Nonphotosynthetic Reduction of the Intersystem Electron Transport Chain of Chloroplasts Following Heat Stress. Steady-state Rate

Temperature-induced reversible changes in photosynthesis efficiency and organization of thylakoid membranes from pea (Pisum sativum)

High temperature can induce a substantial adverse effect on plant photosynthesis. This study addressed the impact of moderately high temperature (35 °C) on photosynthetic efficiency and thylakoid membrane organization in Pisum sativum. The Chl a fluorescence curves showed a significant change, indicating a reduction in photosynthetic efficiency when pea plants were exposed to moderate high-temperature stress. The pulse-amplitude modulation measurements showed decreased non-photochemical quenching while the non-regulated energy dissipation increased in treated compared to control and recovery plants. Both parameters indicated that the photosystem (PS)II was prone to temperature stress. The PSI donor side limitation increased in treated and recovery plants compared to control, suggesting the donor side of PSI is hampered in moderate-high temperature. Further, the PSI acceptor side increased in recovery plants compared to control, suggesting that the cyclic electron transport is repressed after temperature treatment but revert back to normal in recovery conditions. Also, the content of photoprotective carotenoid pigments like lutein and xanthophylls increased in temperature-treated leaves. These results indicate the alteration of macro-organization of thylakoid membranes under moderately elevated temperature, whereas supercomplexes restored to the control levels under recovery conditions. Further, the light harvesting complex (LHC)II trimers, and monomers were significantly decreased in temperature-treated plants. Furthermore, the amount of PSII reaction center proteins D1, D2, PsbO, and Cyt b6 was reduced under moderate temperature, whereas the content of LHC proteins of PSI was stable. These observations suggest that moderately high temperature can alter supercomplexes, which leads to change in the pigment-protein organization.

Effect of growth stimulants on yield and quality of grain corn grown in Piedmont subprovince of Dagestan

Field experiments were carried out on chestnut soils of Piedmont Dagestan in 2018-2020. Hybrids of grain corn treated with different growth stimulants were the object of еру research. The experiments showed that the harvesting ripeness of hybrids ROSS 299 MV and Mashuk 355 MV occurred 2...5 days earlier after treatment with growth stimulants compared to the control. The growth stimulants used in the experiment did not have a significant effect on seed germination rate. Among the studied hybrids, the highest seed germination were observed in Mashuk 355 MV hybrid. The highest values of leaf area and net productivity of crops were in hybrid Mashuk 355 MB. Plants treated with growth regulators had higher leaf surface by 4.4% and 5.5%; 6.0 % and 8.4%, respectively. Approximately the same dynamics was recorded for photosynthesis net productivity and accumulation of dry matter. Mashuk 355 MV hybrid showed the best yield, which was 30.5; 31.5 and 32.5% higher respectively, compared to the standard. Productivity of corn hybrids treated with growth regulators increased significantly. The highest data were observed on plants treated with Megamiks N10 growth regulator, which were higher than the control data by 30.0 and 32.5%, respectively. Aminokat 30% growth regulator increased corn productivity by 23.7 and 24.7%, respectively. Sufficiently high indicators of yield structure were 10 recorded in Mashuk 355 MV hybrid in the variant with the Megamiks N10 growth stimulator.

Introducing climate change into the biochemistry and molecular biology curriculum

Our climate is changing due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases from the production and use of fossil fuels. Present atmospheric levels of CO₂ were last seen 3 million years ago, when planetary temperature sustained high Arctic camels. As scientists and educators, we should feel a professional responsibility to discuss major scientific issues like climate change, and its profound consequences for humanity, with students who look up to us for knowledge and leadership, and who will be most affected in the future. We offer simple to complex backgrounds and examples to enable and encourage biochemistry educators to routinely incorporate this most important topic into their classrooms.

