Drought-Induced Xylem Sulfate Activates the ABA-Mediated Regulation of Sulfate Assimilation and Glutathione Redox in <i>Brassica napus</i> Leaves

oleh: Bok-Rye Lee, Sang-Hyun Park, Van Hien La, Dong-Won Bae, Tae-Hwan Kim

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-11-01

Deskripsi

Drought intensity modifies the assimilatory pathway of glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a representative signaling hormone involved in regulating plant stress responses. This study aimed to investigate an interactive regulation of sulfate and/or ABA in GSH metabolism and redox. The drought-responsive alterations in sulfate assimilation and GSH-based redox reactions were assessed relative to ABA responses on the time-course of drought intensity. Drought-responsive H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> concentrations were divided into two distinct phases—an initial 4 days of no change (<i>Ψ<sub>w</sub></i> ≥ −0.49 MPa) and a phase of higher accumulation during the late phase of the drought (days 10–14; <i>Ψ<sub>w</sub></i> ≤ −1.34 MPa). During the early phase of the drought, GSH/GSSG redox state turned to the slightly reduced state with a transient increase in GSH, resulting from a strong activation of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> scavenging enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) and glutathione reductase (GR). The late phase of the drought was characterized by a decrease in GSH due to cysteine accumulation, shifting GSH- and NADPH-based redox states to higher oxidization, increasing sulfate and ABA in xylem, and causing ABA accumulation in leaves. Regression analysis revealed that sulfate in xylem sap was positively correlated with H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> concentrations and ABA was closely related to decreases in the GSH pool and the oxidation of GSH catalyzed by glutathione peroxidase (GPOX). These results indicate that drought-induced oxidation proceeds through the suppression of GSH synthesis and further GSH oxidation in a sulfate-activated ABA-dependent manner.