Isolation of novel chemical components and their plant target proteins under selenium stress

Selenium is recognized as a beneficial nutrient in living organisms. Excessive amounts of selenium, however, can have a significant negative impact on organisms. Screening of novel chemical compounds that regulate and/or moderate selenium in plants was conducted. The present chapter discusses (1) the design of a chemical screening strategy, (2) methods used to identify and select candidate chemicals, and (3) the identification of chemical-binding target proteins. We identified a novel chemical compound, C9H8N2OS2, in our screening program that enhances selenate accumulation and stress tolerance. The target protein, beta-glucosidase 23, in Arabidopsis was found to regulate selenium accumulation, as well as plant response to selenate stress.