Response of Photosynthesis to High Growth Temperature Was Not Related to Leaf Anatomy Plasticity in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Photosynthesis is highly sensitive to high temperature stress, and with the rising global temperature, it is meaningful to investigate the response of photosynthesis to growth temperature and its relationship with leaf anatomy plasticity. We planted 21 cultivars including eight indica cultivars, eight japonica cultivars, and five javanica cultivars in pot experiments under high growth temperature (HT, 38/28°C, day/night) and control treatment (CK, 30/28°C, day/night). Photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs ), transpiration rate (E), stomatal density (SD), vein density (VD), minor vein area (SVA), and major vein area (LVA) were measured after 30 treatment days. Results showed HT significantly increased A, gs , and E, while significantly decreased SD and LVA. There was no significant difference in A among the three subspecies both under CK and HT, while the javanica subspecies had higher gs , E, SVA, and LVA under HT, and the indica cultivars had higher VD and SD both under CK and HT. The javanica subspecies had higher relative value (HT/CK) of A, gs , and E, while difference was not observed in the relative value of SD, VD, and LVA among the three subspecies. The relative value of A was positively related to that of gs , while the latter was not correlated with the relative value of SD, VD, SVA, and LVA. Overall, the results suggested the increase of A and gs at HT was not attributed to leaf anatomy plasticity in respect of stomata and vein under HT.

Cold and Heat Stress Diversely Alter Both Cauliflower Respiration and Distinct Mitochondrial Proteins Including OXPHOS Components and Matrix Enzymes

Complex proteomic and physiological approaches for studying cold and heat stress responses in plant mitochondria are still limited. Variations in the mitochondrial proteome of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) curds after cold and heat and after stress recovery were assayed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE) in relation to mRNA abundance and respiratory parameters. Quantitative analysis of the mitochondrial proteome revealed numerous stress-affected protein spots. In cold, major downregulations in the level of photorespiratory enzymes, porine isoforms, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and some low-abundant proteins were observed. In contrast, carbohydrate metabolism enzymes, heat-shock proteins, translation, protein import, and OXPHOS components were involved in heat response and recovery. Several transcriptomic and metabolic regulation mechanisms are also suggested. Cauliflower plants appeared less susceptible to heat; closed stomata in heat stress resulted in moderate photosynthetic, but only minor respiratory impairments, however, photosystem II performance was unaffected. Decreased photorespiration corresponded with proteomic alterations in cold. Our results show that cold and heat stress not only operate in diverse modes (exemplified by cold-specific accumulation of some heat shock proteins), but exert some associations at molecular and physiological levels. This implies a more complex model of action of investigated stresses on plant mitochondria.

Heat stress-induced effects of photosystem I: an overview of structural and functional responses

Temperature is one of the main factors controlling the formation, development, and functional performance of the photosynthetic apparatus in all photoautotrophs (green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria) on Earth. The projected climate change scenarios predict increases in air temperature across Earth's biomes ranging from moderate (3-4 °C) to extreme (6-8 °C) by the year 2100 (IPCC in Climate change 2007: The physical science basis: summery for policymakers, IPCC WG1 Fourth Assessment Report 2007; Climate change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change, IPCC WG3 Fifth Assessment Report 2014). In some areas, especially of the Northern hemisphere, even more extreme warm seasonal temperatures may occur, which possibly will cause significant negative effects on the development, growth, and yield of important agricultural crops. It is well documented that high temperatures can cause direct damages of the photosynthetic apparatus and photosystem II (PSII) is generally considered to be the primary target of heat-induced inactivation of photosynthesis. However, since photosystem I (PSI) is considered to determine the global amount of enthalpy in living systems (Nelson in Biochim Biophys Acta 1807:856-863, 2011; Photosynth Res 116:145-151, 2013), the effects of elevated temperatures on PSI might be of vital importance for regulating the photosynthetic response of all photoautotrophs in the changing environment. In this review, we summarize the experimental data that demonstrate the critical impact of heat-induced alterations on the structure, composition, and functional performance of PSI and their significant implications on photosynthesis under future climate change scenarios.

