The plastid membranes of barley (Hordeum vulgare). Light-induced appearance of mRNA coding for the apoprotein of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein.
Illumination of dark-grown barley plants induces a massive insertion of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein into the developing thylakoid membrane. In addition to the onset of chlorophyll synthesis, light induces specifically the appearance of a prominent mRNA species which codes for a polypeptide of Mr 29500. This component was identified as a precursor of the apoprotein of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein. The precursor has an Mr larger than the authentic protein by approximately 4000. Studies of the chlorophyll-b-less mutant chlorina f2 of barley offer the first clue to the mechanism which controls the light-dependent mRNA formation. The induction of the mRNA coding for the aproprotein of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein does not seem to be linked directly to the assembly process of the light-harvesting structure and does not require chlorophyll b. It is proposed that light exerts its influence on the mRNA formation by a reaction which is different from the phototransformation of protochlorophyll(ide) to chlorophyll(ide).
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D001467:Hordeum / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011061:Poly A; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002734:Chlorophyll; D011061:Poly A