen eine wichtige Funktion in der Entwicklung der Knöllchen zu spielen scheint und vermutlich zur Zellstreckung und Zellteilung in dieser speziellen Zellschicht beiträgt. In einem zweiten Teil der Arbeit wurde sich einem zweiten und dem wohl wichtigsten Nodulin der Leguminosen, dem Leghämoglobin, gewidmet. Leghämoglobin ist dem menschlichen Blutbestandteil Hämoglobin sehr ähnlich und erfüllt dieselbe Aufgabe: es bindet Sauerstoff. Dieser Prozess ist für Leguminosen von erheblicher Bedeutung, da die bereits beschriebene Fixierung von molekularem Luftstickstoff durch ein bakterielles Enzym katalysiert wird, das extrem sauerstoffempfindlich ist. Leghämoglobine gelten unbestritten als die am besten charakterisierten Einweiße aus Wurzelknöllchen und Wissenschaftler behaupten seit fast 40 Jahren, dass sie essentiell für die Funktion der Knöllchen sind. Doch dies wurde bis jetzt nie bewiesen.<br> Mit Hilfe einer neuen Methode, die die spezifische Bildung von Eiweißen verhindert, war es uns möglich, die Synthese von Leghämoglobin in Lotus japonicus vollkommen zu unterdrücken. In Folge dessen zeigen die transgenen Pflanzen deutliche Nährstoffmangelerscheinungen, wenn sie ohne zusätzlichen Stickstoff aber zusammen mit Rhizobien angezogen werden. Sie können zwar Wurzelknöllchen bilden, jedoch sind diese kleiner und haben nicht die charakteristische rötliche Farbe, die bei unveränderten Pflanzen gefunden wird. Der Phänotyp dieser transgenen Pflanzen wird ganz eindeutig durch ihre Unfähigkeit hervorgerufen, Luftstickstoff fixieren zu können. Der Grund dafür ist das Fehlen des bakteriellen Enzyms, das für die Fixierung verantwortlich ist. Dieser Verlust wird durch erhöhte Sauerstoffgehalte in den Knöllchen verursacht. Außerdem konnten durch weitere Untersuchungen eine der vermuteten Funktionsmechanismen von Leghämoglobin bestätigt werden. Diese hier präsentierten Untersuchungen beweisen erstmalig die jahrzehnte alte Hypothese, dass Leghämoglobine essentiell für die Stickstofffixierung in Leguminosen sind.