Rubisco and Rubisco Activase Play an Important Role in the Biochemical Limitations of Photosynthesis in Rice, Wheat, and Maize under High Temperature and Water Deficit

To understand the effect of heat and drought on three major cereal crops, the physiological and biochemical (i.e., metabolic) factors affecting photosynthesis were examined in rice, wheat, and maize plants grown under long-term water deficit (WD), high temperature (HT) and the combination of both stresses (HT-WD). Diffusional limitations to photosynthesis prevailed under WD for the C3 species, rice and wheat. Conversely, biochemical limitations prevailed under WD for the C4 species, maize, under HT for all three species, and under HT-WD in rice and maize. These biochemical limitations to photosynthesis were associated with Rubisco activity that was highly impaired at HT and under HT-WD in the three species. Decreases in Rubisco activation were unrelated to the amount of Rubisco and Rubisco activase (Rca), but were probably caused by inhibition of Rca activity, as suggested by the mutual decrease and positive correlation between Rubisco activation state and the rate of electron transport. Decreased Rubisco activation at HT was associated with biochemical limitation of net CO2 assimilation rate (AN). Overall, the results highlight the importance of Rubisco as a target for improving the photosynthetic performance of these C3 (wheat and rice) and C4 (maize) cereal crops under increasingly variable and warmer climates.

Induction of cyclic electron flow around photosystem I during heat stress in grape leaves

Photosystem II (PSII) in plants is susceptible to high temperatures. The cyclic electron flow (CEF) around PSI is thought to protect both PSII and PSI from photodamage. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms of the photosynthetic electron transport process and the role of CEF in grape at high temperatures remain unclear. To investigate this issue, we examined the responses of PSII energy distribution, the P700 redox state and CEF to high temperatures in grape leaves. After exposing 'Cabernet Sauvignon' leaves to various temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45°C) in the light (600μmol photons m^-2s^-1) for 4h, the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) significantly decreased at high temperatures (40 and 45°C), while the maximum photo-oxidizable P700 (Pm) was not affected. As the temperature increased, higher initial rates of increase in post-illumination Chl fluorescence were detected, which were accompanied by an increase in high energy state quenching (qE). The chloroplast NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-dependent CEF (NDH-dependent CEF) activities were different among grape cultivators. 'Gold Finger' with greater susceptibility to photoinhibition, exhibited lower NDH-dependent CEF activities under acute heat stress than a more heat tolerant 'Cabernet Sauvignon'. These results suggest that overclosure of PSII reaction centers at high temperature resulted in the photoinhibition of PSII, while the stimulation of CEF in grape played an important role in the photoprotection of PSII and PSI at high temperatures through contributing to the generation of a proton gradient.

Tomato plants acclimate better to elevated temperature and high light than to treatment with each factor separately

The influence of two factors - high temperature and high light intensity, acting separately or simultaneously on the pigment composition, fluorescent characteristics, membrane integrity and synthesis of protective substances was investigated in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. M 82). Moderate elevated temperatures (38/29 °C) were applied under optimum or high light intensity for 2 and 6 days and after that the plants are allowed to recover for 5 days at optimum conditions. Parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence were used to evaluate the alterations of photosystem I and photosystem II activity and malondialdehyde content was determined as a measure of stress-induced peroxidation of membrane lipids. The response of treated plants to high light and elevated temperature was estimated by analyzing the accumulation of anthocyanins. Both stress factors exhibit different impact on studied parameters - high light intensity influences considerably quantum yield of photosystem II and photochemical quenching that is compensated to some extent when applied at elevated temperature. High temperature reduces strongly non-photochemical quenching. Data obtained show that after two days under particular conditions, the plants tend to acclimate, but this is achieved after longer treatment - 6 days. During the recovery period the activity of photosystem I and the quantum yield of photosystem II recover almost completely, while the values of non-photochemical quenching although slightly higher, did not reach the levels at the beginning of treatment.

Responses of tree species to heat waves and extreme heat events

The number and intensity of heat waves has increased, and this trend is likely to continue throughout the 21st century. Often, heat waves are accompanied by drought conditions. It is projected that the global land area experiencing heat waves will double by 2020, and quadruple by 2040. Extreme heat events can impact a wide variety of tree functions. At the leaf level, photosynthesis is reduced, photooxidative stress increases, leaves abscise and the growth rate of remaining leaves decreases. In some species, stomatal conductance increases at high temperatures, which may be a mechanism for leaf cooling. At the whole plant level, heat stress can decrease growth and shift biomass allocation. When drought stress accompanies heat waves, the negative effects of heat stress are exacerbated and can lead to tree mortality. However, some species exhibit remarkable tolerance to thermal stress. Responses include changes that minimize stress on photosynthesis and reductions in dark respiration. Although there have been few studies to date, there is evidence of within-species genetic variation in thermal tolerance, which could be important to exploit in production forestry systems. Understanding the mechanisms of differing tree responses to extreme temperature events may be critically important for understanding how tree species will be affected by climate change.

