Repetitive Proline-rich Proteins Research Articles

PRPs localized to the middle lamellae are required for cortical tissue integrity in Medicago truncatula roots.

A family of repetitive proline-rich proteins interact with acidic pectins and play distinct roles in legume root cell walls affecting cortical and vascular structure. A proline-rich protein (PRP) family, composed of tandemly repeated Pro-Hyp-Val-X-Lys pentapeptide motifs, is found primarily in the Leguminosae. Four distinct size classes within this family are encoded by seven tightly linked genes: MtPRP1, MtPRP2 and MtPRP3, and four nearly identical MtPRP4 genes. Promoter fusions to β-glucuronidase showed strong expression in the stele of hairy roots for all 4 PRP genes tested, with additional expression in the cortex for PRP1, PRP2 and PRP4. All except MtPRP4 are strongly expressed in non-tumorous roots, and secreted and ionically bound to root cell walls. These PRPs are absent from root epidermal cell walls, and PRP accumulation is highly localized within the walls of root cortical and vascular tissues. Within xylem tissue, PRPs are deposited in secondary thickenings where it is spatially exclusive to lignin. In newly differentiating xylem, PRPs are deposited in the regularly spaced paired-pits and pit membranes that hydraulically connect neighboring xylem elements. Hairpin-RNA knock-down constructs reducing PRP expression in Medicago truncatula hairy root tumors disrupted cortical and vascular patterning. Immunoblots showed that the knockdown tumors had potentially compensating increases in the non-targeted PRPs, all of which cross-react with the anti-PRP antibodies. However, PRP3 knockdown differed from knockdown of PRP1 and PRP2 in that it greatly reduced viability of hairy root tumors. We hypothesize that repetitive PRPs interact with acidic pectins to form block-copolymer gels that can play distinct roles in legume root cell walls.

Abscisic Acid- and Stress-Induced Highly Proline-Rich Glycoproteins Regulate Root Growth in Rice

In the root of rice (Oryza sativa), abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, salinity, or water deficit stress induces the expression of a family of four genes, REPETITIVE PROLINE-RICH PROTEIN (RePRP). These genes encode two subclasses of novel proline-rich glycoproteins with highly repetitive PX₁PX₂ motifs, RePRP1 and RePRP2. RePRP orthologs exist only in monocotyledonous plants, and their functions are virtually unknown. Rice RePRPs are heavily glycosylated with arabinose and glucose on multiple hydroxyproline residues. They are significantly different from arabinogalactan proteins that have glycan chains composed of arabinose and galactose. Transient and stable expressions of RePRP-green fluorescent protein reveal that a fraction of this protein is localized to the plasma membrane. In rice roots, ABA treatment increases RePRP expression preferentially in the elongation zone. Overexpression of RePRP in transgenic rice reduces root cell elongation in the absence of ABA, similar to the effect of ABA on wild-type roots. Conversely, simultaneous knockdown of the expression of RePRP1 and RePRP2 reduces the root sensitivity to ABA, indicating that RePRP proteins play an essential role in ABA/stress regulation of root growth and development. Moreover, rice RePRPs specifically interact with a polysaccharide, arabinogalactan, in a dosage-dependent manner. It is suggested that RePRP1 and RePRP2 are functionally redundant suppressors of root cell expansion and probably act through interactions with cell wall components near the plasma membrane.

The Chaotrope-soluble Glycoprotein GP2 Is a Precursor of the Insoluble Glycoprotein Framework of the Chlamydomonas Cell Wall

The cell wall of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii consists of an insoluble, hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein framework and several chaotrope-soluble, hydroxyproline-containing glycoproteins. Up to now, there have been no data concerning the amino acid sequences of the hydroxyproline-containing polypeptides of the insoluble wall fraction. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight analyses of peptides released from the insoluble cell wall fraction by trypsin treatment revealed the presence of 14 peptide fragments that could be attributed to non-glycosylated domains of the chaotrope-soluble cell wall glycoprotein GP2. However, these peptides cover only 15% of the GP2 polypeptide backbone. Considerably more information concerning the presence of GP2 in the insoluble cell wall fraction was obtained by an immunochemical approach. For this purpose, 407 overlapping pentadecapeptides covering the whole known amino acid sequence of GP2 were chemically synthesized and probed with a polyclonal antibody raised against the deglycosylated, insoluble cell wall fraction. This particular antibody reacted with 297 of the 407 GP2-derived peptides. The peptides that were recognized by this antibody are distributed over the whole known GP2 sequence. The epitopes recognized by polyclonal antibodies raised against the 64- and 45-kDa constituents purified from the deglycosylation products of the insoluble cell wall fraction are also distributed over the whole GP2 backbone, although the corresponding antigens are considerably smaller than GP2. The significance of the latter results for the structure of the insoluble cell wall fraction is discussed.

