Nitro-fatty acids in plant signaling: New key mediators of nitric oxide metabolism
Capilla Mata-Pérez,
Beatriz Sánchez-Calvo,
María N. Padilla,
Juan C. Begara-Morales,
Raquel Valderrama,
Francisco J. Corpas,
Juan B. Barroso
Affiliations
Capilla Mata-Pérez
Group of Biochemistry and Cell Signaling in Nitric Oxide, Department of Experimental Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Campus Universitario “Las Lagunillas” s/n, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
Beatriz Sánchez-Calvo
Group of Biochemistry and Cell Signaling in Nitric Oxide, Department of Experimental Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Campus Universitario “Las Lagunillas” s/n, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
María N. Padilla
Group of Biochemistry and Cell Signaling in Nitric Oxide, Department of Experimental Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Campus Universitario “Las Lagunillas” s/n, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
Juan C. Begara-Morales
Group of Biochemistry and Cell Signaling in Nitric Oxide, Department of Experimental Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Campus Universitario “Las Lagunillas” s/n, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
Raquel Valderrama
Group of Biochemistry and Cell Signaling in Nitric Oxide, Department of Experimental Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Campus Universitario “Las Lagunillas” s/n, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
Francisco J. Corpas
Group of Antioxidants, Free Radicals and Nitric Oxide in Biotechnology, Food and Agriculture, Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
Juan B. Barroso
Group of Biochemistry and Cell Signaling in Nitric Oxide, Department of Experimental Biology, Center for Advanced Studies in Olive Grove and Olive Oils, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Campus Universitario “Las Lagunillas” s/n, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain; Correspondence to: Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales,Experimentales, Campus Universitario “Las Lagunillas” s/n, Universidad de Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
Recent studies in animal systems have shown that NO can interact with fatty acids to generate nitro-fatty acids (NO2-FAs). They are the product of the reaction between reactive nitrogen species and unsaturated fatty acids, and are considered novel mediators of cell signaling based mainly on a proven anti-inflammatory response. Although these signaling mediators have been described widely in animal systems, NO2-FAs have scarcely been studied in plants. Preliminary data have revealed the endogenous presence of free and protein-adducted NO2-FAs in extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), which appear to be contributing to the cardiovascular benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet. Importantly, new findings have displayed the endogenous occurrence of nitro-linolenic acid (NO2-Ln) in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and the modulation of NO2-Ln levels throughout this plant's development. Furthermore, a transcriptomic analysis by RNA-seq technology established a clear signaling role for this molecule, demonstrating that NO2-Ln was involved in plant-defense response against different abiotic-stress conditions, mainly by inducing the chaperone network and supporting a conserved mechanism of action in both animal and plant defense processes. Thus, NO2-Ln levels significantly rose under several abiotic-stress conditions, highlighting the strong signaling role of these molecules in the plant-protection mechanism. Finally, the potential of NO2-Ln as a NO donor has recently been described both in vitro and in vivo. Jointly, this ability gives NO2-Ln the potential to act as a signaling molecule by the direct release of NO, due to its capacity to induce different changes mediated by NO or NO-related molecules such as nitration and S-nitrosylation, or by the electrophilic capacity of these molecules through a nitroalkylation mechanism. Here, we describe the current state of the art regarding the advances performed in the field of NO2-FAs in plants and their implication in plant physiology. Keywords: Nitro-fatty acids, Nitro-linolenic acid, Signaling molecule, Antioxidant response, Oxidative stress, Nitric oxide donor, Defense response, Plants