Temperature response of photosynthesis in C3, C4, and CAM plants: temperature acclimation and temperature adaptation

Most plants show considerable capacity to adjust their photosynthetic characteristics to their growth temperatures (temperature acclimation). The most typical case is a shift in the optimum temperature for photosynthesis, which can maximize the photosynthetic rate at the growth temperature. These plastic adjustments can allow plants to photosynthesize more efficiently at their new growth temperatures. In this review article, we summarize the basic differences in photosynthetic reactions in C3, C4, and CAM plants. We review the current understanding of the temperature responses of C3, C4, and CAM photosynthesis, and then discuss the underlying physiological and biochemical mechanisms for temperature acclimation of photosynthesis in each photosynthetic type. Finally, we use the published data to evaluate the extent of photosynthetic temperature acclimation in higher plants, and analyze which plant groups (i.e., photosynthetic types and functional types) have a greater inherent ability for photosynthetic acclimation to temperature than others, since there have been reported interspecific variations in this ability. We found that the inherent ability for temperature acclimation of photosynthesis was different: (1) among C3, C4, and CAM species; and (2) among functional types within C3 plants. C3 plants generally had a greater ability for temperature acclimation of photosynthesis across a broad temperature range, CAM plants acclimated day and night photosynthetic process differentially to temperature, and C4 plants was adapted to warm environments. Moreover, within C3 species, evergreen woody plants and perennial herbaceous plants showed greater temperature homeostasis of photosynthesis (i.e., the photosynthetic rate at high-growth temperature divided by that at low-growth temperature was close to 1.0) than deciduous woody plants and annual herbaceous plants, indicating that photosynthetic acclimation would be particularly important in perennial, long-lived species that would experience a rise in growing season temperatures over their lifespan. Interestingly, across growth temperatures, the extent of temperature homeostasis of photosynthesis was maintained irrespective of the extent of the change in the optimum temperature for photosynthesis (T opt), indicating that some plants achieve greater photosynthesis at the growth temperature by shifting T opt, whereas others can also achieve greater photosynthesis at the growth temperature by changing the shape of the photosynthesis-temperature curve without shifting T opt. It is considered that these differences in the inherent stability of temperature acclimation of photosynthesis would be reflected by differences in the limiting steps of photosynthetic rate.

How does iron deficiency disrupt the electron flow in photosystem I of lettuce leaves?

The changes observed photosystem I activity of lettuce plants exposed to iron deficiency were investigated. Photooxidation/reduction kinetics of P700 monitored as ΔA820 in the presence and absence of electron transport inhibitors and acceptors demonstrated that deprivation in iron decreased the population of active photo-oxidizable P700. In the complete absence of iron, the addition of plant inhibitors (DCMU and MV) could not recover the full PSI activity owing to the abolition of a part of P700 centers. In leaves with total iron deprivation (0μM Fe), only 15% of photo-oxidizable P700 remained. In addition, iron deficiency appeared to affect the pool size of NADP(+) as shown by the decline in the magnitude of the first phase of the photooxidation kinetics of P700 by FR-light. Concomitantly, chlorophyll content gradually declined with the iron concentration added to culture medium. In addition, pronounced changes were found in chlorophyll fluorescence spectra. Also, the global fluorescence intensity was affected. The above changes led to an increased rate of cyclic electron transport around PSI mainly supported by stromal reductants.

Cyclic electron flow around photosystem I is required for adaptation to high temperature in a subtropical forest tree, Ficus concinna

Dissipation mechanisms of excess photon energy under high-temperature stress were studied in a subtropical forest tree seedling, Ficus concinna. Net CO(2) assimilation rate decreased to 16% of the control after 20 d high-temperature stress, and thus the absorption of photon energy exceeded the energy required for CO(2) assimilation. The efficiency of excitation energy capture by open photosystem II (PSII) reaction centres (F(v)'/F(m)') at moderate irradiance, photochemical quenching (q(P)), and the quantum yield of PSII electron transport (Phi(PSII)) were significantly lower after high-temperature stress. Nevertheless, non-photochemical quenching (q(NP)) and energy-dependent quenching (q(E)) were significantly higher under such conditions. The post-irradiation transient of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence significantly increased after the turnoff of the actinic light (AL), and this increase was considerably higher in the 39 degrees C-grown seedlings than in the 30 degrees C-grown ones. The increased post-irradiation fluorescence points to enhanced cyclic electron transport around PSI under high growth temperature conditions, thus helping to dissipate excess photon energy non-radiatively.

