Cold acclimation improves photosynthesis by regulating the ascorbate–glutathione cycle in chloroplasts of Kandelia obovata

As the most northerly mangrove species in China, Kandelia obovata may undergo extreme cold event stress. Enhancing the cold tolerance of this species is crucial to its successful afforestation. This study aimed to determine the resistance of K. obovata seedlings to low temperature stress by cold acclimation and to explain the mechanisms for alleviating cold injury. To understand these mechanisms, seedlings that were acclimatized and not acclimatized were exposed to 5℃/- 2℃(day/night)for 48 h.Results showed that low temperature stress reduced leaf photosynthesis of non-acclimatized seedlings by inducing oxidative stress and structural damage to chloroplasts. These phenomena were shown by increasing levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), O2-and H2O2, as well as decreasing enzyme activities in the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle. However, cold-acclimatized seedlings had improved photosynthetic rates and efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) under low temperature stress. Compared with non-acclimatized seedlings, leaves of coldacclimatized seedlings under low temperature stress for 48 h exhibited higher anti-oxidative enzyme activities, lower levels of O2^- and H2O2, less damage to chloroplast structure, and removed 33.7% of MDA at low temperature stress for 48 h. The data indicate that cold acclimation enhances photosynthetic capacity by effectively regulating activation in the PSII electron transport and the AsA–GSH cycle to scavenge excess ROS in chloroplasts, while the latter is more important.

Over-Expression of Tomato GDP-Mannose Pyrophosphorylase (GMPase) in Potato Increases Ascorbate Content and Delays Plant Senescence

GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase （GMPase） catalyses the synthesis of GDP-D-mannose and represents the first committed step in the synthesis of ascorbate. In the present study, the GMPase gene of tomato was introduced into potato by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Two transgenic lines with higher GMPase expression were selected using qPCR and protein blot analyses. The results showed that the content of L-ascorbic acid （AsA） and the ratio of AsA/ DHA （dehydroascorbate） significantly increased in both leaves and tubers of transgenic potato plants. Both pigment content and photosynthetic rate were much higher in transgenic plants than in wild-type plants. Transgenic plants showed a distinguishable change in phenotype from the wild-type plants. Furthermore, transgenic plants showed delayed senescence.

Differential Expression of Two Cytosolic Ascorbate Peroxidases and Two Superoxide Dismutase Genes in Response to Abiotic Stress in Rice

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) play central roles in the pathway for scavenging reactive oxygen species in plants, thereby contributing to the tolerance against abiotic stress. Here we report the responses of cytosolic SOD (cSOD; sodCc1 and sodCc2) and cytosolic APX (cAPX; OsAPX1 and OsAPX2) genes to oxidative and abiotic stress in rice. RNA blot analyses revealed that methyl viologen treatment caused a more prominent induction of cAPXs compared with cSODs, and hydrogen peroxide treatment induced the expression of cAPXs whereas cSODs were not affected. These results suggest that cAPXs play more important roles in defense against oxidative stress compared with cSODs. It is noted that cSODs and cAPXs showed coordinate response to abscisic acid treatment which induced both sodCc1 and OsAPX2. However, cSODs and cAPXs responded differentially to drought, salt and chilling stress, which indicates that cSOD and cAPX genes are expressed differentially in response to oxidative and abiotic stress in rice.

Overexpression of a Cytosolic Ascorbate Peroxidase Gene, OsAPX2, Increases Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Alfalfa

Alfalfa （Medicago sativa L.） is an important forage crop in the world and it is of great signiifcance for the improvement of its salt tolerance. To improve salt tolerance in alfalfa, a rice ascorbate peroxidase gene （OsAPX2） was introduced into alfalfa using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation with marker gene bar. The different T-DNA insertions in T1 transgenic alfalfa were identiifed by Southern hybridization. Three independent T2 transgenic lines were selected for stress analysis and the results showed that all of them were salt tolerant compared with wild-type plants. The transgenic plants had low levels of H2O2, malondialdehyde and relative electrical conductivity under salt and drought stresses. Moreover, the contents of chlorophyll and proline, and APX activity were high in transgenic plants under salt and drought stresses. Taken together, the overexpression of OsAPX2 enhances salt tolerance in alfalfa through scavenging reactive oxygen species.

