Lignins result from the oxidative polymerization of three hydroxycinnamyl (p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl) alcohols in a reaction mediated by peroxidases. The most important of these is the cationic peroxidase from Zinnia elegans (ZePrx), an enzyme considered to be responsible for the last step of lignification in this plant. Bibliographical evidence indicates that the arabidopsis peroxidase 72 (AtPrx72), which is homolog to ZePrx, could have an important role in lignification. For this reason, we performed a bioinformatic, histochemical, photosynthetic, and phenotypical and lignin composition analysis of an arabidopsis knock-out mutant of AtPrx72 with the aim of characterizing the effects that occurred due to the absence of expression of this peroxidase from the aspects of plant physiology such as vascular development, lignification, and photosynthesis. In silico analyses indicated a high homology between AtPrx72 and ZePrx, cell wall localization and probably optimal levels of translation of AtPrx72. The histochemical study revealed a low content in syringyl units and a decrease in the amount of lignin in the atprx72 mutant plants compared to WT. The atprx72 mutant plants grew more slowly than WT plants, with both smaller rosette and principal stem, and with fewer branches and siliques than the WT plants. Lastly, chlorophyll a fluorescence revealed a significant decrease in ΦPSII and q L in atprx72 mutant plants that could be related to changes in carbon partitioning and/or utilization of redox equivalents in arabidopsis metabolism. The results suggest an important role of AtPrx72 in lignin biosynthesis. In addition, knock-out plants were able to respond and adapt to an insufficiency of lignification.

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The study of the subcellular localization of the basic isoperoxidases in grapevines was carried out by using cells cultured in suspension as a model system . Results from subcellular fractionation, isoenzyme analysis, enzyme binding and cytochemical probes suggest that basic isoperoxidases are localized mainly in the vacuolar sap of the suspension cultured cells, probably in equilibrium with a pool of the same basic isoperoxidases bound to the internal face of tonoplast membranes through a Ca" -saline bridge . This vacuolar location of basic isoperoxidases raised the question of their function, since indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) oxidase activity of these isoperoxidases is almost totally inhibited by vacuolar anthocyanins in the in vivo concentration range of these compounds . Thus, a central role is proposed for these isoenzymes in the H Z OZdependent oxidative phenol metabolism which occurs in grapevines, discarding therefore a possible role of these isoperoxidases in the control of IAA levels during the later stages of development of anthocyanin-rich grapes .

A zymographic assay is described for the detection of peroxidase isoenzymes oxidizing 4-hydroxystilbene following isoelectric focusing. The assay is based on coupling intermediate products of the oxidation of 4-hydroxystilbene with 4-aminoantipyrine, with resultant formation of dye complexes. Control experiments in the absence of 4-hydroxystilbene and hydrogen peroxide demonstrate the peroxidative nature of the 4-hydroxystilbene-dependent dye reaction.