Stress induces peroxisome biogenesis genes

• DOI: 10.1093/emboj/19.24.6770
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T22:50:23Z
• Authors: E. Lopez-Huertas
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Base Sequence; Light; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Molecular Sequence Data; Arabidopsis; Membrane Proteins; Hydrogen Peroxide; Plants, Genetically Modified; Oxidative Stress; 03 medical and health sciences; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Peroxisomes; ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; Amino Acid Sequence; Luciferases; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Glycoproteins; Plant Proteins

Peroxisomes are the cellular location of many antioxidants and are themselves significant producers of reactive oxygen species. In this report we demonstrate the induction of peroxisome biogenesis genes in both plant and animal cells by the universal stress signal molecule hydrogen peroxide. Using PEX1-LUC transgenic plants, rapid local and systemic induction of PEX1-luciferase could be demonstrated in vivo in response to physiological levels of hydrogen peroxide. PEX1-luciferase was also induced in response to wounding and to infection with an avirulent pathogen. We propose a model in which various stress situations that lead to the production of hydrogen peroxide can be ameliorated by elaboration of the peroxisome compartment to assist in restoration of the cellular redox balance.