On the Mechanism of Selenium Tolerance in Selenium‐Accumulating Plants
Open Access
- 23 July 1996
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in European Journal of Biochemistry
- Vol. 239 (1), 235-238
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1996.0235u.x
Abstract
Selected members of the genus Astragulus (Fabaceae) are known for their ability to accumulate high levels of selenium, mainly in the form of Se-methyl-selenocysteine. With the aid of cell cultures we have investigated the molecular basis for selenium tolerance of these plants. It is shown that cultured cells from a selenium-accumulating Astragalus species synthesize Se-methyl-selenocysteine in contrast to those of a non-accumulating species and do not unspecifically incorporate selenium into proteins. The purification and biochemical characterization of a selenocysteine methyltransferase from cultured Astragalus bisculatus cells is described, which does not accept cysteine as a substrate. We propose that this enzyme plays a crucial role in conferring selenium tolerance.Keywords
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