Effect of Rubisco activase deficiency on the temperature response of CO2 assimilation rate and Rubisco activation state: insights from transgenic tobacco with reduced amounts of Rubisco activase

The activation of Rubisco in vivo requires the presence of the regulatory protein Rubisco activase. To elucidate its role in maintaining CO(2) assimilation rate at high temperature, we examined the temperature response of CO(2) assimilation rate at 380 microL L(-1) CO(2) concentration (A(380)) and Rubisco activation state in wild-type and transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) with reduced Rubisco activase content grown at either 20 degrees C or 30 degrees C. Analyses of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence showed that in the wild type, A(380) was limited by ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate regeneration at lower temperatures, whereas at higher temperatures, A(380) was limited by ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylation irrespective of growth temperatures. Growth temperature induced modest differences in Rubisco activation state that declined with measuring temperature, from mean values of 76% at 15 degrees C to 63% at 40 degrees C in wild-type plants. At measuring temperatures of 25 degrees C and below, an 80% reduction in Rubisco activase content was required before Rubisco activation state was decreased. Above 35 degrees C, Rubisco activation state decreased slightly with more modest decreases in Rubisco activase content, but the extent of the reductions in Rubisco activation state were small, such that a 55% reduction in Rubisco activase content did not alter the temperature sensitivity of Rubisco activation and had no effect on in vivo catalytic turnover rates of Rubisco. There was a strong correlation between Rubisco activase content and Rubisco activation state once Rubisco activase content was less that 20% of wild type at all measuring temperatures. We conclude that reduction in Rubisco activase content does not lead to an increase in the temperature sensitivity of Rubisco activation state in tobacco.

Moderate heat stress reduces the pH component of the transthylakoid proton motive force in light-adapted, intact tobacco leaves

We measured the DeltaPsi and DeltapH components of the transthylakoid proton motive force (pmf) in light-adapted, intact tobacco leaves in response to moderate heat. The DeltaPsi causes an electrochromic shift (ECS) in carotenoid absorbance spectra. The light-dark difference spectrum has a peak at 518 nm and the two components of the pmf were separated by following the ECS for 25 s after turning the light off. The ECS signal was deconvoluted by subtracting the effects of zeaxanthin formation (peak at 505 nm) and the qE-related absorbance changes (peak at 535 nm) from a signal measured at 520 nm. Heat reduced DeltapH while DeltaPsi slightly increased. Elevated temperature accelerated ECS decay kinetics likely reflecting heat-induced increases in proton conductance and ion movement. Energy-dependent quenching (qE) was reduced by heat. However, the reduction of qE was less than expected given the loss of DeltapH. Zeaxanthin did not increase with heat in light-adapted leaves but it was higher than would be predicted given the reduced DeltapH found at high temperature. The results indicate that moderate heat stress can have very large effects on thylakoid reactions.

Photosynthetic electron transport and proton flux under moderate heat stress

Moderate heat stress has been reported to increase PSI cyclic electron flow (CEF). We subjected leaves of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants disrupted in the regulation of one or the other pathway of CEF flow-crr2 (chlororespiratory reduction, deficient in regulation of chloroplast NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-dependent CEF) and pgr5 (proton gradient regulation, proposed to have reduced efficiency of antimycin-A-sensitive-CEF regulation) to moderate heat stress. Light-adapted leaves were switched from 23 to 40 degrees C in 2 min. Gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, the electrochromic shift (ECS), and P700 were measured. Photosynthesis of crr2 and pgr5 was more sensitive to heat and had less ability to recover than the genetic background gl. The proton conductance in light was increased by heat and it was twice as much in pgr5, which had much smaller light-induced proton motive force. We confirmed that P700 becomes more reduced at high temperature and show that, in contrast, the proportion of PSII open centers (with Q (A) oxidized) increases. The two mutants had much slower P700(+) reduction rate during and after heat than gl. The proportion of light absorbed by PSI versus PSII was increased in gl and crr2 during and after heat treatment, but not in pgr5. We propose that heat alters the redox balance away from PSII and toward PSI and that the regulation of CEF helps photosynthesis tolerate heat stress.

