title: Biliverdin reductase-induced phytochrome chromophore deficiency in transgenic tobacco.
abstract: Targeted expression of mammalian biliverdin IXalpha reductase (BVR), an enzyme that metabolically inactivates linear tetrapyrrole precursors of the phytochrome chromophore, was used to examine the physiological functions of phytochromes in the qualitative short-day tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Maryland Mammoth) plant. Comparative phenotypic and photobiological analyses of plastid- and cytosol-targeted BVR lines showed that multiple phytochrome-regulated processes, such as hypocotyl and internode elongation, anthocyanin synthesis, and photoperiodic regulation of flowering, were altered in all lines examined. The phytochrome-mediated processes of carotenoid and chlorophyll accumulation were strongly impaired in plastid-targeted lines, but were relatively unaffected in cytosol-targeted lines. Under certain growth conditions, plastid-targeted BVR expression was found to nearly abolish the qualitative inhibition of flowering by long-day photoperiods. The distinct phenotypes of the plastid-targeted BVR lines implicate a regulatory role for bilins in plastid development or, alternatively, reflect the consequence of altered tetrapyrrole metabolism in plastids due to bilin depletion.
authors.affiliation: Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Crepeau
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lagarias
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000235:genetics; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D018546:Hypocotyl / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010834:Phytochrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010834:Phytochrome; D002734:Chlorophyll; C016083:protochlorophyll; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; C019789:biliverdin reductase