scholarly journals Overexpression of a zeaxanthin epoxidase gene from Medicago sativa enhances the tolerance to low light in transgenic tobacco

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuman Cao ◽  
Zhiqiang Zhang ◽  
Tong Zhang ◽  
Zhang You ◽  
Jincai Geng ◽  
...  

Zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) plays an important role in xanthophyll cycle which is a process closely related to photosynthesis. However, an impact of ZEP on low light stress has not been reported. In this study, the functions of an alfalfa (Medicago sativa) zeaxanthin epoxidase gene, MsZEP, in response to low light stress were investigated by heterologous expression in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Under normal light condition, parameters measured were not significantly different between transgenic and wild-type (WT) plants except for non-photochemical quenching value and chlorophyll a content, while difference existed in low light stress. We found that MsZEP-overexpression tobacco grew faster than WT (p≤0.05). The leaf fresh weight and leaf area of transgenic plants were significantly higher, and the number of stoma was greater in MsZEP-overexpression tobacco. As for photosynthetic characteristics, quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII) and maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) were not significantly different, wherase non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomata conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Tr) of MsZEP-overexpression tobacco were significantly higher than WT plants. However, no significant difference was existed between the two types of tobacco in chlorophyll and carotenoids content. In conclusion, MsZEP can improve the ability of tobacco to withstand low light stress, which might be due to its stronger photosynthetic activity and the improvement of stomata density under low light.

2005 ◽  
Vol 280 (23) ◽  
pp. 22191-22197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamaki Fujimori ◽  
Yukako Hihara ◽  
Kintake Sonoike

To avoid the photodamage, cyanobacteria regulate the distribution of light energy absorbed by phycobilisome antenna either to photosystem II or to photosystem I (PSI) upon high light acclimation by the process so-called state transition. We found that an alternative PSI subunit, PsaK2 (sll0629 gene product), is involved in this process in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. An examination of the subunit composition of the purified PSI reaction center complexes revealed that PsaK2 subunit was absent in the PSI complexes under low light condition, but was incorporated into the complexes during acclimation to high light. The growth of the psaK2 mutant on solid medium was inhibited under high light condition. We determined the photosynthetic characteristics of the wild type strain and the two mutants, the psaK1 (ssr0390) mutant and the psaK2 mutant, using pulse amplitude modulation fluorometer. Non-photochemical quenching, which reflects the energy transfer from phycobilisome to PSI in cyanobacteria, was higher in high light grown cells than in low light grown cells, both in the wild type and the psaK1 mutant. However, this change of non-photochemical quenching during acclimation to high light was not observed in the psaK2 mutant. Thus, PsaK2 subunit is involved in the energy transfer from phycobilisome to PSI under high light condition. The role of PsaK2 in state transition under high light condition was also confirmed by chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectra determined at 77 K. The results suggest that PsaK2-dependent state transition is essential for the growth of this cyanobacterium under high light condition.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-593
Author(s):  
Mengsha Li ◽  
Xin Sui ◽  
Huihui Zhang ◽  
Nan Xu ◽  
Tong Zhang ◽  
...  

The effect of transplanting alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seedlings from artificial, low-intensity light into bright sunlight was investigated. The variance of photosynthetic function in young and mature leaves was investigated in plants grown in a low-light greenhouse environment (controls) and then the plants were subjected to high-intensity light for 12 hrs (treatment). The results showed that the photosynthetic capacity of young leaf blades was significantly lower than that of mature blades, and, the ability to capture and use light was low for young leaves. In control plants, the parameters of chlorophyll-dependent photochemical efficiency (ФPSII), electron transfer rate (ETR), photochemical quenching coefficiency (qP) and non-photochemical quenching coefficiency (qN) were all significantly lower in younger than mature leaves. There was no significant difference in the photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) or light energy distribution parameters between young and mature leaves of control plants. After light treatment, the photosynthetic carbon assimilation capacity and photochemical activity of the PS II reaction center decreased significantly, and both net photosynthetic ratio and chlorophyll b fluorescence parameters changed significantly more than in young leaves than in mature leaves under different PFD. This was particularly evident for Fv/Fm of the young leaves, whose decrease proved that the adaptability of young leaves to convert light was significantly lower than that of mature leaves. Obvious differences in the degree and mechanism of protection against light damage exist between young and mature leaves. Mature leaves dissipated excess excitation energy. In contrast, young leaves dissipated excess excitation by inactivation of the photosynthetic reaction center.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1916
Author(s):  
Myriam Canonico ◽  
Grzegorz Konert ◽  
Aurélie Crepin ◽  
Barbora Šedivá ◽  
Radek Kaňa

