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Evidence for the involvement of plasma-membrane-bound nitrate reductase in signal transduction during blue-light stimulation of nitrate uptake in Chlorella saccharophila

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Abstract

Nitrate uptake in Chlorella saccharophila (Krüger) Nadson was found to be stimulated by blue light, leading to a doubling of the rate. In the presence of background red light (300 μmol photons · m-2 · s-1), only 15–20 μmol photons · m-2 · s-1 of blue light was sufficient to saturate this increased uptake rate. Incubation of Chlorella cells with anti-nitrate-reductase immunoglobulin-G fragments inhibited blue-light stimulation. However, ferricyanide (10 μM) doubled and dithiothreitol (100 μM) inhibited the stimulatory effect of blue light. Among the protein-kinase inhibitors used, only staurosporine (10 μM) prevented the blue-light stimulation. Phosphatase inhibitors were without effect and sodium vanadate totally inhibited nitrate uptake, pointing to an involvement of the plasma-membrane ATPase. Preincubation of the cells with calmodulin antagonists or calcium ionophores did not significantly reduce blue-light stimulation of nitrate uptake. The data are discussed with regard to transduction of the signal for blue-light stimulation of nitrate uptake and the possibility that the plasma-membrane-bound nitrate reductase is the blue-light receptor.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

DMSO:

dimethylsulfoxide

1,2-DHG:

1,2-dihexanoylglycerol

ML-9:

1-(5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine

NR:

nitrate reductase

H-7:

1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine

IgG:

immunoglobulin G

PFD:

photon flux density

PM:

plasma membrane

W-7:

N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Botanik, Technische Hochschule, Schnittspahnstrasse 3, D-64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Christine Stöhr

  2. Pflanzenphysiologisches Institut der Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, D-37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Ulrich Glogau, Michael Mätschke & Rudolf Tischner

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  1. Christine Stöhr
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  2. Ulrich Glogau
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  3. Michael Mätschke
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  4. Rudolf Tischner
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This work was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft to R.T.

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Stöhr, C., Glogau, U., Mätschke, M. et al. Evidence for the involvement of plasma-membrane-bound nitrate reductase in signal transduction during blue-light stimulation of nitrate uptake in Chlorella saccharophila . Planta 197, 613–618 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191568

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191568

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