Functional, Structural and Biochemical Features of Plant Serinyl-Glutathione Transferases

• Published in: Frontiers in plant science Vol. 10; p. 608
• Main Authors: Sylvestre-Gonon, Elodie, Law, Simon R, Schwartz, Mathieu, Robe, Kevin, Keech, Olivier, Didierjean, Claude, Dubos, Christian, Rouhier, Nicolas, Hecker, Arnaud
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers 2019; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Botanics; glutathione transferases; Life Sciences; ligandin property; photosynthetic organisms; phylogeny; Plant Science; secondary metabolism; Structural Biology; structure; Vegetal Biology; xenobiotic detoxification; photosynthetic organisms; ligandin property; glutathione transferases; secondary metabolism; phylogeny; xenobiotic detoxification; structure; xenobiotics; metabolic detoxification; cible herbicide; xénobiotique; détoxification métabolique; glutathion s transférase; glutathione péroxydase
• ISSN: 1664-462X; 1664-462X
• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00608

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) belong to a ubiquitous multigenic family of enzymes involved in diverse biological processes including xenobiotic detoxification and secondary metabolism. A canonical GST is formed by two domains, the N-terminal one adopting a thioredoxin (TRX) fold and the C-terminal one an all-helical structure. The most recent genomic and phylogenetic analysis based on this domain organization allowed the classification of the GST family into 14 classes in terrestrial plants. These GSTs are further distinguished based on the presence of the ancestral cysteine (Cys-GSTs) present in TRX family proteins or on its substitution by a serine (Ser-GSTs). Cys-GSTs catalyze the reduction of dehydroascorbate and deglutathionylation reactions whereas Ser-GSTs catalyze glutathione conjugation reactions and eventually have peroxidase activity, both activities being important for stress tolerance or herbicide detoxification. Through non-catalytic, so-called ligandin properties, numerous plant GSTs also participate in the binding and transport of small heterocyclic ligands such as flavonoids including anthocyanins, and polyphenols. So far, this function has likely been underestimated compared to the other documented roles of GSTs. In this review, we compiled data concerning the known enzymatic and structural properties as well as the biochemical and physiological functions associated to plant GSTs having a conserved serine in their active site.