Light plays an essential role in photosynthesis; however, its excess can cause damage to cellular components. Photosynthetic organisms thus developed a set of photoprotective mechanisms (e.g., non-photochemical quenching, photoinhibition) that can be studied by a classic biochemical and biophysical methods in cell suspension. Here, we combined these bulk methods with single-cell identification of microdomains in thylakoid membrane during high-light (HL) stress. We used Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells with YFP tagged photosystem I. The single-cell data pointed to a three-phase response of cells to acute HL stress. We defined: (1) fast response phase (0–30 min), (2) intermediate phase (30–120 min), and (3) slow acclimation phase (120–360 min). During the first phase, cyanobacterial cells activated photoprotective mechanisms such as photoinhibition and non-photochemical quenching. Later on (during the second phase), we temporarily observed functional decoupling of phycobilisomes and sustained monomerization of photosystem II dimer. Simultaneously, cells also initiated accumulation of carotenoids, especially ɣ–carotene, the main precursor of all carotenoids. In the last phase, in addition to ɣ-carotene, we also observed accumulation of myxoxanthophyll and more even spatial distribution of photosystems and phycobilisomes between microdomains. We suggest that the overall carotenoid increase during HL stress could be involved either in the direct photoprotection (e.g., in ROS scavenging) and/or could play an additional role in maintaining optimal distribution of photosystems in thylakoid membrane to attain efficient photoprotection.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takehiro Kazama ◽  
Kazuhide Hayakawa ◽  
Takamaru Nagata ◽  
Koichi Shimotori ◽  
Akio Imai ◽  
...  

Field observations of the population dynamics and measurements of photophysiology in Lake Biwa were conducted by size class (< vs. > 30 μm) from early summer to autumn to investigate the relationships between susceptibility to light stress and cell size. Also, a nutrient bioassay was conducted to clarify whether the growth rate and photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry of small and large phytoplankton are limited by nutrient availability. Large phytoplankton, which have lower intracellular Chl-a concentrations, had higher maximum PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) but lower non-photochemical quenching (NPQNSV) than small phytoplankton under both dark and increased light conditions. The nutrient bioassay revealed that the PSII photochemistry of small phytoplankton was restricted by N and P deficiency at the pelagic site even at the end of the stratification period, while that of large phytoplankton was not. These results suggest that large phytoplankton have lower susceptibility to PSII photodamage than small phytoplankton due to lower intracellular Chl-a concentrations. The size dependency of susceptibility to PSII photoinactivation may play a key role in large algal blooms in oligotrophic water.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Kaiser ◽  
Dirk Walther ◽  
Ute Armbruster

