Selenium application during radish (Raphanus sativus) plant development alters glucosinolate metabolic gene expression and results in the production of 4-(methylseleno)but-3-enyl glucosinolate

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for human health, entering the diet mainly through the consumption of plant material. Members of the Brassicaceae are Se-accumulators that can accumulate up to 1g Se kg−1 dry weight (DW) from the environment without apparent ill effect. The Brassicaceae also produce glucosinolates (GSLs), sulfur (S)-rich compounds that benefit human health. Radish (Raphanus sativus) has a unique GSL profile and is a Se-accumulating species that is part of the human diet as sprouts, greens and roots. In this report we describe the effects of Se-fertilisation on GSL production in radish during five stages of early development (from seed to mature salad greens) and on the transcript abundance of eight genes encoding enzymes involved in GSL metabolism. We tentatively identified (by tandem mass spectrometry) the selenium-containing glucosinolate, 4-(methylseleno)but-3-enyl glucosinolate, with the double bond geometry not resolved. Two related isothiocyanates were tentatively identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry as (E/Z?) isomers of 4-(methylseleno)but-3-enyl isothiocyanate. Se fertilisation of mature radish led to the presence of selenoglucosinolates in the seed. While GSL concentration generally reduced during radish development, GSL content was generally not affected by Se fertilisation, aside from the indole GSL, indol-3-ylmethyl glucosinolate, which increased on Se treatment, and the Se-GSLs, which significantly increased during development. The transcript abundance of genes involved in aliphatic GSL biosynthesis declined with Se treatment while that of genes involved in indole GSL biosynthesis tended to increase. APS kinase transcript abundance increased significantly in three of the four developmental stages following Se treatment. The remaining genes investigated were not significantly changed following Se treatment. We hypothesise that increased APS kinase expression in response to Se treatment is part of a general protection mechanism controlling the uptake of S and the production of S-containing compounds such as GSLs. The upregulation of genes encoding enzymes involved in indole GSL biosynthesis and a decrease in those involved in aliphatic GSL biosynthesis may be part of a similar mechanism protecting the plant’s GSL complement whilst limiting the amount of Se-GSLs produced.