Acceleration of plastoquinone pool reduction by alternative pathways precedes a decrease in photosynthetic CO2 assimilation in preheated barley leaves

Heat stress causes inhibition of photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation, affects light photosynthetic reactions and accelerates alternative pathways of plastoquinone pool reduction (APPR). We have studied all these heat-sensitive processes after preheating to a broad range of physiological temperatures (24-46 degrees C) to explore a role of these alternative pathways during heat stress. Primarily, the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry was reduced (at 40 degrees C). This PSII downregulation was accompanied by the stimulation of APPR and preceded reduction of photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation by 2 degrees ; it occurred after preheating at 42 degrees C because of inhibition in Rubisco (ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) activation process. Thus, we suggest that the heat-induced stimulation of APPR is not associated with the heat-induced inhibition of Calvin cycle as it was reported for other types of stresses. A possible role of APPR in the compensation of PSII downregulation is briefly discussed.

Temperature Response of Photosynthesis in Transgenic Rice Transformed with ‘Sense’ or ‘Antisense’ rbcS

The responses of chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange rate and Rubisco activation state to temperature were examined in transgenic rice plants with 130 and 35% of the wild-type (WT) Rubisco content by transformation with rbcS cDNA in sense and antisense orientations, respectively. Although the optimal temperatures of PSII quantum efficiency and CO(2) assimilation were found to be between 25 and 32 degrees C, the maximal activation state of Rubisco was found to be between 16 and 20 degrees C in all genotypes. The Rubisco flux control coefficient was also the highest between 16 and 20 degrees C in the WT and antisense lines [>0.88 at an intercellular CO(2) pressure (Ci) of 28 Pa]. Gross photosynthesis at Ci = 28 Pa per Rubisco content in the WT between 12 and 20 degrees C was close to that of the antisense lines where high Rubisco control is present. Thus, Rubisco activity most strongly limited photosynthesis at cool temperatures. These results indicated that a selective enhancement of Rubisco content can enhance photosynthesis at cool temperatures, but in the sense line with enhanced Rubisco content Pi regeneration limitation occurred. Above 20 degrees C, the Rubisco flux control coefficient declined. This decline was associated with a decline in Rubisco activation. The activation state of Rubisco measured at each temperature decreased with increasing Rubisco content, and the slope of activation to Rubisco content was independent of temperature. We discuss the possibility that the decline in Rubisco activation at intermediate and high temperatures is part of a regulated response to a limitation in other photosynthetic processes.

Chlororespiration and cyclic electron flow around PSI during photosynthesis and plant stress response

Besides major photosynthetic complexes of oxygenic photosynthesis, new electron carriers have been identified in thylakoid membranes of higher plant chloroplasts. These minor components, located in the stroma lamellae, include a plastidial NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) complex and a plastid terminal plastoquinone oxidase (PTOX). The NDH complex, by reducing plastoquinones (PQs), participates in one of the two electron transfer pathways operating around photosystem I (PSI), the other likely involving a still uncharacterized ferredoxin-plastoquinone reductase (FQR) and the newly discovered PGR5. The existence of a complex network of mechanisms regulating expression and activity of the NDH complex, and the presence of higher amounts of NDH complex and PTOX in response to environmental stress conditions the phenotype of mutants, indicate that these components likely play a role in the acclimation of photosynthesis to changing environmental conditions. Based on recently published data, we propose that the NDH-dependent cyclic pathway around PSI participates to the ATP supply in conditions of high ATP demand (such as high temperature or water limitation) and together with PTOX regulates cyclic electron transfer activity by tuning the redox state of intersystem electron carriers. In response to severe stress conditions, PTOX associated to the NDH and/or the PGR5 pathway may also limit electron pressure on PSI acceptor and prevent PSI photoinhibition.

