Tomato phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase inhibits cell death induced by Bax and oxidative stresses in yeast and plants

Using a conditional life or death screen in yeast, we have isolated a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) gene encoding a phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (LePHGPx). The protein displayed reduced glutathione-dependent phospholipid hydroperoxide peroxidase activity, but differs from counterpart mammalian enzymes that instead contain an active seleno-Cys. LePHGPx functioned as a cytoprotector in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), preventing Bax, hydrogen peroxide, and heat stress induced cell death, while also delaying yeast senescence. When tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves were exposed to lethal levels of salt and heat stress, features associated with mammalian apoptosis were observed. Importantly, transient expression of LePHGPx protected tobacco leaves from salt and heat stress and suppressed the apoptotic-like features. As has been reported, conditional expression of Bax was lethal in tobacco, resulting in tissue collapse and membrane permeability to Evans blue. When LePHGPx was coexpressed with Bax, little cell death and no vital staining were observed. Moreover, stable expression of LePHGPx in tobacco conferred protection against the fungal phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea. Taken together, our data indicated that LePHGPx can protect plant tissue from a variety of stresses. Moreover, functional screens in yeast are a viable tool for the identification of plant genes that regulate cell death.