The distinct functional roles of the inner and outer chloroplast envelope of Pea (Pisum sativum) as revealed by proteomic approaches

Chloroplast Auxin Efflux Mediated by ABCB28 and ABCB29 Fine-Tunes Salt and Drought Stress Responses in Arabidopsis

Photosynthesis is among the first processes negatively affected by environmental cues and its performance directly determines plant cell fitness and ultimately crop yield. Primarily sites of photosynthesis, chloroplasts are unique sites also for the biosynthesis of precursors of the growth regulator auxin and for sensing environmental stress, but their role in intracellular auxin homeostasis, vital for plant growth and survival in changing environments, remains poorly understood. Here, we identified two ATP-binding cassette (ABC) subfamily B transporters, ABCB28 and ABCB29, which export auxin across the chloroplast envelope to the cytosol in a concerted action in vivo. Moreover, we provide evidence for an auxin biosynthesis pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplasts. The overexpression of ABCB28 and ABCB29 influenced stomatal regulation and resulted in significantly improved water use efficiency and survival rates during salt and drought stresses. Our results suggest that chloroplast auxin production and transport contribute to stomata regulation for conserving water upon salt stress. ABCB28 and ABCB29 integrate photosynthesis and auxin signals and as such hold great potential to improve the adaptation potential of crops to environmental cues.

Two plastid POLLUX ion channel-like proteins are required for stress-triggered stromal Ca2+release

Two decades ago, large cation currents were discovered in the envelope membranes of Pisum sativum L. (pea) chloroplasts. The deduced K+-permeable channel was coined fast-activating chloroplast cation channel but its molecular identity remained elusive. To reveal candidates, we mined proteomic datasets of isolated pea envelopes. Our search uncovered distant members of the nuclear POLLUX ion channel family. Since pea is not amenable to molecular genetics, we used Arabidopsis thaliana to characterize the two gene homologs. Using several independent approaches, we show that both candidates localize to the chloroplast envelope membrane. The proteins, designated PLASTID ENVELOPE ION CHANNELS (PEC1/2), form oligomers with regulator of K+ conductance domains protruding into the intermembrane space. Heterologous expression of PEC1/2 rescues yeast mutants deficient in K+ uptake. Nuclear POLLUX ion channels cofunction with Ca2+ channels to generate Ca2+ signals, critical for establishing mycorrhizal symbiosis and root development. Chloroplasts also exhibit Ca2+ transients in the stroma, probably to relay abiotic and biotic cues between plastids and the nucleus via the cytosol. Our results show that pec1pec2 loss-of-function double mutants fail to trigger the characteristic stromal Ca2+ release observed in wild-type plants exposed to external stress stimuli. Besides this molecular abnormality, pec1pec2 double mutants do not show obvious phenotypes. Future studies of PEC proteins will help to decipher the plant's stress-related Ca2+ signaling network and the role of plastids. More importantly, the discovery of PECs in the envelope membrane is another critical step towards completing the chloroplast ion transport protein inventory.

Proteomic Approaches to Identify Cold-Regulated Plasma Membrane Proteins

Plasma membrane is the primary determinant of freezing tolerance in plants because of its central role in freeze-thaw cycle. Changes in plasma membrane protein composition have been one of the major research areas in plant cold acclimation. To obtain comprehensive profiles of the plasma membrane proteomes and their changes during the cold acclimation process, a plasma membrane purification method using a dextran-polyethylene glycol two polymer system and a mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics method using nano-LC-MS/MS for the plasma membrane proteins are described. The proteomic results obtained are further applied to label-free protein semiquantification.

