Ferredoxin-1 mRNA is destabilized by changes in photosynthetic electron transport.
In transgenic tobacco, pea Ferredoxin-1 (Fed-1) mRNA accumulates rapidly in response to photosynthesis even when the transgene is driven by a constitutive promoter. To investigate the role of photosynthesis on Fed-1 mRNA stability, we used the tetracycline repressible Top10 promoter system to specifically shut off transcription of the Fed-1 transgene. The Fed-1 mRNA has a half-life of approximately 2.4 hr in the light and a half-life of only 1.2 hr in the dark or in the presence of the photosynthetic electron transport inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). These data indicate that cessation of photosynthesis, either by darkness or DCMU results in a destabilization of the Fed-1 mRNA. Furthermore, the Fed-1 mRNA half-life is reduced immediately upon transfer to darkness, suggesting that Fed-1 mRNA destabilization is a primary response to photosynthesis rather than a secondary response to long-term dark adaptation. Finally, the two different methods for efficient tetracycline delivery reported here generally should be useful for half-life measurements of other mRNAs in whole plants.
Petracek
M E
ME
Department of Botany, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA. marie_petracek@ncsu.edu
Dickey
L F
LF
Nguyen
T T
TT
Gatz
C
C
Sowinski
D A
DA
Allen
G C
GC
Thompson
W F
WF
D004237:Diuron / Q000494:pharmacology; D004579:Electron Transport; D005288:Ferredoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics
D005288:Ferredoxins; D006657:Histones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004237:Diuron; D013752:Tetracycline