Kiwifruit(Actinidia chinensis 'Hongyang') cytosolic ascorbate peroxidases(AcAPX1 and AcAPX2) enhance salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

Ascorbate peroxidase(APX) plays a key role in scavenging reactive oxygen species(ROS) in higher plants. However, there is very little information available on the APXs in kiwifruit(Actinidia), which is an economically and nutritionally important horticultural crop with exceptionally high ascorbic acid(AsA) accumulation. This study aims to identify and characterize two cytosolic APX genes(AcAPX1 and AcAPX2) derived from A. chinensis ‘Hongyang’. The constitutive expression pattern was determined for both AcAPX1 and AcAPX2, and showed relatively higher expression abundances of AcAPX1 in leaf and AcAPX2 in root. Transcript levels of AcAPX1 and AcAPX2 were increased in kiwifruit roots treated with Na Cl. Subcellular localization assays using GFP-fusion proteins in Arabidopsis protoplasts showed that both AcAPX1 and AcAPX2 are targeted to the cytosol. Recombinant AcAPX1 or AcAPX2 proteins were successfully expressed in the prokaryotic expression system and their individual ascorbate peroxidase activities were determined. Finally, constitutive over-expression of AcAPX1 or AcAPX2 could dramatically increase total As A, glutathione level and salinity tolerance under Na Cl stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our findings revealed that cytosolic AcAPX1/2 may play an important protective role in the responses to unfavorable environmental stimuli in kiwifruit.

SYNTHESIS OF DIAMMINEPLATINUM(Ⅱ)ASCORBATE AND STRUCTURE COMPARISON WITH ITS DACH DERIVATIVES

An antitumour complex,cis-diammineplatinum(Ⅱ)ascorbate,has been synthesized and its X-ray structure is given.Quantum chemistry calculation compared with its diaminecyclohexane derivatives indicates that they have different electron distribution.

Cytological Investigation of Pollen Development in Sorghum Line with Male Sterility Induced by Sodium Ascorbate in Tissue Culture

Investigation of male sterility mutations is an effective approach for identification of genes involved in anther and pollen development. The comparison of “cytological phenotypes” of newly induced mutants with phenotypes determined by already known genes favors elucidation of genetic control of diverse microsporo- and gametogenesis stages. In this paper, we describe pollen development in the grain sorghum line Zh10-asc1 with mutation of male sterility. This line was obtained from callus culture treated by sodium ascorbate. A wide spectrum of abnormalities in microsporogenesis have been found, such as cytomixis, chromosomal laggards, chromosome disjunction, adhesion of chromosomes, disturbed cytokinesis, and others. In tapetum, the cells with one nucleus, with unequal nuclei, and with micronuclei have been observed. During pollen grain (PG) maturation abnormalities in starch accumulation and delay of development often took place. In mature anthers, a variety of pollen grain types have been revealed: fertile, of irregular shape, incompletely filled with starch, PGs delayed at the uni-nucleate or bi-nucleate gametophyte stages, with partially or fully degenerated contents, and with abnormal coloration. Variation in spectrum and the frequency of disturbances between the flowers of one and the same plant have been revealed. The reasons for significant genetic and epigenetic instability are discussed.

