Plant Metabolism of Xenobiotics

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Phytochelatin synthase not only catalyzes the heavy metal-dependent synthesis of phytochelatins but also serves as a catalyst for the key step in the turnover of lutathione conjugates in plants, the formation of g-glutamyl-cysteinyl conjugates. The latter function has recently been assigned by in vitro analyses. The project proposes now to test and corroborate the newly identified function of PCS in vivo. The analysis will focus on Arabidopsis by using plants, protoplasts and plant cell cultures. Mutants of Arabidopsis impaired in or lacking PCS will be analyzed for glutathione-conjugate turnover and phenotypic alterations. In addition, it is planned to transiently modulate phytochelatin synthase gene expression in order to assess its functions. The cellular compartmentation of both the reaction and of the reaction product will be examined including transport studies of the generated glutathioneconjugate derivative with isolated vacuoles.