Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: Eukaryotic organisms evolved under aerobic conditions subjecting nuclear DNA to damage provoked by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although ROS are thought to be a major cause of DNA damage, little is known about the molecular mechanisms protecting nuclear DNA from oxidative stress. Here we show that protection of nuclear DNA in plants requires a coordinated function of ROS-scavenging pathways residing in the cytosol and peroxisomes, demonstrating that nuclear ROS scavengers such as peroxiredoxin and glutathione are insufficient to safeguard DNA integrity. Both catalase (CAT2) and cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (APX1) play a key role in protecting the plant genome against photorespiratory-dependent H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage. In apx1/cat2 double-mutant plants, a DNA damage response is activated, suppressing growth via a WEE1 kinase-dependent cell-cycle checkpoint. This response is correlated with enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress, DNA stress-causing agents, and inhibited programmed cell death.
Institutions: Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent University, VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Joseph Fourier, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, CEA Grenoble, Institut Nanosciences et Cryogénie, Aix-Marseille Université, Institute of Environmental Biology and Biotechnology, CEA Cadarache, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut de Biosciences et biotechnologies d'Aix-Marseille, University of North Texas, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1981479374