Megadoses of Sodium Ascorbate Efficiently Kill HL60 Cells <i>in Vitro</i>: Comparison with Arsenic Trioxide

Arsenic Trioxide (ATO) is widely acknowledged as the treatment of choice for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL). It is a “two-sided” drug since it can induce differentiation or kill APL and other tumor cells according to the dosage. Part of the cytotoxic effects of ATO on APL cells is due to its pro-oxidant activity, a characteristic which ATO shares with a number of other compounds, including high doses of ascorbate (ASC). In a comparative investigation on the cytotoxic effects of both ATO and ASC on HL60 (APL) cell lines, in Vitro, we have been able to confirm the known cytotoxic effects of ATO, but, more importantly, we have demonstrated that ASC is significantly more effective than ATO, in killing these cancer cells in Vitro, when the concentrations are maintained within the millimolar (mM) range, i.e. the range of plasma concentrations at which ASC induces oxidative damage to tumor cells. Since these plasma levels can be reached only by the intravenous administration of high doses of ASC, we propose that intravenous high doses of ASC may represent a potentially revolutionary new approach in the management of APL.

Dye@MOF composites(RhB@1): Highly sensitive dual emission sensor for the detection of pesticides, Fe^(3+) and ascorbate acid

With the rapid development of economy, industrial and agricultural pollutants have caused great damage to the ecological environment and the normal development of organisms, posing a serious threat to global public health. Therefore, rapid and sensitive detection of pollutants is very important for environmental safety and people’s health. A stable multi-response fluorescence sensor(RhB@1) with dual emission characteristics was constructed by embedding Rh B guest molecules in Zn-MOF using a simple one-pot method. XRD, IR, XPS, Raman and other characterization methods were used to demonstrate the formation of composite materials. The sensor has two fluorescence emission peaks at 415 nm and 575nm under the excitation of 316 nm. It has high sensitivity and low detection limit(7.94 and 7.82 nmol/L,respectively) in the detection of fluazinam(FLU) and Fe^(3+). The mechanism of fluorescence quenching may be due to the synergistic effect of IFE and PET. Outstandingly, when ascorbate acid(AA) was added to the quenching system of Fe^(3+) and Rh B@1, its fluorescence gradually recovered, forming the unique“on-off-on” sensor. Therefore, RhB@1 has a fast fluorescence response and good stability, making it potentially useful in practical application and biosensors. More significantly, using Fe^(3+)and AA as chemical input signals, a binary intelligent logic gate device has been developed based on the “on-off-on” response mode of RhB@1, which extends the application of logic gate switching devices in the chemical field. In addition, a visual portable test paper with good selectivity and high sensitivity was developed, which can be used for rapid detection of FLU, showing its broad application prospect.

Linking Chloroplast Antioxidant Defense to Carbohydrate Availability： The Transcript Abundance of Stromal Ascorbate Peroxidase Is Sugar-Controlled via Ascorbate Biosynthesis

All genes encoding chloroplast antioxidant enzymes are nuclear-encoded and posttranscriptionally targeted to chloroplasts. The transcript levels of most of them decreased upon sucrose feeding like the transcript levels of many genes encoding components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. However, the transcript abundance of stromal ascorbate peroxidase （s-APX; At4g08390） increased. Due to mild sugar application conditions, the plants kept the phosphorylation status of the ADP＋ATP pool and the redox states of the NADPH＋NADP~ and the ascorbate pools under control, which excludes them as signals in s-APX regulation. Correlation with ascorbate pool size regulation and comparison of transcript abundance regulation in the starch-biosynthetic mutant adgl, the ascorbate biosynthesis mutant vtcl, and the abscisic acid （ABA） biosynthetic mutant aba2 showed a link between sugar induction of s-APX and ascorbate biosynthesis.

Nitric oxide alleviates aluminum-induced oxidative damage through regulating the ascorbateglutathione cycle in roots of wheat

