A novel thioredoxin h is secreted in Nicotiana alata and reduces S-RNase in vitro

Thioredoxins type h are classified into three subgroups. The subgroup II includes thioredoxins containing an N-terminal extension, the role of which is still unclear. Although thioredoxin secretion has been observed in animal cells, there is no evidence suggesting that any thioredoxin h is secreted in plants. In this study, we report that a thioredoxin h, subgroup II, from Nicotiana alata (NaTrxh) is secreted into the extracellular matrix of the stylar transmitting tract tissue. Fractionation studies showed that NaTrxh is extracted along with well characterized secretion proteins such as S-RNases and NaTTS (N. alata transmitting tissue-specific protein). Moreover, an NaTrxh-green fluorescent fusion protein transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana leaves was also secreted, showing that NaTrxh has the required information for its secretion. We performed reduction assays in vitro to identify potential extracellular targets of NaTrxh. We found that S-RNase is one of the several potential substrates of the NaTrxh in the extracellular matrix. In addition, we proved by affinity chromatography that NaTrxh specifically interacts with S-RNase. Our findings showed that NaTrxh is a new thioredoxin h in Nicotiana that is secreted as well as in animal systems. Because NaTrxh is localized in the extracellular matrix of the stylar transmitting tract and its specific interaction with S-RNase to reduce it in vitro, we suggest that this thioredoxin h may be involved either in general pollen-pistil interaction processes or particularly in S-RNase-based self-incompatibility.