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The plant oncogene rolD encodes a functional ornithine cyclodeaminase
M Trovato1, B Maras, F Linhares
1Istituto Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Summary
The plant oncogene rolD encodes a protein with ornithine cyclodeaminase (OCD) activity, converting ornithine to proline. This finding clarifies rolD's role in plant reproductive development and pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- Enzymology
- Plant-microbe interactions
Background:
- The plant oncogene rolD is known to stimulate reproductive phase transition in plants.
- The precise function of the RolD gene product has remained largely undefined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the enzymatic function of the RolD protein.
- To investigate the biochemical activity of RolD in the context of plant reproductive development.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatic analysis to predict protein homology.
- Bacterial expression and purification of the RolD protein.
- Enzyme assays to detect ornithine cyclodeaminase (OCD) activity.
Main Results:
- RolD protein sequence shows homology to bacterial ornithine cyclodeaminase (OCD).
- Purified RolD protein and bacterial extracts containing RolD exhibited significant OCD activity.
- OCD activity was also detected in plant extracts overexpressing rolD.
Conclusions:
- The RolD protein functions as an ornithine cyclodeaminase (OCD), catalyzing the conversion of ornithine to proline.
- This enzymatic activity provides a molecular basis for rolD's influence on plant reproductive development and pathogenesis.