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Chloroplast redox regulation of nuclear gene transcription during photoacclimation

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Abstract

The role of the redox state of ferredoxin/thioredoxin within the chloroplast is well established for the feedback regulation of enzyme activity in the Calvin cycle. However, evidence has emerged also suggesting that chloroplast electron transport components regulate plastid and nuclear gene expression. Using the unicellular green alga, Dunaliella tertiolecta, as a model organism, we have shown that the cell acclimates to changes in growth irradiance by altering the abundance and activities of photosynthetic components, in particular the light harvesting complexes (LHC). Pharmacological data suggests that light intensity is sensed through the redox status of the plastoquinone pool leading to the regulation of nuclear encoded genes, such as Lhcb. This signal may be transduced through a redox regulated protein kinase that (in)directly interacts with the nuclear transcription apparatus. The redox state of the plastoquinone pool seems to play a pivotal role in sensing cellular energy status and in regulating photosynthetic capacity. Other cellular pathways, including carbon fixation, carbohydrate metabolism and nutrient assimilation have been shown to have feedback influences on photosynthesis, that may be sensed by the redox state of the plastoquinone pool.

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  1. Environmental Biophysics and Molecular Biology Program, Department of Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 318, Upton, NY, 11973, USA

    Dion G. Durnford & Paul G. Falkowski

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  1. Dion G. Durnford
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Durnford, D.G., Falkowski, P.G. Chloroplast redox regulation of nuclear gene transcription during photoacclimation. Photosynthesis Research 53, 229–241 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005815725371

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