The possible association with nitric oxide （NO） and ascorbate-glutathione （AsA-GSH） cycle in regulating aluminum （Al） tolerance of wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） was investigated using two genotypes with different Al resistance. Exposure to Al inhibited root elongation, and triggered lipid peroxidation and oxidation of AsA to dehydroascorbate and GSH to glutathione disulfide in wheat roots. Exogenous NO significantly increased endogenous NO levels, and subsequently al eviated Al-induced inhibition of root elongation and oxidation of AsA and GSH to maintain the redox molecules in the reduced form in both wheat genotypes. Under Al stress, significantly increased activities and gene transcriptional levels of ascorbate peroxi-dase, glutathione reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase, were observed in the root tips of the Al-tolerant genotype Jian-864. Nitric oxide application enhanced the activity and gene transcriptional level of these enzymes in both wheat geno-types. g-Glutamylcysteine synthetase was not significantly affected by Al or NO, but NO treatments increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase to a greater extent than the Al-treated wheat seedlings. Proline was significantly decreased by Al, while it was not affected by NO. These results clearly suggest that NO protects wheat root against Al-induced oxidative stress, possibly through its regulation of the AsA-GSH cycle.

Large variability in ambient ozone sensitivity across 19 ethylenediurea-treated Chinese cultivars of soybean is driven by total ascorbate

The sensitivity of Chinese soybean cultivars to ambient ozone（O3） in the field is unknown,although soybean is a major staple food in China. Using ethylenediurea（EDU） as an O3 protectant, we tested the gas exchange, pigments, antioxidants and biomass of 19 cultivars exposed to 28 ppm·hr AOT40（accumulated O3 over an hourly concentration threshold of40 ppb） over the growing season at a field site in China. By comparing the average biomass with and without EDU, we estimated the cultivar-specific sensitivity to O3 and ranked the cultivars from very tolerant（〈 10% change） to highly sensitive（〉 45% change）, which helps in choosing the best-suited cultivars for local cultivation. Higher lipid peroxidation and activity of the ascorbate peroxidase enzyme were major responses to O3 damage, which eventually translated into lower biomass production. The constitutional level of total ascorbate in the leaves was the most important parameter explaining O3 sensitivity among these cultivars. Surprisingly, the role of stomatal conductance was insignificant. These results will guide future breeding efforts towards more O3-tolerant cultivars in China, while strategies for implementing control measures of regional O3 pollution are being implemented. Overall, these results suggest that present ambient O3 pollution is a serious concern for soybean in China, which highlights the urgent need for policy-making actions to protect this critical staple food.

Rapid Inactivation of Chloroplastic Ascorbate Peroxidase is Responsible for Oxidative Modification to Rubisco in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) under Cadmium Stress

To investigate the sensitive site of antioxidant systems in chloroplast under cadmium stress and its consequence on reactive oxygen species production and action, the sub-organellar localization of chloroplast superoxide dismutases （SOD, EC 1.15.1.1） and ascorbic peroxidase （APX, EC 1.11.1.11） isoenzymes and changes of enzymes activities under cadmium stress were investigated in tomato seedlings. Two APX isoforms, one thylakoid-bound and one stromal, were detected. Cd at 50 μM induced a moderate increase of SOD activities but a rapid inactivation of both APX isoenzymes. APX inactivation was mainly related to the decrease of ascorbate concentration, as supported by in vitro treatment of exogenous ascorbate and APX kinetic properties under Cd stress. H2O2 accumulation in chloroplast, as a consequence of APX inactivation, was associated with a 60% loss of Rubisco （EC 4.1.1.39） activity, which could be partially accounted for by a 10% loss of Rubisco content. Protein oxidation assay found that the Rubisco large subunit was the most prominent carbonylated protein; the level of carbonylated Rubisco large subunit increased fivefold after Cd exposure. Thiol groups in the Rubisco large subunit were oxidized, as indicated by non-reducing electrophoresis. Treating crude extract with H2O2 resulted in a similar pattern of protein oxidation and thiols oxidation with that observed in Cd-treated plants. Our study indicates that APXs in the chloroplast is a highly sensitive site of antioxidant systems under Cd stress, and the inactivation of APX could be mainly responsible for oxidative modification to Rubisco and subsequent decrease in its activity.

