Two Structurally Similar Maize Cytosolic Superoxide Dismutase Genes, Sod4 and Sod4A, Respond Differentially to Abscisic Acid and High Osmoticum1

Abstract

Abstract The maize (Zea mays) superoxide dismutase genes Sod4 and Sod4Aare highly similar in structure but each responds differentially to environmental signals. We examined the effects of the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) on the developmental response of Sod4 andSod4A. Although both Sod4 andSod4A transcripts accumulate during late embryogenesis, only Sod4 is up-regulated by ABA and osmotic stress. Accumulation of Sod4 transcript in response to osmotic stress is a consequence of increased endogenous ABA levels in developing embryos. Sod4 mRNA is up-regulated by ABA inviviparous-1 mutant embryos. Sod4transcript increases within 4 h with ABA not only in developing embryos but also in mature embryos and in young leaves.Sod4A transcript is up-regulated by ABA only in young leaves, but neither Sod4 nor Sod4Atranscripts changed in response to osmotic stress. Our data suggest that in leaves Sod4 and Sod4A may respond to ABA and osmotic stress via alternate pathways. Since theSod genes have a known function, we hypothesize that the increase in Sod mRNA in response to ABA is due in part to ABA-mediated metabolic changes leading to changes in oxygen free radical levels, which in turn lead to the induction of the antioxidant defense system.