《植物生理学报》 2011, 47(1): 27-36

植物螯合肽合成酶的研究进展

李安明*, 李德华, 邓青云, 汪宜宇

李安明*, 李德华, 邓青云, 汪宜宇

通信作者：李安明；E-mail: Lsahmp68@yahoo.com.cn；Tel: 0712-23 454 90

摘　要：

植物螯合肽(phytochelatins, PCs)在植物解除重金属的毒性方面具有重要作用, 其结构为(γ-Glu-Cys)n-Gly (n=2~11), 它 不是基因的编码产物, 而是在植物螯合肽合成酶(phytochelatin synthase, PCS)的催化下以谷胱甘肽(glutathione, GSH)为底 物合成的。PCS 能够被金属离子激活, 高度保守的 N- 端是催化结构域, 而其C- 端则是多变的。本文就 PCS 的结构, 功能与 催化机制以及PCS的最新研究进行了介绍。

关键词：植物螯合肽; 植物螯合肽合成酶; 植物螯合肽合成酶基因

收稿：2010-10-08   修定：2010-11-08

资助：湖北省重点(培育)学科农业资源利用(0903)和湖北省自然科学基金项目(2005ABA083)。

Research Progress on Phytochelatin Synthase

LI An-Ming*, LI De-Hua, DENG Qing-Yun, WANG Yi-Yu

School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Xiaogan University, Xiaogan, Hubei 432000, China

Corresponding author: LI An-Ming; E-mail: Lsahmp68@yahoo.com.cn; Tel: 0712-23 454 90

Abstract:

Phytochelatins (PCs), with a general structure (γ-Glu-Cys)_n-Gly (n=2–11), play an important role in heavy metal detoxification in plants. PCs are post-translationally synthesized directly from glutathione (GSH) by the enzyme phytochelatin synthase (PCS), of which the activity is dependent on the presence of heavy metals. The conserved N-terminal core domain of PCS functions as the catalytic domain, whereas the C-terminal region is highly variable. The review focused on the structure, functions and catalytic mechanisms of PCS, prospects were also included.

Key words: phytochelatin (PC); phytochelatin synthase (PCS); phytochelatin synthase gene