type	Journal Article
authors	Leon, S.; Touraine, B.; Briat, J.F.; Lobreaux, S.
title	The AtNFS2 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana encodes a NifS-like plastidial cysteine desulphurase
journal	Biochem J
Activity	2.8.1.7
sel	unselected
ui	22176320
year	(2002)
volume	366
pages	557-64
abstract	NifS-like proteins are cysteine desulphurases required for the mobilization of sulphur from cysteine. They are present in all organisms, where they are involved in iron-sulphur (Fe-S) cluster biosynthesis. In eukaryotes, these enzymes are present in mitochondria, which are the major site for Fe-S cluster assembly. The genome of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana contains two putative NifS-like proteins. A cDNA corresponding to one of them was cloned by reverse-transcription PCR, and named AtNFS2. The corresponding transcript is expressed in many plant tissues. It encodes a protein highly related (75% similarity) to the slr0077-gene product from Synechocystis PCC 6803, and is predicted to be targeted to plastids. Indeed, a chimaeric AtNFS2-GFP fusion protein, containing one-third of AtNFS2 from its N-terminal end, was addressed to chloroplasts. Overproduction in Escherichia coli and purification of recombinant AtNFS2 protein enabled one to demonstrate that it bears a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent cysteine desulphurase activity in vitro, thus being the first NifS homologue characterized to date in plants. The putative physiological functions of this gene are discussed, including the attractive hypothesis of a possible role in Fe-S cluster assembly in plastids. ==================================================================================================== ==================================================================================================== NOTE: The same A. thaliana gene product described in this article has been shown by other authors (Pilon-Smits et al., Plant Physiol 2002, 130, 1309-18) to act preferentially as a selenocysteine lyase.
last changed	2003/10/24 11:53