The topology of plastid inner envelope potassium cation efflux antiporter KEA1 provides new insights into its regulatory features

The plastid potassium cation efflux antiporters (KEAs) are important for chloroplast function, development, and photosynthesis. To understand their regulation at the protein level is therefore of fundamental importance. Prior studies have focused on the regulatory K⁺ transport and NAD-binding (KTN) domain in the C-terminus of the thylakoid carrier KEA3 but the localization of this domain remains unclear. While all three plastid KEA members are highly conserved in their transmembrane region and the C-terminal KTN domain, only the inner envelope KEA family members KEA1 and KEA2 carry a long soluble N-terminus. Interestingly, this region is acetylated at lysine 168 by the stromal acetyltransferase enzyme NSI. If an odd number of transmembrane domains existed for inner envelope KEAs, as it was suggested for all three plastid KEA carriers, regulatory domains and consequently protein regulation would occur on opposing sides of the inner envelope. In this study we therefore set out to investigate the topology of inner envelope KEA proteins. Using a newly designed antibody specific to the envelope KEA1 N-terminus and transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing a C-terminal KEA1-YFP fusion protein, we show that both, the N-terminal and C-terminal, regulatory domains of KEA1 reside in the chloroplast stroma and not in the intermembrane space. Considering the high homology between KEA1 and KEA2, we therefore reason that envelope KEAs must consist of an even number of transmembrane domains.

Proteomic dissection of the chloroplast: Moving beyond photosynthesis

Chloroplast, the photosynthetic machinery, converts photoenergy to ATP and NADPH, which powers the production of carbohydrates from atmospheric CO₂ and H₂O. It also serves as a major production site of multivariate pro-defense molecules, and coordinate with other organelles for cell defense. Chloroplast harbors 30-50% of total cellular proteins, out of which 80% are membrane residents and are difficult to solubilize. While proteome profiling has illuminated vast areas of biological protein space, a great deal of effort must be invested to understand the proteomic landscape of the chloroplast, which plays central role in photosynthesis, energy metabolism and stress-adaptation. Therefore, characterization of chloroplast proteome would not only provide the foundation for future investigation of expression and function of chloroplast proteins, but would open up new avenues for modulation of plant productivity through synchronizing chloroplastic key components. In this review, we summarize the progress that has been made to build new understanding of the chloroplast proteome and implications of chloroplast dynamicsing generate metabolic energy and modulating stress adaptation.

Essential and Detrimental - an Update on Intracellular Iron Trafficking and Homeostasis

Chloroplasts, mitochondria and vacuoles represent characteristic organelles of the plant cell, with a predominant function in cellular metabolism. Chloroplasts are the site of photosynthesis and therefore basic and essential for photoautotrophic growth of plants. Mitochondria produce energy during respiration and vacuoles act as internal waste and storage compartments. Moreover, chloroplasts and mitochondria are sites for the biosynthesis of various compounds of primary and secondary metabolism. For photosynthesis and energy generation, the internal membranes of chloroplasts and mitochondria are equipped with electron transport chains. To perform proper electron transfer and several biosynthetic functions, both organelles contain transition metals and here iron is by far the most abundant. Although iron is thus essential for plant growth and development, it becomes toxic when present in excess and/or in its free, ionic form. The harmful effect of the latter is caused by the generation of oxidative stress. As a consequence, iron transport and homeostasis have to be tightly controlled during plant growth and development. In addition to the corresponding transport and homeostasis proteins, the vacuole plays an important role as an intracellular iron storage and release compartment at certain developmental stages. In this review, we will summarize current knowledge on iron transport and homeostasis in chloroplasts, mitochondria and vacuoles. In addition, we aim to integrate the physiological impact of intracellular iron homeostasis on cellular and developmental processes.

A Novel Prokaryote-Type ECF/ABC Transporter Module in Chloroplast Metal Homeostasis

