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Role of spermidine in the stabilization of the apoprotein of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein complex of photosystem II during leaf senescence process

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Abstract

Barley leaf discs maintained in dark accumulated a massive amount of putrescine (Put), lost chlorophyll and senescenced rapidly. At the same time RNase activity increased significantly. Exogenous spermidine (Spd) inhibited RNase activity, the loss of chlorophyll and degradation of the proteins from thylakoid membranes. Using SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis it was shown that spermidine was effective in the retardation of the loss of LHCPII observed in water-treated detached leaves. Analysis of PSII particles isolated from leaf fragments floated in water in the dark revealed the presence of Put, Spd and Spm. In spermidine treated leaves the level of this polyamine in photosystem II was above 5-fold higher than in control. The experimental findings obtained in this study provide evidence that applied spermidine interacts directly with thylakoid membranes so that they become more stable to degradation during senescence.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

LHCII:

light harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein complex

LHCPII:

apoprotein of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein complex of photosystem II

PAs:

polyamines

PCA:

perchloric acid

PSII:

photosystem II

Put:

putrescine

Spd:

spermidine

Spm:

spermine

SDS-PAGE:

sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

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  1. Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Al. Niepodległości 14, 61-713, Poznań

    Jolanta Legocka & Irena Zajchert

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  1. Jolanta Legocka
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  2. Irena Zajchert
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Legocka, J., Zajchert, I. Role of spermidine in the stabilization of the apoprotein of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein complex of photosystem II during leaf senescence process. Acta Physiol Plant 21, 127–132 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-999-0066-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-999-0066-0

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