Rapid heating of intact leaves reveals initial effects of stromal oxidation on photosynthesis

Heat stress in leaves under natural conditions is characterized by rapid fluctuations in temperature. These fluctuations can be on the order of 10 degrees C in 7 s. By using a specially modified gas-exchange chamber, these conditions were mimicked in the laboratory to analyse the biochemical response to heat spikes. The decline in ribulose 1.5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity during prolonged heat stress is generally associated with an increase in ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) levels. However, rapid heating caused an initial decline in RuBP which was subsequently followed by a small decline in Rubisco carbamylation. The ratio of RuBP to Rubisco sites declined from a saturating concentration to a sub-saturating concentration, providing a possible mechanism for the decarbamylation of Rubisco. If RuBP is saturating (>1.8 RuBP Rubisco site(-1)), it acts as a cap on the catalytic site and keeps Rubisco activated. Measurements of triose-phosphate levels and NADP-malate dehydrogenase activation (a stromal redox proxy) indicated that the regeneration of RuBP by the Calvin cycle was limited by the availability of redox power.

Genetic engineering of the biosynthesis of glycinebetaine enhances photosynthesis against high temperature stress in transgenic tobacco plants

Genetically engineered tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) with the ability to synthesis glycinebetaine was established by introducing the BADH gene for betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from spinach (Spinacia oleracea). The genetic engineering enabled the plants to accumulate glycinebetaine mainly in chloroplasts and resulted in enhanced tolerance to high temperature stress during growth of young seedlings. Moreover, CO2 assimilation of transgenic plants was significantly more tolerant to high temperatures than that of wild-type plants. The analyses of chlorophyll fluorescence and the activation of Rubisco indicated that the enhancement of photosynthesis to high temperatures was not related to the function of photosystem II but to the Rubisco activase-mediated activation of Rubisco. Western-blotting analyses showed that high temperature stress led to the association of Rubisco activase with the thylakoid membranes from the stroma fractions. However, such an association was much more pronounced in wild-type plants than in transgenic plants. The results in this study suggest that under high temperature stress, glycinebetaine maintains the activation of Rubisco by preventing the sequestration of Rubisco activase to the thylakoid membranes from the soluble stroma fractions and thus enhances the tolerance of CO2 assimilation to high temperature stress. The results seem to suggest that engineering of the biosynthesis of glycinebetaine by transformation with the BADH gene might be an effective method for enhancing high temperature tolerance of plants.

Relationship between the heat tolerance of photosynthesis and the thermal stability of rubisco activase in plants from contrasting thermal environments

Inhibition of net photosynthesis (Pn) by moderate heat stress has been attributed to an inability of Rubisco activase to maintain Rubisco in an active form. To examine this proposal, the temperature response of Pn, Rubisco activation, chlorophyll fluorescence, and the activities of Rubisco and Rubisco activase were examined in species from contrasting environments. The temperature optimum of Rubisco activation was 10 degrees C higher in the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) compared with the Antarctic hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica), resembling the temperature response of Pn. Pn increased markedly with increasing internal CO(2) concentration in Antarctic hairgrass and creosote bush plants subjected to moderate heat stress even under nonphotorespiratory conditions. Nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence, the effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion (DeltaF/F(m)') and the maximum yield of PSII (F(v)/F(m)) were more sensitive to temperature in Antarctic hairgrass and two other species endemic to cold regions (i.e. Lysipomia pumila and spinach [Spinacea oleracea]) compared with creosote bush and three species (i.e. jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis], tobacco [Nicotiana tabacum], and cotton [Gossypium hirsutum]) from warm regions. The temperature response of activity and the rate of catalytic inactivation of Rubisco from creosote bush and Antarctic hairgrass were similar, whereas the optimum for ATP hydrolysis and Rubisco activation by recombinant creosote bush, cotton, and tobacco activase was 8 degrees C to 10 degrees C higher than for Antarctic hairgrass and spinach activase. These results support a role for activase in limiting photosynthesis at high temperature.