During evolution, chloroplasts, which originated by endosymbiosis of a prokaryotic ancestor of today's cyanobacteria with a eukaryotic host cell, were established as the site for photosynthesis. Therefore, chloroplast organelles are loaded with transition metals including iron, copper, and manganese, which are essential for photosynthetic electron transport due to their redox capacity. Although transport, storage, and cofactor-assembly of metal ions in chloroplasts are tightly controlled and crucial throughout plant growth and development, knowledge on the molecular nature of chloroplast metal-transport proteins is still fragmentary. Here, we characterized the soluble, ATP-binding ABC-transporter subunits ABCI10 and ABCI11 in Arabidopsis thaliana, which show similarities to components of prokaryotic, multisubunit ABC transporters. Both ABCI10 and ABCI11 proteins appear to be strongly attached to chloroplast-intrinsic membranes, most likely inner envelopes for ABCI10 and possibly plastoglobuli for ABCI11. Loss of ABCI10 and ABCI11 gene products in Arabidopsis leads to extremely dwarfed, albino plants showing impaired chloroplast biogenesis and deregulated metal homeostasis. Further, we identified the membrane-intrinsic protein ABCI12 as potential interaction partner for ABCI10 in the inner envelope. Our results suggest that ABCI12 inserts into the chloroplast inner envelope membrane most likely with five predicted α-helical transmembrane domains and represents the membrane-intrinsic subunit of a prokaryotic-type, energy-coupling factor (ECF) ABC-transporter complex. In bacteria, these multisubunit ECF importers are widely distributed for the uptake of nickel and cobalt metal ions as well as for import of vitamins and several other metabolites. Therefore, we propose that ABCI10 (as the ATPase A-subunit) and ABCI12 (as the membrane-intrinsic, energy-coupling T-subunit) are part of a novel, chloroplast envelope-localized, AAT energy-coupling module of a prokaryotic-type ECF transporter, most likely involved in metal ion uptake.

A Novel Prokaryote-Type ECF/ABC Transporter Module in Chloroplast Metal Homeostasis

During evolution, chloroplasts, which originated by endosymbiosis of a prokaryotic ancestor of today's cyanobacteria with a eukaryotic host cell, were established as the site for photosynthesis. Therefore, chloroplast organelles are loaded with transition metals including iron, copper, and manganese, which are essential for photosynthetic electron transport due to their redox capacity. Although transport, storage, and cofactor-assembly of metal ions in chloroplasts are tightly controlled and crucial throughout plant growth and development, knowledge on the molecular nature of chloroplast metal-transport proteins is still fragmentary. Here, we characterized the soluble, ATP-binding ABC-transporter subunits ABCI10 and ABCI11 in Arabidopsis thaliana, which show similarities to components of prokaryotic, multisubunit ABC transporters. Both ABCI10 and ABCI11 proteins appear to be strongly attached to chloroplast-intrinsic membranes, most likely inner envelopes for ABCI10 and possibly plastoglobuli for ABCI11. Loss of ABCI10 and ABCI11 gene products in Arabidopsis leads to extremely dwarfed, albino plants showing impaired chloroplast biogenesis and deregulated metal homeostasis. Further, we identified the membrane-intrinsic protein ABCI12 as potential interaction partner for ABCI10 in the inner envelope. Our results suggest that ABCI12 inserts into the chloroplast inner envelope membrane most likely with five predicted α-helical transmembrane domains and represents the membrane-intrinsic subunit of a prokaryotic-type, energy-coupling factor (ECF) ABC-transporter complex. In bacteria, these multisubunit ECF importers are widely distributed for the uptake of nickel and cobalt metal ions as well as for import of vitamins and several other metabolites. Therefore, we propose that ABCI10 (as the ATPase A-subunit) and ABCI12 (as the membrane-intrinsic, energy-coupling T-subunit) are part of a novel, chloroplast envelope-localized, AAT energy-coupling module of a prokaryotic-type ECF transporter, most likely involved in metal ion uptake.

Setting sub-organellar sights: accurate targeting of multi-transmembrane-domain proteins to specific chloroplast membranes

This article comments on: Singhal R, Fernandez DE. 2017. Sorting of SEC translocase SCY components to different membranes in chloroplasts. Journal of Experimental Botany 68, 5029–5043.

Impact of the ion transportome of chloroplasts on the optimization of photosynthesis

Ions play fundamental roles in all living cells, and their gradients are often essential to fuel transport, regulate enzyme activities, and transduce energy within cells. Regulation of their homeostasis is essential for cell metabolism. Recent results indicate that modulation of ion fluxes might also represent a useful strategy to regulate one of the most important physiological processes taking place in chloroplasts, photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is highly regulated, due to its unique role as a cellular engine for growth in the light. Controlling the balance between ATP and NADPH synthesis is a critical task, and availability of these molecules can limit the overall photosynthetic yield. Photosynthetic organisms optimize photosynthesis in low light, where excitation energy limits CO2 fixation, and minimize photo-oxidative damage in high light by dissipating excess photons. Despite extensive studies of these phenomena, the mechanism governing light utilization in plants is still poorly understood. In this review, we provide an update of the recently identified chloroplast-located ion channels and transporters whose function impacts photosynthetic efficiency in plants.