Synthetic genes for the elucidation of glycosylation codes for arabinogalactan-proteins and other hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins.

Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) are ubiquitous architectural components of the growing plant cell wall, accounting for as much as 10-20% of the dry weight. HRGPs are implicated in all aspects of plant growth and development, including responses to stress. The HRGP superfamily contains three major groups which represent a continuum of peptide periodicity and hydroxyproline-O-glycosylation. These groups range from the highly periodic and lightly arabinosylated repetitive proline-rich proteins (PRPs), through the cross-linked extensins which are periodic and highly arabinosylated, to the arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) which are the most highly glycosylated and least periodic. The repetitive units are small, often only four- to six-residue-glycosylated modules viewed hypothetically as functional motifs, or glycomodules. The Hyp contiguity hypothesis predicts that Hyp arabinosylation increases with Hyp contiguity and that clustered noncontiguous Hyp residues are sites of arabinogalactan polysaccharide addition in the AGPs and gums. Recent results involving glycosylation site mapping of endogenous HRGPs and HRGP design using synthetic genes have corroborated the hypothesis. The uses of synthetic genes in HRGP glycosylation site mapping and structural/functional analysis are also discussed.

StGCPRP, a potato gene strongly expressed in stomatal guard cells, defines a novel type of repetitive proline-rich proteins.

Guard cells represent a highly differentiated cell type within the epidermis of plant leaves and stems. They respond to many endogenous and environmental signals and thereby modify the size of the stomatal pore they surround. We identified a novel gene that is highly expressed in guard cells of potato (Solanum tuberosum). It encodes a repetitive proline (Pro)-rich protein of 54 kD (491 amino acids) and was named StGCPRP (S. tuberosum guard cell Pro-rich protein). StGCPRP has a bipartite structure. The C-terminal part of StGCPRP contains a high percentage (46%) of Pro residues organized in distinct repetitive sequence motifs, whereas its extended N terminus is essentially free of Pros. StGCPRP represents the first member of a novel class of hybrid Pro-rich proteins that we designated NHyPRPs. In young but not in mature leaves, StGCPRP transcripts were also present at high levels in mesophyll cells (in addition to guard cells), indicating developmental regulation of StGCPRP gene expression. In addition, StGCPRP expression is regulated by environmental factors, as shown by a decrease in StGCPRP transcript levels under drought stress. Two proteins similar to StGCPRP were found to be encoded by the Arabidopsis genome, indicating that NHyPRPs are more widely distributed in higher plants.

A new proline-rich early nodulin from Medicago truncatula is highly expressed in nodule meristematic cells.

We cloned and characterized MtPRP4, a new member of the repetitive proline-rich protein gene family in Medicago truncatula. The sequence of MtPRP4 predicts a 62-kD protein consisting of a 22-amino acid N-terminal signal peptide and a 527-amino acid repetitive proline-rich domain composed of three repetitive pentapeptide motifs arranged into two decapeptide repeats: PPVEKPPVHK and PPVEKPPVYK. MtPRP4 is the largest PRP described to date and contains repeated motifs that have not previously been found together in a single polypeptide. RNA gel blot experiments detected MtPRP4 transcripts in symbiotic root nodules, but not in roots, hypocotyls, or leaves. Accumulation of MtPRP4 transcript was an early response to Rhizobium inoculation and did not depend on nodule infection. In situ hybridization experiments demonstrated that MtPRP4 was expressed early in the development of the nodule meristem and that expression was highest in the meristematic cells of mature indeterminate nodules. These data support the proposition that an important early response of legume host roots to Rhizobium involves remodeling the host extracellular matrix and that proline-rich wall proteins play an important role in this architectural modification.

