Skip to main content
Log in

Purification and Characterization of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Nicotinic Acid-N-Methyltransferase from Leaves of Glycine max

  • Published:
Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

Trigonelline (TRG), which act as a cell cycle regulator and a compatible solute in response to salinity and water-stress, is the N-methyl conjugate of nicotinic acid the formation of which is catalyzed by S-adenosyl-L-methionine nicotinic acid-N-methyltransferase. The enzyme was purified 2650-fold from soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves with a recovery of 4 %. The purification procedure included ammonium sulfate (45 – 60 %) precipitation, linear gradient DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, adenosine-agarose affinity chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography and gel filtration (Sephacryl-S-200). The purified enzyme preparation showed a major band with a molecular mass of 41.5 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis that is related to the enzyme activity. The native enzyme had a molecular mass of about 85 kDa as estimated by gel filtration. The Km values for S-adenosyl-L-methionine and nicotinic acid were 31 and 12.5 μM, respectively. The purified enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 6.5 and temperature of 40 – 45 °C. High concentration of dithiothreitol (10 mM) and glycerol (20 %) stabilize the enzyme during purification and storage. Hg2+ strongly inhibits enzyme activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bradford, M.M.: A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of protein utilizing the principle of protein dye-binding.-Anal. Biochem. 72: 248-254, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, Y., Chen, X., Wood, A.J.: Crop improvement by genetic engineering: enhancing abiotic stress-tolerance using the compatible solutes glycinebetaine and trigonelline.-Res. Adv. Phytochem. 2: 109-122, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, Y., Lightfoot, D.A., Wood, A.J.: Trigonelline concentrations in salt stressed leaves of cultivated Glycine max.-Phytochemistry 52: 1235-1238, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, Y., Njiti, V.N., Chen, X., Lightfoot, D.A., Wood, A.J: Trigonelline concentration in field-grown soybean in response to irrigation.-Biol. Plant. 46: 405-410, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, Y., Njiti, V., Chen, X., Triwatayakorn, K., Kassem, M.A., Meksem, K., Lightfoot, D.A., Wood, A.J.: Quantitative trait loci associated with foliar trigonelline accumulation in Glycine max L. – J. Biomed. Biotech. 2: 151-157, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, L.S., Tramontano, W.A.: Is trigonelline a plant hormone?-Amer. J. Bot. 68: 1282-1289, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, L.S., Tramontano, W.A.: Trigonelline and promotion of cell arrest in G2 of various legumes.-Phytochemistry 23: 1837-1840, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, A.D., Roje, S.: One-carbon metabolism in higher plants.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant mol. Biol. 52: 119-137, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvima, R.J., Kajander, E.O., Harvima, I.T. Fraki, J.E.: Purification and partial characterization of rat kidney histamine-N-methyltransferase.-Biochim. biophys. Acta 841: 42-49, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, F., Nolte, K.D., Hanson, A.D.: Purification and properties of S-adenosyl-L-methionine:L-methionine S-methyltransferase from Wollastonia biflora leaves.-J. biol. Chem. 270: 22344-22350, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshi, J.G., Handler, P.: Biosynthesis of trigonelline.-J. biol. Chem. 235: 2981-2983, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laemmli, U.K.: Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4.-Nature 227: 680-685, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malenčić, D., Popović, M., Miladinović, J.: Stress tolerance parameters in different genotypes of soybean.-Biol. Plant. 46: 141-143, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzuca, S., Bitonti, M.B., Innocenti, A.M., Francis, D.: Inactivation of DNA replication origins by the cell cycle regulator, trigonelline, in root meristems of Lactuca sativa.-Planta 211: 127-132, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzuca, S., Bitonti, M.B., Pranno, S. Innocenti, A.M.: Nuclear metabolic changes in root meristem of Lactuca satva induced by trigonelline treatment.-Cytobios 89: 39-50, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minorsky, P.V.: Trigonelline: a diverse regulator in plants.-Plant Physiol. 128: 7-8, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naidu, B.P., Paleg, L.G., Jones, G.P.: Nitrogenous compatible solutes in drought-stressed Medicago spp.-Phytochemistry 31: 1195-1197, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer, T.L., Cho, Y., Gibson, D., Young, B., Wood, A.J.: Utility of trigonelline as a biochemical marker for interspecific competition between soybean and the weed common waterhemp.-Biol. Plant. 44: 619-622, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rai, V.K.: Role of amino acids in plant responses to stresses.-Biol. Plant. 45: 481-487, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tramontano, W.A., Evans, L.S., McGinley, P.A.: Effects of cytokinins on promotion of cell arrest in G2 by trigonelline and trigonelline concentrations in cultured roots of Pisum sativum and Glycine max.-Environ. exp. Bot. 25: 83-88, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueda, M., Niwa, M., Yamamuna, S.: Trigonelline, a leaf-closing factor of the nyctinastic plant, Aeschynomene indica.-Phytochemistry 39: 817-819, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueda, M., Yamamura, S.: Chemical substances controlling plant leaf movement.-Rev. Heteroatom. Chem. 19: 237-260, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Upmeier, B., Gross, W., Koster, S., Barz, W.: Purification and properties of S-adenosyl-L-methionine:nicotinic acid-N-methyltransferase from cell suspension cultures of Glycine max L.-Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 262: 445-454, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, A.J.: Comparison of salt-induced osmotic adjustment and trigonelline accumulation in two soybean cultivars.-Biol. Plant. 42: 389-394, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, A.J., Cho, Y., Chen, X.: Trigonelline (nicotinic acid betaine) biosynthesis in plants: NaCl-and drought-stress induced accumulation in cultivated Glycine max.-In: Pandalai, S.G. (ed.): Recent Research Developments in Phytochemistry. Vol 4. Pp. 89-98. Research Signpost, Kerala 2000.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, X., Wood, A. Purification and Characterization of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Nicotinic Acid-N-Methyltransferase from Leaves of Glycine max . Biologia Plantarum 48, 531–535 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047148.20309.88

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047148.20309.88

Navigation