Ascorbate peroxidase 1 confers resistance to southern corn leaf blight in maize

Southern corn leaf blight (SCLB), caused by Bipolarismaydis, is one of the most devastatingdiseases affecting maize production. However,only one SLCB resistance gene, conferring partialresistance, is currently known, underscoring theimportance of isolating new SCLB resistancerelatedgenes. Here, we performed a comparativeproteomic analysis and identified 258 proteinsshowing differential abundance during the maizeresponse to B. maydis. These proteins included anascorbate peroxidase (Zea mays ascorbate peroxidase1 (ZmAPX1)) encoded by a gene locatedwithin the mapping interval of a previously identifiedquantitative trait locus associated with SCLBresistance. ZmAPX1 overexpression resulted inlower H_(2)O_(2) accumulation and enhanced resistanceagainst B. maydis. Jasmonic acid (JA)contents and transcript levels for JA biosynthesisand responsive genes increased in ZmAPX1-overexpressing plants infected with B. maydis,whereas Zmapx1 mutants showed the oppositeeffects. We further determined that low levels of H_(2)O_(2) are accompanied by an accumulation of JAthat enhances SCLB resistance. These resultsdemonstrate that ZmAPX1 positively regulatesSCLB resistance by decreasing H_(2)O_(2) accumulationand activating the JA-mediated defensesignaling pathway. This study identified ZmAPX1as a potentially useful gene for increasing SCLBresistance. Furthermore, the generated datamay be relevant for clarifying the functions ofplant APXs.

In Silico Characterization and Homology Modeling of Thylakoidbound Ascorbate Peroxidase from a Drought Tolerant Wheat Cultivar

Ascorbate peroxidase, a haem protein （EC 1.11.1.11）, efficiently scavenges hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） in cytosol and chloroplasts of plants. In this study, a fulllength coding sequence of thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase cDNA （TatAPX） was cloned from a drought tolerant wheat cultivar C306. Homology modeling of the TatAPX protein was performed by using the template crystal structure of chloroplastic ascorbate peroxidase from tobacco plant （PDB： IIYN）. The model structure was further refined by molecular mechanics and dynamic methods using various tools such as PROCHECK, ProSA and Verify3D. The predicted model was then tested for docking with H2O2, the substrate for TatAPX enzyme. The results revealed that Arg233 and Glu255 in the predicted active site of the enzyme are two important amino acid residues responsible for strong hydrogen bonding affinity with H2O2, which might play an important role in scavenging of H2O2 from the plant system.

Influence of heat stress on leaf ultrastructure, photosynthetic performance, and ascorbate peroxidase gene expression of two pear cultivars(Pyrus pyrifolia)

Plants encounter a variety of stresses in natural environments. One-year-old pot-grown trees of pear(Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai cv. Cuiguan and Wonhwang) were exposed to two heat stress regimes. Under constant short-term heat stress, chloroplasts and mitochondria were visibly damaged. Relative chlorophyll content and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II were significantly decreased, which indicated that the leaf photosynthetic capability declined. Under chronic heat stress, mesophyll cell ultrastructure was not obviously damaged, but leaf photosynthetic capability was still restrained. As chronic heat stress was a simulation of the natural environment in summer, further study of the responses under this stress regime was undertaken. Ascorbate peroxidase(APX) activity was increased in ‘Cuiguan', but not in ‘Wonhwang'. Inducible expression of PpAPX genes in the cytoplasm, chloroplasts and peroxisomes was consistent with increased APX activity in ‘Cuiguan', whereas only weak induction of PpAPX genes was observed in ‘Wonhwang'. The isoenzymes cytosolic APX1(cAPX1) and stromal APX(sAPX) were confirmed to be localized in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts, respectively.

Ascorbate oxidase electrochemical biosensor based on the biocompatible poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) matrices for agricultural application in crops

The vitamin C（VC） in crops was successfully determined using ascorbate oxidase（AO） electrochemical biosensor based on the biocompatible poly（3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene）（PEDOT） matrices,which was easily prepared by one-step electrodeposition technique in ionic liquid microemulsions.The fabricated biosensor displayed excellent bioelectrocatalytic performance to the oxidation of VC,wide linear range,low detection limit,fast response time,good operational and storage stability,the good results of the determination of VC in vegetable crops indicated that the fabricated biosensor will be a good candidate for the physiological and biochemical studies of crops in near future.