The capacity of photoautotrophs to fix carbon depends on the efficiency of the conversion of light energy into chemical potential by photosynthesis. In nature, light input into photosynthesis can change very rapidly and dramatically. To analyze how genetic variation in Arabidopsis thaliana affects photosynthesis and growth under dynamic light conditions, 36 randomly chosen natural accessions were grown under uniform and fluctuating light intensities. After 14 days of growth under uniform or fluctuating light regimes, maximum photosystem II quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) was determined, photosystem II operating efficiency (ΦPSII) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were measured in low light, and projected leaf area (PLA) as well as the number of visible leaves were estimated. Our data show that ΦPSII and PLA were decreased and NPQ was increased, while Fv/Fm and number of visible leaves were unaffected, in most accessions grown under fluctuating compared to uniform light. There were large changes between accessions for most of these parameters, which, however, were not correlated with genomic variation. Fast growing accessions under uniform light showed the largest growth reductions under fluctuating light, which correlated strongly with a reduction in ΦPSII, suggesting that, under fluctuating light, photosynthesis controls growth and not vice versa.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaoguo QIN ◽  
Zesheng YAN ◽  
Honghui GU ◽  
Zhengxiang WANG ◽  
Xiong JIANG ◽  
...  

To study the effects of shading level on the photosynthesis and corm weight of konjac plant, the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, daily variation of relative electron transport rate (rETR), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and corm weight of konjac plants under different treatments were measured and comparatively analyzed through covered cultivation of biennial seed corms with shade nets at different shading rates (0%, 50%, 70%, and 90%). The results showed that with the increase in shading rate, the maximum photochemical efficiency, potential activity, and non-photochemical quenching of photosystem Ⅱ (PSⅡ) of konjac leaves constantly increased, whereas the actual photosynthetic efficiency, rETR, and photochemical quenching of PSⅡ initially increased and then decreased. This result indicated that moderate shading could enhance the photosynthetic efficiency of konjac leaves. The daily variation of rETR in konjac plants under unshaded treatment showed a bimodal curve, whereas that under shaded treatment displayed a unimodal curve. The rETR of plants with 50% treatment and 70% treatment was gradually higher than that under unshaded treatment around noon. The moderate shading could increase the Pn of konjac leaves. The stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of the leaves under shaded treatment were significantly higher than those of the leaves under unshaded treatment. Shading could promote the growth of plants and increase corm weight. The comprehensive comparison shows that the konjac plants had strong photosynthetic capacity and high yield when the shading rate was 50%-70% for the area.   ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********


2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 544-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Eppel ◽  
Ruth Shaked ◽  
Gil Eshel ◽  
Simon Barak ◽  
Shimon Rachmilevitch

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny R. Watling ◽  
Sharon A. Robinson ◽  
Ian E. Woodrow ◽  
C. Barry Osmond

Responses of Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don, Castanospora alphandii (F. Muell.) F. Muell. and Alpinia hylandii R. Smith, growing in a tropical rainforest understorey, to excess light during sunflecks were investigated using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques and by analysing xanthophyll cycle activity. A fourth species, the pioneerOmalanthus novo-guineensis (Warb.) Schum., growing in a small gap, was also studied. In all three understorey species there were large and rapid decreases in the proportion of open Photosystem II (PSII) centres, as indicated by qP, on illumination with saturating light and a concurrent increase in non-photochemical quenching. qP remained low (< 0.4) throughout the period of illumination (~15 min), although it did increase gradually, probably reflecting photosynthetic induction. Sustained declines (up to 120 min) in quantum yield, indicated by Fv/Fm, occurred in all three understorey species following exposure to saturating Photon flux density (PFD) during sunflecks. When ?PSII was monitored during sunflecks it was found to be very sensitive to changes in PFD, declining rapidly with even modest rises in the latter. There was rapid and continuing net conversion of violaxanthin (V) to antheraxanthin plus zeaxanthin (A+Z) on exposure of A. macrorrhiza and C. alphandii to saturating sunflecks. On returning to low light A. macrorrhiza retained its high levels of A+Z for up to 60 min, while C. alphandii rapidly converted back to V. O. novo- guineensis responded to high light by changing its leaf angle to reduce interception and showed no indication of photoinhibition during or after exposure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 106316
Author(s):  
L.L. Griffiths ◽  
S.D. Melvin ◽  
R.M. Connolly ◽  
R.M. Pearson ◽  
C.J. Brown

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