Catalase gene isoforms in microsporogenesis: expression dynamics in fertile sunflower anthers
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: In the development of the male gametophyte in plants, redox signaling plays a crucial role, regulated by a complex network of antioxidant enzymes. This type of signaling involves tightly controlled accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which act as signaling molecules for cell-tocell communication and the regulation of critical developmental stages. Alongside other enzymatic systems, such as ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, peroxiredoxins, thioredoxins, and the enzymes of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle, catalase contributes to the formation of compartment-specific H₂O₂-scavenging networks. Catalase, which is localized in peroxisomes, is responsible for the breakdown of H₂O₂ through a dismutation reaction, generating water and molecular oxygen. This reaction is essential for maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and for preventing the toxic accumulation of ROS. Under certain conditions, catalase can also participate in peroxidative reactions, thereby extending its role in the fine regulation of ROS levels. In plants, catalase genes are typically organized into multigene families, with distinct isoforms exhibiting tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expression patterns. Previous studies have shown that catalase isoforms may have differentiated functions depending on the developmental stage or environmental conditions. In sunflower (Helianthus annuus), eight isoforms have been identified, corresponding to transcripts from at least four distinct genes (CATA1–CATA4), each regulated differently according to tissue type and developmental context. Such specificity suggests their functional differentiation in maintaining redox homeostasis during anther development. In view of the increasing evidence on the role of H₂O₂ and the contribution of catalases to various physiological processes, it was of particular interest to investigate the expression of genes encoding different catalase isoforms during various stages of microsporogenesis in fertile sunflower anthers. In the development of the male gametophyte in plants, redox signaling plays a crucial role, regulated by a complex network of antioxidant enzymes. This type of signaling involves tightly controlled accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which act as signaling molecules for cell-tocell communication and the regulation of critical developmental stages. Alongside other enzymatic systems, such as ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, peroxiredoxins, thioredoxins, and the enzymes of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle, catalase contributes to the formation of compartment-specific H₂O₂-scavenging networks. Catalase, which is localized in peroxisomes, is responsible for the breakdown of H₂O₂ through a dismutation reaction, generating water and molecular oxygen. This reaction is essential for maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and for preventing the toxic accumulation of ROS. Under certain conditions, catalase can also participate in peroxidative reactions, thereby extending its role in the fine regulation of ROS levels. In plants, catalase genes are typically organized into multigene families, with distinct isoforms exhibiting tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expression patterns. Previous studies have shown that catalase isoforms may have differentiated functions depending on the developmental stage or environmental conditions. In sunflower (Helianthus annuus), eight isoforms have been identified, corresponding to transcripts from at least four distinct genes (CATA1–CATA4), each regulated differently according to tissue type and developmental context. Such specificity suggests their functional differentiation in maintaining redox homeostasis during anther development. In view of the increasing evidence on the role of H₂O₂ and the contribution of catalases to various physiological processes, it was of particular interest to investigate the expression of genes encoding different catalase isoforms during various stages of microsporogenesis in fertile sunflower anthers.
Author: Angela Port
Institution: Moldova State University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7204697208