Tuning plasmon absorption of unmodified silver nanoplates for sensitive and selective detection of copper ions by introduction of ascorbate

Silver nanoplates as novel optical sensors for Cu^2＋ detection have been demonstrated.Silver nanoplates are synthesized via previous H_2O_2-NaBH_4 cyclic oxidation-reduction reactions.With introduction of ascorbate as mild reductants,Cu^2＋ ions are reduced into Cu~＋ and the Cu^＋ is further reduced to Cu,which is deposited on the surface of the silver nanoplates.The deposition of the Cu on the surface of the silver nanoplates allows a significant red-shift of their plasmon absorption.Therefore,trace Cu^2＋ can be detected.The shift of the plasmon absorption wavelength of silver nanoplates is proportional to the Cu^2＋concentration over a range of 40-340 μmol L^（-1） with a limit of detection of 9.0 μmol L^（-1）.Moreover,such silver nanoplate-based optical sensors provide good selectivity for Cu^2＋ detection,and most other metal ions do not disturb its detection.Moreover,the practicality of the proposed sensor was tested.This Cu^2＋assay is advantageous in its simplicity,selectivity,and cost-effectiveness.

Co-evolved plant and blast fungus ascorbate oxidases orchestrate the redox state of host apoplast to modulate rice immunity

Apoplastic ascorbate oxidases(AOs)play a critical role in reactive oxygen species(RoS)-mediated innate host immunity by regulating the apoplast redox state.To date,little is known about how apoplastic effectors of the riceblast fungus Magnaportheoryzaemodulate the apoplast redox state of rice to subvert plant immunity.In this study,we demonstrated that M.oryzae MoAo1 is an Ao that plays a role in virulence by modulating the apoplast redox status of rice cells.We showed that MoAo1 inhibits the activity of rice OsAO3and OsAO4,which also regulate the apoplast redox status and plant immunity.In addition,we found that MoAo1,OsAO3,andOsAO4 allexhibit polymorphic variations whosevaried interactions orchestrate pathogen virulence and rice immunity.Taken together,our results reveal a critical role for extracellular redox enzymes during rice blast infection and shed light on the importance of the apoplast redox state anditsregulation inplant-pathogeninteractions.

AN AMPEROMETRIC BIOSENSOR BASED ON COVALENT IMMOBILIZATION OF ASCORBATE OXIDASE ON BIOCOMPATIABLE AND LOW-TOXIC POLY(THIOPHENE-3-ACETIC ACID) MATRIX

The biocompatiable and low-toxic poly（thiophene-3-aeetic acid） （PTAA） matrix was successfully electrosynthesized in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-metbylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate （BmimPF6） in comparison with the electrosynthesis of PTAA matrix in acetonitrile （ACN）. Ascorbate oxidase （AO） was used as a model for the development and application of biosensor. Vitamin C （VC） biosensors were facilely fabricated by the covalent immobilization of AO molecules on PTAA matrices electrosynthesized in ACN containing tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate and BmimPF6, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy indicated that AO molecules were covalently immobilized on PTAA matrices. Parameters of the as-obtained biosensors such as working potential, pH and temperature have been optimized. The amperometric biosensor based on PTAA matrix electrosynthesized in BmimPF6 exhibited wider linear range, lower detection limit, higher sensitivity and bioaffinity, and better operational and storage stability than that electrosynthesized in ACN under optimal conditions. The as-obtained biosensor based on PTAA matrix electrosynthesized in BmimPF6 was employed for the detection of VC content in comme：rcial juices, and the result was close to the data given by manufacturers. Excellent results indicate that the PTAA matrix electrosynthesized in ionic liquid is a promising platform for the covalent immobilization of biologically-active species and the development of biosensors.