Functional analysis of Brassica napus phloem protein and ribonucleoprotein complexes

Phloem sap contains a large number of macromolecules, including proteins and RNAs from different classes. Proteome analyses of phloem samples from different plant species under denaturing conditions identified hundreds of proteins potentially involved in diverse processes. Surprisingly, these studies also found a significant number of ribosomal and proteasomal proteins. This led to the suggestion that active ribosome and proteasome complexes might be present in the phloem, challenging the paradigm that protein synthesis and turnover are absent from the enucleate sieve elements of angiosperms. However, the existence of such complexes has as yet not been demonstrated. In this study we used three-dimensional gel electrophoresis to separate several protein complexes from native phloem sap from Brassica napus. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight MS analyses identified more than 100 proteins in the three major protein-containing complexes. All three complexes contained proteins belonging to different ribosomal fragments and blue native northern blot confirmed the existence of ribonucleoprotein complexes. In addition, one complex contained proteasome components and further functional analyses confirmed activity of a proteasomal degradation pathway and showed a large number of ubiquitinated phloem proteins. Our results suggest specialized roles for ubiquitin modification and proteasome-mediated degradation in the phloem.

Polyglycine Acts as a Rejection Signal for Protein Transport at the Chloroplast Envelope

PolyGly is present in many proteins in various organisms. One example is found in a transmembrane β-barrel protein, translocon at the outer-envelope-membrane of chloroplasts 75 (Toc75). Toc75 requires its N-terminal extension (t75) for proper localization. t75 comprises signals for chloroplast import (n75) and envelope sorting (c75) in tandem. n75 and c75 are removed by stromal processing peptidase and plastidic type I signal peptidase 1, respectively. PolyGly is present within c75 and its deletion or substitution causes mistargeting of Toc75 to the stroma. Here we have examined the properties of polyGly-dependent protein targeting using two soluble passenger proteins, the mature portion of the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (mSS) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Both t75-mSS and t75-EGFP were imported into isolated chloroplasts and their n75 removed. Resultant c75-mSS was associated with the envelope at the intermembrane space, whereas c75-EGFP was partially exposed outside the envelope. Deletion of polyGly or substitution of tri-Ala for the critical tri-Gly segment within polyGly caused each passenger to be targeted to the stroma. Transient expression of t75-EGFP in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in accumulation of c75-EGFP exposed at the surface of the chloroplast, but the majority of the EGFP passenger was found free in the cytosol with most of its c75 attachment removed. Results of circular dichroism analyses suggest that polyGly within c75 may form an extended conformation, which is disrupted by tri-Ala substitution. These data suggest that polyGly is distinct from a canonical stop-transfer sequence and acts as a rejection signal at the chloroplast inner envelope.

Does a voltage-sensitive outer envelope transport mechanism contributes to the chloroplast iron uptake?

Based on the effects of inorganic salts on chloroplast Fe uptake, the presence of a voltage-dependent step is proposed to play a role in Fe uptake through the outer envelope. Although iron (Fe) plays a crucial role in chloroplast physiology, only few pieces of information are available on the mechanisms of chloroplast Fe acquisition. Here, the effect of inorganic salts on the Fe uptake of intact chloroplasts was tested, assessing Fe and transition metal uptake using bathophenantroline-based spectrophotometric detection and plasma emission-coupled mass spectrometry, respectively. The microenvironment of Fe was studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Transition metal cations (Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mn²⁺) enhanced, whereas oxoanions (NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, and BO₃^3-) reduced the chloroplast Fe uptake. The effect was insensitive to diuron (DCMU), an inhibitor of chloroplast inner envelope-associated Fe uptake. The inorganic salts affected neither Fe forms in the uptake assay buffer nor those incorporated into the chloroplasts. The significantly lower Zn and Mn uptake compared to that of Fe indicates that different mechanisms/transporters are involved in their acquisition. The enhancing effect of transition metals on chloroplast Fe uptake is likely related to outer envelope-associated processes, since divalent metal cations are known to inhibit Fe²⁺ transport across the inner envelope. Thus, a voltage-dependent step is proposed to play a role in Fe uptake through the chloroplast outer envelope on the basis of the contrasting effects of transition metal cations and oxoaninons.

