Functional mitochondrial complex I is required by tobacco leaves for optimal photosynthetic performance in photorespiratory conditions and during transients.
The importance of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in photosynthesis was studied using the tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) mutant CMSII, which lacks functional complex I. Rubisco activities and oxygen evolution at saturating CO(2) showed that photosynthetic capacity in the mutant was at least as high as in wild-type (WT) leaves. Despite this, steady-state photosynthesis in the mutant was reduced by 20% to 30% at atmospheric CO(2) levels. The inhibition of photosynthesis was alleviated by high CO(2) or low O(2). The mutant showed a prolonged induction of photosynthesis, which was exacerbated in conditions favoring photorespiration and which was accompanied by increased extractable NADP-malate dehydrogenase activity. Feeding experiments with leaf discs demonstrated that CMSII had a lower capacity than the WT for glycine (Gly) oxidation in the dark. Analysis of the postillumination burst in CO(2) evolution showed that this was not because of insufficient Gly decarboxylase capacity. Despite the lower rate of Gly metabolism in CMSII leaves in the dark, the Gly to Ser ratio in the light displayed a similar dependence on photosynthesis to the WT. It is concluded that: (a) Mitochondrial complex I is required for optimal photosynthetic performance, despite the operation of alternative dehydrogenases in CMSII; and (b) complex I is necessary to avoid redox disruption of photosynthesis in conditions where leaf mitochondria must oxidize both respiratory and photorespiratory substrates simultaneously.
Dutilleul
Christelle
C
Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes, Université de Paris XI, 91405 Orsay cedex, France.
Driscoll
Simon
S
Cornic
Gabriel
G
De Paepe
Rosine
R
Foyer
Christine H
CH
Noctor
Graham
G
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D003624:Darkness; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D050841:Glycine Dehydrogenase (Decarboxylating); D008027:Light; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D050538:Malate Dehydrogenase (NADP+); D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase; D050538:Malate Dehydrogenase (NADP+); D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D050841:Glycine Dehydrogenase (Decarboxylating); D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; D010100:Oxygen; D005998:Glycine