Localization of repetitive proline-rich proteins in the extracellular matrix of pea root nodules

Early responses of legume roots toRhizobium inoculation include new cell wall synthesis and induction of some putative wall protein genes. Although the predicted amino acid sequences of several early nodulins indicate that they encode proline-rich proteins (PRPs), the proteins have been neither isolated nor has their presence been demonstrated in cell walls. We have used polyclonal antibodies against PRP2 from soybean to identify and localize proline-rich proteins in pea nodules. On immunoblots, several PRPs were detected, ranging from less than 20 kDa to 110 kDa. Immunocytochemistry revealed that tissues of the vascular cylinder contained abundant PRPs, particularly in the secondary cell walls of xylem elements and phloem fibers. PRPs were also found within the primary wall of the nodule endodermis and within Casparian strips of the vascular endodermis. Of symbiotic importance, PRPs were a prominent component of the infection thread matrix in newly infected root cells and in nodules. PRPs were also secreted by cells in the uninfected nodule parenchyma, where they were found occluding intercellular spaces outside the middle lamella. Despite structural conservation among members of this class of cell wall proteins, PRPs were targeted to distinct layers of the extracellular matrix dependent upon cell type, and may thus play separate roles in the biology of plant cells. The putative functions and the potential for interactions between PRPs and other wall polymers are discussed.

A Gymnosperm Extensin Contains the Serine-Tetrahydroxyproline Motif

The extensin family is a diverse group of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins located in the cell wall and characterized by repetitive peptide motifs glycosylated to various degrees. The origin of this diversity and its relationship to function led us earlier to compare extensins of the two major groups of angiosperms from which we concluded that the highly glycosylated Ser-Hyp(4) motif was characteristic of advanced herbaceous dicots, occurring rarely or not at all in a representative graminaceous monocot (Zea mays) and a chenopod (Beta vulgaris) representative of primitive dicots. Because these results could arise either from loss or acquisition of a characteristic feature, we chose a typical gymnosperm representing seed-bearing plants more primitive than the angiosperms. Thus, salt eluates of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) cell suspension cultures yielded two monomeric extensins differing in size and composition. The larger extensin reported earlier lacked the Ser-Hyp(4) motif, was rich in proline and hydroxyproline, and contained peptide motifs similar to the dicot repetitive proline-rich proteins. The smaller extensin monomer reported here (Superose-6 peak 2 [SP2]) was compositionally similar to typical dicot extensins such as tomato P1, mainly consisting of Hyp, Thr, Ser, Pro, Val, Tyr, Lys, His, abundant arabinose, and a small but significant galactose content. A chymotryptic peptide map (on Hamilton PRP-1) of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride-deglycosylated SP2 yielded eight peptides sequenced after further purification on a high-resolution fast-sizing column (polyhydroxyethyl aspartamide; Poly LC). Significantly, two of the eight peptides contained the Ser-Hyp(4) motif, consistent both with the SP2 amino acid composition as well as the presence of hydroxyproline tetraarabinoside as a small (4% of total Hyp) component of the hydroxyproline arabinoside profile; thus, hydroxyproline tetraarabinoside corroborates the presence of Ser-Hyp(4), in agreement with our earlier observation that Hyp contiguity and Hyp glycosylation are positively correlated. Interestingly, other peptide sequences indicate that SP2 contains motifs such as Ser-Hyp(3)-Thr-Hyp-Tyr, Ser-Hyp(4)-Lys, and (Ala-Hyp)(n) repeats that are related to and typify dicot extensins P1, P3, and arabinogalactan proteins, respectively. Overall, these peptide sequences confirm our previous prediction that Ser-Hyp(4) is indeed an ancient motif and also strongly support our suggestion that the extensins comprise an extraordinarily diverse, but nevertheless phylogenetically related, family of cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins.

A Repetitive Proline-Rich Protein from the Gymnosperm Douglas Fir Is a Hydroxyproline-Rich Glycoprotein

