Leghemoglobin is nitrated in functional legume nodules in a tyrosine residue within the heme cavity by a nitrite/peroxide-dependent mechanism

Author(s)
Martha Sainz, Laura Calvo-Begueria, Carmen Pérez-Rontomé, Stefanie Wienkoop, Joaquín Abián, Christiana Staudinger, Silvina Bartesaghi, Rafael Radi, Manuel Becana
Abstract

Protein tyrosine (Tyr) nitration is a post-translational modification yielding 3-nitrotyrosine (NO2 -Tyr). Formation of NO2 -Tyr is generally considered as a marker of nitro-oxidative stress and is involved in some human pathophysiological disorders, but has been poorly studied in plants. Leghemoglobin (Lb) is an abundant hemeprotein of legume nodules that plays an essential role as an O2 transporter. Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was used for a targeted search and quantification of NO2 -Tyr in Lb. For all Lbs examined, Tyr30, located in the distal heme pocket, is the major target of nitration. Lower amounts were found for NO2 -Tyr25 and NO2 -Tyr133. Nitrated Lb and other as yet unidentified nitrated proteins were also detected in nodules of plants not receiving NO3- and were found to decrease during senescence. This demonstrates formation of nitric oxide (˙NO) and NO2- by alternative means to nitrate reductase, probably via a ˙NO synthase-like enzyme, and strongly suggests that nitrated proteins perform biological functions and are not merely metabolic byproducts. In vitro assays with purified Lb revealed that Tyr nitration requires NO2- + H2 O2 and that peroxynitrite is not an efficient inducer of nitration, probably because Lb isomerizes it to NO3-. Nitrated Lb is formed via oxoferryl Lb, which generates nitrogen dioxide and tyrosyl radicals. This mechanism is distinctly different from that involved in heme nitration. Formation of NO2 -Tyr in Lb is a consequence of active metabolism in functional nodules, where Lb may act as a sink of toxic peroxynitrite and may play a protective role in the symbiosis.

Organisation(s)
External organisation(s)
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Universidad de la República
Journal
The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
Volume
81
Pages
723-735
No. of pages
13
ISSN
0960-7412
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.12762
Publication date
03-2015
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106002 Biochemistry, 106037 Proteomics, 106031 Plant physiology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Genetics, Plant Science, Cell Biology
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/leghemoglobin-is-nitrated-in-functional-legume-nodules-in-a-tyrosine-residue-within-the-heme-cavity-by-a-nitriteperoxidedependent-mechanism(351c7500-e25d-41d8-ae85-5f0a9c4e4059).html