The Sulfur Pathway and Diagnosis of Sulfate Depletion in Grapevine

Abstract

Sulfur is an essential nutrient to all plant species. Plants assimilate sulfur in a well-described pathway, which has been taken up by roots. Regulatory mechanism has been the subject of many research papers. However, recent studies highlighted differences between crop plants and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Our work focuses on the identification of genes involved in the sulfur metabolism in the Vitis vinifera genome, and their response to sulfur deficiency and other abiotic stress endured by grapevine in the field, namely water stress. Here, we describe the identification and brief characterization of the first assimilation enzymes involved in the sulfur pathway, the enzyme responsible for sulfur activation, ATP sulfurylase (ATPS), and the two enzymes that reduce sulfate to sulfide, Adenosine 5 0-phosphosulate reductase (APR) and Sulfite reductase (SiR). A reduction was observed in the number of ATPS and APR isoforms identified in V. vinifera genome when compared to A. thaliana or Glycine max genomes. Two ATPS isoforms were present in the Vitis genome, of which only ATPS1 transcript was detected in the tested tissues, and one APR isoform, suggesting an absence of redundancy in the role of both enzymes. ATPS1, APR and SiR transcript level was up-regulated in response to 2 days exposure to sulfur deficiency in V. vinifera cell cultures, which was completely reversed by the addition of GSH to the culture medium. Apparently, oxidative stress triggered GSH has a pivotal role in the regulation of ATPS1, APR and SiR transcription level, since their up-regulation was observed in mRNA from field grapevine berries under water stress, which is known to induce oxidative stress. Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide for winemaking and also for table grapes. Grapevines can be successfully grown in a range of different climates and management conditions. Global climate changes are associated with water deficit and high evapotranspiration rates that can affect berry development, yield, and wine quality (Hannah et al. 2013).

Whole-Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing-Based Characterization of Bacillus Cereus NR1 From Subtropical Marine Mangrove and Its Potential Role in Sulfur Metabolism

“…Plants can absorb inorganic sulfate from the soil, converting it to sulfide and integrating it into bioorganic molecules. Sulfate is first activated by ATP sulfurylase (ATPS) to adenosine 5-phosphosulfate in the sulfate assimilation pathway (APS; Tavares and Amâncio, 2017 ).…”

Induced sulfur metabolism by sulfur dioxide maintains postharvest quality of ‘Thompson Seedless’ grape through increasing sulfite content

“…Genes involved in sulfur metabolism were selected according to Tavares and Amâncio 26 ( VvATPS1 , VvATPS2 , and VvSiR1 ) and Giraud et al 16 . ( VvSULTR , VvAPR3 , and VvOASTL ).…”