Plant subcellular proteomics: Application for exploring optimal cell function in soybean

Plants have evolved complicated responses to developmental changes and stressful environmental conditions. Subcellular proteomics has the potential to elucidate localized cellular responses and investigate communications among subcellular compartments during plant development and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Soybean, which is a valuable legume crop rich in protein and vegetable oil, can grow in several climatic zones; however, the growth and yield of soybean are markedly decreased under stresses. To date, numerous proteomic studies have been performed in soybean to examine the specific protein profiles of cell wall, plasma membrane, nucleus, mitochondrion, chloroplast, and endoplasmic reticulum. In this review, methods for the purification and purity assessment of subcellular organelles from soybean are summarized. In addition, the findings from subcellular proteomic analyses of soybean during development and under stresses, particularly flooding stress, are presented and the proteins regulated among subcellular compartments are discussed. Continued advances in subcellular proteomics are expected to greatly contribute to the understanding of the responses and interactions that occur within and among subcellular compartments during development and under stressful environmental conditions.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Subcellular proteomics has the potential to investigate the cellular events and interactions among subcellular compartments in response to development and stresses in plants. Soybean could grow in several climatic zones; however, the growth and yield of soybean are markedly decreased under stresses. Numerous proteomics of cell wall, plasma membrane, nucleus, mitochondrion, chloroplast, and endoplasmic reticulum was carried out to investigate the respecting proteins and their functions in soybean during development or under stresses. In this review, methods of subcellular-organelle enrichment and purity assessment are summarized. In addition, previous findings of subcellular proteomics are presented, and functional proteins regulated among different subcellular are discussed. Subcellular proteomics contributes greatly to uncovering responses and interactions among subcellular compartments during development and under stressful environmental conditions in soybean.

Cyanobacterial CO2-concentrating mechanism components: function and prospects for plant metabolic engineering

Global population growth is projected to outpace plant-breeding improvements in major crop yields within decades. To ensure future food security, multiple creative efforts seek to overcome limitations to crop yield. Perhaps the greatest limitation to increased crop yield is photosynthetic inefficiency, particularly in C3 crop plants. Recently, great strides have been made toward crop improvement by researchers seeking to introduce the cyanobacterial CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) into plant chloroplasts. This strategy recognises the C3 chloroplast as lacking a CCM, and being a primordial cyanobacterium at its essence. Hence the collection of solute transporters, enzymes, and physical structures that make cyanobacterial CO2-fixation so efficient are viewed as a natural source of genetic material for C3 chloroplast improvement. Also we highlight recent outstanding research aimed toward the goal of introducing a cyanobacterial CCM into C3 chloroplasts and consider future research directions.

Transport Across Chloroplast Membranes: Optimizing Photosynthesis for Adverse Environmental Conditions

Chloroplasts are central to solar light harvesting and photosynthesis. Optimal chloroplast functioning is vitally dependent on a very intensive traffic of metabolites and ions between the cytosol and stroma, and should be attuned for adverse environmental conditions. This is achieved by an orchestrated regulation of a variety of transport systems located at chloroplast membranes such as porines, solute channels, ion-specific cation and anion channels, and various primary and secondary active transport systems. In this review we describe the molecular nature and functional properties of the inner and outer envelope and thylakoid membrane channels and transporters. We then discuss how their orchestrated regulation affects thylakoid structure, electron transport and excitation energy transfer, proton-motive force partition, ion homeostasis, stromal pH regulation, and volume regulation. We link the activity of key cation and anion transport systems with stress-specific signaling processes in chloroplasts, and discuss how these signals interact with the signals generated in other organelles to optimize the cell performance, with a special emphasis on Ca(2+) and reactive oxygen species signaling.