Inactivation of the chloroplast ATP synthase gamma subunit results in high non-photochemical fluorescence quenching and altered nuclear gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana

The nuclear atpC1 gene encoding the gamma subunit of the plastid ATP synthase has been inactivated by T-DNA insertion mutagenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the seedling-lethal dpa1 (deficiency of plastid ATP synthase 1) mutant, the absence of detectable amounts of the gamma subunit destabilizes the entire ATP synthase complex. The expression of a second gene copy, atpC2, is unaltered in dpa1 and is not sufficient to compensate for the lack of atpC1 expression. However, in vivo protein labeling analysis suggests that assembly of the ATP synthase alpha and beta subunits into the thylakoid membrane still occurs in dpa1. As a consequence of the destabilized ATP synthase complex, photophosphorylation is abolished even under reducing conditions. Further effects of the mutation include an increased light sensitivity of the plant and an altered photosystem II activity. At low light intensity, chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics is close to those found in wild type, but non-photochemical quenching strongly increases with increasing actinic light intensity resulting in steady state fluorescence levels of about 60% of the minimal dark fluorescence. Most fluorescence quenching relaxed within 3 min after dark incubation. Spectroscopic and biochemical studies have shown that a high proton gradient is responsible for most quenching. Thylakoids of illuminated dpa1 plants were swollen due to an increased proton accumulation in the lumen. Expression profiling of 3292 nuclear genes encoding mainly chloroplast proteins demonstrates that most organelle functions are down-regulated. On the contrary, the mRNA expression of some photosynthesis genes is significantly up-regulated, probably to compensate for the defect in dpa1.

Sensitivity of photosynthesis in a C4 plant, maize, to heat stress

Our objective was to determine the sensitivity of components of the photosynthetic apparatus of maize (Zea mays), a C4 plant, to high temperature stress. Net photosynthesis (Pn) was inhibited at leaf temperatures above 38 degrees C, and the inhibition was much more severe when the temperature was increased rapidly rather than gradually. Transpiration rate increased progressively with leaf temperature, indicating that inhibition was not associated with stomatal closure. Nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching (qN) increased at leaf temperatures above 30 degrees C, indicating increased thylakoid energization even at temperatures that did not inhibit Pn. Compared with CO(2) assimilation, the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (F(v)/F(m)) was relatively insensitive to leaf temperatures up to 45 degrees C. The activation state of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase decreased marginally at leaf temperatures above 40 degrees C, and the activity of pyruvate phosphate dikinase was insensitive to temperature up to 45 degrees C. The activation state of Rubisco decreased at temperatures exceeding 32.5 degrees C, with nearly complete inactivation at 45 degrees C. Levels of 3-phosphoglyceric acid and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate decreased and increased, respectively, as leaf temperature increased, consistent with the decrease in Rubisco activation. When leaf temperature was increased gradually, Rubisco activation acclimated in a similar manner as Pn, and acclimation was associated with the expression of a new activase polypeptide. Rates of Pn calculated solely from the kinetics of Rubisco were remarkably similar to measured rates if the calculation included adjustment for temperature effects on Rubisco activation. We conclude that inactivation of Rubisco was the primary constraint on the rate of Pn of maize leaves as leaf temperature increased above 30 degrees C.

Nonphotosynthetic reduction of the intersystem electron transport chain of chloroplasts following heat stress. The pool size of stromal reductants

The properties of a negative transient signal (negative peak) observed during the first seconds of the induction of the photoacoustic (PA) signal in dark-adapted barley leaves treated with methyl viologen (MV) and diuron and then exposed to high temperatures have been examined. Under those conditions no electron donation from photosystem II (PSII) occurred, and electron flow through PSI could be supported only by soluble reductants located in the chloroplast stroma. The negative peak was observed only if the PA signal had been monitored at low, and not high, frequencies. The peak obviously originated from the oxygen consumption by PSI. The size of the peak increased as the temperature of preheating was raised from 39 to 45 degrees C. The size of the peak decreased exponentially with a half-time of 3.7 s during illumination under low light. This decrease was found to be much faster under strong light. The recovery of the peak during dark acclimation required several minutes. It is concluded that the negative peak reflects the oxygen consumption supported by stromal reductants, their pool being rapidly exhausted under light in the presence of MV. The maximal size of the pool was calculated as 140 eq: P700 in dark-adapated leaves.