Expression Profile of the Serine Acetyltransferase (SERAT) and O-Acetylserine (thiol)lyase (OASTL) Gene Families in Arabidopsis

Cysteine synthesis in plants constitutes the entry of reduced sulfur from assimilatory sulfate reduction into metabolism. Cysteine synthesis is catalyzed by the sequential action of serine acetyltransferase (SERAT) and O-acetylserine (thiol)lyase (OASTL). In the Arabidopsis genome, there are five SERAT and three OASTL genes. Analysis of the expression data obtained from micro array data in database such as Arabidopsis eFP browser and publications indicates that the SERAT genes and OASTL genes show distinct expression patterns during development and under diurnal regulation as well as under stress conditions, suggesting the specific function/regulation of SERATs and OASTLs in different subcellular compartments.