Deep proteome analysis of gerontoplasts from the inner integument of developing seeds of Jatropha curcas

The inner integument of Jatropha curcas seeds is a non-photosynthetic tissue that acts primarily as a conduit for the delivery of nutrients to the embryo and endosperm. In this study we performed a histological and transmission electron microscopy analysis of the inner integument in stages prior to fertilization to 25days after pollination, to establish the structural changes associated with the plastid to gerontoplast transition. This study showed that plastids are subjected to progressive changes, which include the dismantling of the internal membrane system, matrix degradation and the formation of stromule-derived vesicles. A proteome analysis of gerontoplasts isolated from the inner integument at 25days after pollination, resulted in the identification of 1923 proteins, which were involved in a myriad of metabolic functions, such as synthesis of amino acids and fatty acids. Among the identified proteins, were also a number of hydrolases (peptidases, lipases and carbohydrases), which presumably are involved in the ordered dismantling of this organelle to provide additional sources of nutrients for the growing embryo and endosperm. The dataset we provide here may provide a foundation for the study of the proteome changes associated with the plastid to gerontoplast transition in non-photosynthetic tissues.

SIGNIFICANCE

We describe ultrastructural features of gerontoplasts isolated from the inner integument of developing seeds of Jatropha curcas, together with a deep proteome analysis of these gerontoplasts. This article explores a new aspect of the biology of plastids, namely the ultrastructural and proteome changes associated with the transition plastid to gerontoplast in a non-photosynthetic tissue.

Chloroplast Iron Transport Proteins - Function and Impact on Plant Physiology

Chloroplasts originated about three billion years ago by endosymbiosis of an ancestor of today's cyanobacteria with a mitochondria-containing host cell. During evolution chloroplasts of higher plants established as the site for photosynthesis and thus became the basis for all life dependent on oxygen and carbohydrate supply. To fulfill this task, plastid organelles are loaded with the transition metals iron, copper, and manganese, which due to their redox properties are essential for photosynthetic electron transport. In consequence, chloroplasts for example represent the iron-richest system in plant cells. However, improvement of oxygenic photosynthesis in turn required adaptation of metal transport and homeostasis since metal-catalyzed generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative damage. This is most acute in chloroplasts, where radicals and transition metals are side by side and ROS-production is a usual feature of photosynthetic electron transport. Thus, on the one hand when bound by proteins, chloroplast-intrinsic metals are a prerequisite for photoautotrophic life, but on the other hand become toxic when present in their highly reactive, radical generating, free ionic forms. In consequence, transport, storage and cofactor-assembly of metal ions in plastids have to be tightly controlled and are crucial throughout plant growth and development. In the recent years, proteins for iron transport have been isolated from chloroplast envelope membranes. Here, we discuss their putative functions and impact on cellular metal homeostasis as well as photosynthetic performance and plant metabolism. We further consider the potential of proteomic analyses to identify new players in the field.

Chloroplast Iron Transport Proteins - Function and Impact on Plant Physiology

Chloroplasts originated about three billion years ago by endosymbiosis of an ancestor of today's cyanobacteria with a mitochondria-containing host cell. During evolution chloroplasts of higher plants established as the site for photosynthesis and thus became the basis for all life dependent on oxygen and carbohydrate supply. To fulfill this task, plastid organelles are loaded with the transition metals iron, copper, and manganese, which due to their redox properties are essential for photosynthetic electron transport. In consequence, chloroplasts for example represent the iron-richest system in plant cells. However, improvement of oxygenic photosynthesis in turn required adaptation of metal transport and homeostasis since metal-catalyzed generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative damage. This is most acute in chloroplasts, where radicals and transition metals are side by side and ROS-production is a usual feature of photosynthetic electron transport. Thus, on the one hand when bound by proteins, chloroplast-intrinsic metals are a prerequisite for photoautotrophic life, but on the other hand become toxic when present in their highly reactive, radical generating, free ionic forms. In consequence, transport, storage and cofactor-assembly of metal ions in plastids have to be tightly controlled and are crucial throughout plant growth and development. In the recent years, proteins for iron transport have been isolated from chloroplast envelope membranes. Here, we discuss their putative functions and impact on cellular metal homeostasis as well as photosynthetic performance and plant metabolism. We further consider the potential of proteomic analyses to identify new players in the field.