Intact cell elution of suspension cultures derived from Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco, yielded two extensin monomers, the first hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) to be isolated from a gymnosperm. These HRGPs resolved on Superose-6 gel filtration. The smaller monomer was compositionally similar to angiosperm extensins like tomato P1. The larger monomer had a simple composition reminiscent of repetitive proline-rich proteins (RPRPs) from soybean cell walls and contained proline, hydroxyproline, and sugar; hence designated a proline-hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (PHRGP). The simple composition of the PHRGP implied a periodic structure which was confirmed by the simple chymotryptic map and 45-residue partial sequence of the major proline-hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein chymotryptide 5: Lys-Pro-Hyp-Val-Hyp-Val-Ile-Pro-Pro-Hyp-Val-Val-Lys-Pro-Hyp-Hyp-Val- Tyr-Lys-Pro-Hyp-Val-Hyp-Val-Ile-Pro-Pro-Hyp-Val-Val-Lys-Pro-Hyp-Hyp- Val-Tyr-Lys-Ile-Pro-Pro(Hyp)-Val-Ile-Lys-Pro. Proline-hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein chymotryptide 5 contained an 18-residue tandem repeat devoid of tetra(hydroxy)-proline or serine; it also contained two instances of the five-residue motif Hyp-Hyp-Val-Tyr-Lys and five of the general Pro-Pro-X-X-Lys motif, thereby establishing its homology with typical angiosperm RPRPs and extensins from tomato, petunia, carrot, tobacco, sugar beet, and Phaseolus. Unlike the nonglycosylated soybean RPRP, the highly purified Douglas fir PHRGP was lightly glycosylated, confirmed by a quantitative hydroxyproline glycoside profile, indicating that extensins can range from highly glycosylated hydroxyproline to little or no glycosylated hydroxyproline. Comparison of extensin sequence data strongly indicates that a major determinant of hydroxyproline glycosylation specificity is hydroxyproline contiguity: extensins with tetrahydroxyproline blocks are very highly arabinosylated (>90% hydroxyproline glycosylated), tri- and dihydroxyproline are less so, and single hydroxyproline residues perhaps not at all. Despite high yields of extensins eluted from intact cells, the Douglas fir cell wall itself was hydroxyproline poor yet remarkably rich in protein (>20%), again emphasizing the existence of other structural cell wall proteins that are neither HRGPs nor glycine-rich proteins.

Peptidyl Proline Hydroxylation and the Growth of a Soybean Cell Culture

Peptidyl proline hydroxylase inhibitors block the growth of cultured soybean (Glycine max) cells and bring about the disappearance of the major salt-extractable hydroxyproline-rich protein, the 33 kilodalton repetitive proline-rich protein (RPRP2). Three polypeptides of 28, 20, and 14 kilodalton that cross-react with an antibody to RPRP2 accumulate in the culture during steady-state growth. In the presence of the proline hydroxylase inhibitors, all of these repetitive proline-rich proteins disappear. These results indicate that the hydroxyproline-rich proteins play a role in cell growth, and that hydroxylation may regulate the steady-state level of at least one of these proteins by influencing its turnover.

Repetitive proline-rich proteins in the extracellular matrix of the plant cell

Repetitive proline-rich proteins in the extracellular matrix of the plant cell

Nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding soybean repetitive proline-rich protein 3

Nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding soybean repetitive proline-rich protein 3

Characterization of two soybean repetitive proline-rich proteins and a cognate cDNA from germinated axes.

We have resolved and analyzed two proline-rich proteins isolated from the walls of soybean cells in culture. The proteins are similar in amino acid content, containing 20% proline, 20% hydroxyproline, 20% lysine, 16% valine, 10% tyrosine, and 10% glutamate. The proteins undergo a rearrangement or a limited cleavage in dilute NaOH, but are otherwise remarkably stable to a high concentration of alkali. We have cloned and sequenced a cDNA from soybean axes germinated for 31 hours (1A10-2) coding for a protein that closely corresponds in its amino acid content to that of the proline-rich proteins. The cDNA sequence predicts a decameric repeat of Pro-Pro-Val-Tyr-Lys-Pro-Pro-Val-Glu-Lys. Consequently, this class of proteins is referred to as repetitive proline-rich proteins, i.e., RPRP2 and RPRP3. We have also analyzed RNA gel blots with probes that discriminate between the new cDNA clone and a related cDNA previously reported [SbPRP1; Hong, Nagao, and Key (1987). J. Biol. Chem. 262, 8367-8376]. Messenger RNAs from young seedlings and from soybean suspension cultures correspond primarily to the new RPRP clone (1A10-2), whereas the predominant mRNA accumulating later in the roots corresponds to SbPRP1.

Characterization of Two Soybean Repetitive Proline-Rich Proteins and a Cognate cDNA from Germinated Axes

Characterization of Two Soybean Repetitive Proline-Rich Proteins and a Cognate cDNA from Germinated Axes