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Key Role of Fe2+ in Epithiospecifier Protein Activity.

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Williams, D.J., Critchley, C., Pun, S., Chaliha, M. and O'Hare, T.J. (2010) Key Role of Fe2+ in Epithiospecifier Protein Activity. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58 (15). pp. 8512-8521.

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Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf904532n

Publisher URL: http://pubs.acs.org

Abstract

The chemical nature of the hydrolysis products from the glucosinolate-myrosinase system depends on the presence or absence of supplementary proteins such as epithiospecifier proteins (ESPs). ESPs promote the formation of epithionitriles from terminal alkenyl glucosinolates and, as recent evidence suggests, simple nitriles at the expense of isothiocyanates. From a human health perspective isothiocyanates are the most important because they are major inducers of carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes. Fe2+ is an essential factor in ESP activity, although several recent studies have highlighted discrepancies in the understanding of the ESP-iron interaction. To investigate further the role iron species play in regulating ESP activity, four ESP-containing seedpowders were analyzed for ESP and myrosinase activities, endogenous iron content, and glucosinolate degradation products after the addition of iron species, specific chelators, and reducing agents. For the first time this paper shows the effect of these additions on the hydrolysis of individual glucosinolates that constitute the total pool. Aged seeds and 3-day seedlings were also tested to investigate the effects of seed storage and early plant development on iron levels and ESP activity. The four ESP-containing plant systems tested gave two distinctive responses, thus providing strong evidence that ESPs vary markedly in their Fe2+ requirement for activity. The results also indicated that reduction of ferric to ferrous iron drives variations in ESP activity during early plant development. The reverse oxidation reaction provided a convincing explanation for the loss of ESP activity during seed storage. Aged seeds produced seedlings with substantially lower ESP activity, and there was a concomitant loss in germination rate. It was concluded that manipulation of endogenous iron levels of ESP-containing plants could increase the conversion of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates and enhance potential health benefits.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Crop and Food Science
Additional Information:© American Chemical Society.
Keywords:Epithiospecifier protein activity; ESP; total and ferrous iron; nitrile formation; Lepidium sativum; benzylglucosinolate degradation; thioglucoside glucohydrolase; antiproliferative activity; glucosinolate hydrolysis; human health; broccolii; cabbage.
Subjects:Agriculture > Agriculture (General)
Science > Biology > Biochemistry
Plant culture > Seeds. Seed technology
Live Archive:29 Nov 2010 01:48
Last Modified:01 Dec 2022 04:58

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