Ion Channels in Native Chloroplast Membranes: Challenges and Potential for Direct Patch-Clamp Studies

Photosynthesis without any doubt depends on the activity of the chloroplast ion channels. The thylakoid ion channels participate in the fine partitioning of the light-generated proton-motive force (p.m.f.). By regulating, therefore, luminal pH, they affect the linear electron flow and non-photochemical quenching. Stromal ion homeostasis and signaling, on the other hand, depend on the activity of both thylakoid and envelope ion channels. Experimentally, intact chloroplasts and swollen thylakoids were proven to be suitable for direct measurements of the ion channels activity via conventional patch-clamp technique; yet, such studies became infrequent, although their potential is far from being exhausted. In this paper we wish to summarize existing challenges for direct patch-clamping of native chloroplast membranes as well as present available results on the activity of thylakoid Cl⁻ (ClC?) and divalent cation-permeable channels, along with their tentative roles in the p.m.f. partitioning, volume regulation, and stromal Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ dynamics. Patch-clamping of the intact envelope revealed both large-conductance porin-like channels, likely located in the outer envelope membrane and smaller conductance channels, more compatible with the inner envelope location. Possible equivalent model for the sandwich-like arrangement of the two envelope membranes within the patch electrode will be discussed, along with peculiar properties of the fast-activated cation channel in the context of the stromal pH control.

Effects of Fe deficiency on the protein profile of Brassica napus phloem sap

The aim of this work was to study the effect of Fe deficiency on the protein profile of phloem sap exudates from Brassica napus using 2DE (IEF-SDS-PAGE). The experiment was repeated thrice and two technical replicates per treatment were done. Phloem sap purity was assessed by measuring sugar concentrations. Two hundred sixty-three spots were consistently detected and 15.6% (41) of them showed significant changes in relative abundance (22 decreasing and 19 increasing) as a result of Fe deficiency. Among them, 85% (35 spots), were unambiguously identified. Functional categories containing the largest number of protein species showing changes as a consequence of Fe deficiency were signaling and regulation (32%), and stress and redox homeostasis (17%). The Phloem sap showed a higher oxidative stress and significant changes in the hormonal profile as a result of Fe deficiency. Results indicate that Fe deficiency elicits major changes in signaling pathways involving Ca and hormones, which are generally associated with flowering and developmental processes, causes an alteration in ROS homeostasis processes, and induces decreases in the abundances of proteins involved in sieve element repair, suggesting that Fe-deficient plants may have an impaired capacity to heal sieve elements upon injury.

Pre-fractionation strategies to resolve pea (Pisum sativum) sub-proteomes

Legumes are important crop plants and pea (Pisum sativum L.) has been investigated as a model with respect to several physiological aspects. The sequencing of the pea genome has not been completed. Therefore, proteomic approaches are currently limited. Nevertheless, the increasing numbers of available EST-databases as well as the high homology of the pea and medicago genome (Medicago truncatula Gaertner) allow the successful identification of proteins. Due to the un-sequenced pea genome, pre-fractionation approaches have been used in pea proteomic surveys in the past. Aside from a number of selective proteome studies on crude extracts and the chloroplast, few studies have targeted other components such as the pea secretome, an important sub-proteome of interest due to its role in abiotic and biotic stress processes. The secretome itself can be further divided into different sub-proteomes (plasma membrane, apoplast, cell wall proteins). Cell fractionation in combination with different gel-electrophoresis, chromatography methods and protein identification by mass spectrometry are important partners to gain insight into pea sub-proteomes, post-translational modifications and protein functions. Overall, pea proteomics needs to link numerous existing physiological and biochemical data to gain further insight into adaptation processes, which play important roles in field applications. Future developments and directions in pea proteomics are discussed.

Lipid trafficking at endoplasmic reticulum-chloroplast membrane contact sites

Glycerolipid synthesis in plant cells is characterized by an intense trafficking of lipids between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and chloroplasts. Initially, fatty acids are synthesized within chloroplasts and are exported to the ER where they are used to build up phospholipids and triacylglycerol. Ultimately, derivatives of these phospholipids return to chloroplasts to form galactolipids, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and digalactosyldiacylglycerol, the main and essential lipids of photosynthetic membranes. Lipid trafficking was proposed to transit through membrane contact sites (MCSs) connecting both organelles. Here, we review recent insights into ER-chloroplast MCSs and lipid trafficking between chloroplasts and the ER.