Arabidopsis genes encoding mitochondrial type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases have different evolutionary origin and show distinct responses to light.
In addition to proton-pumping complex I, plant mitochondria contain several type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases in the electron transport chain. The extra enzymes allow the nonenergy-conserving electron transfer from cytoplasmic and matrix NAD(P)H to ubiquinone. We have investigated the type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenase gene families in Arabidopsis. This model plant contains two and four genes closely related to potato (Solanum tuberosum) genes nda1 and ndb1, respectively. A novel homolog, termed ndc1, with a lower but significant similarity to potato nda1 and ndb1, is also present. All genes are expressed in several organs of the plant. Among the nda genes, expression of nda1, but not nda2, is dependent on light and circadian regulation, suggesting separate roles in photosynthesis-associated and other respiratory NADH oxidation. Genes from all three gene families encode proteins exclusively targeted to mitochondria, as revealed by expression of green fluorescent fusion proteins and by western blotting of fractionated cells. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that ndc1 affiliates with cyanobacterial type II NADH dehydrogenase genes, suggesting that this gene entered the eukaryotic cell via the chloroplast progenitor. The ndc1 should then have been transferred to the nucleus and acquired a signal for mitochondrial targeting of the protein product. Although they are of different origin, the nda, ndb, and ndc genes carry an identical intron position.
Michalecka
Agnieszka M
AM
Department of Cell and Organism Biology, Biology Building, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35B, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
Svensson
A Staffan
AS
Johansson
Fredrik I
FI
Agius
Stephanie C
SC
Johanson
Urban
U
Brennicke
Axel
A
Binder
Stefan
S
Rasmusson
Allan G
AG
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005091:Exons; D038181:FMN Reductase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D017343:Genes, Plant; D007438:Introns; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D038181:FMN Reductase