title: Transients in chloroplast gene transcription.
abstract: Transcriptional regulation of chloroplast genes is demonstrated by Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). These genes encode apoproteins of the reaction centres of photosystem I and photosystem II. Their transcription is regulated by changes in wavelength of light selectively absorbed by photosystem I and photosystem II, and therefore by the redox state of an electron carrier located between the two photosystems. Chloroplast transcriptional redox regulation is shown to have greater amplitude, and the kinetics of transcriptional changes are more complex, than suggested by previous experiments using only DNA probes in Northern blot experiments. Redox effects on chloroplast transcription appear to be superimposed on an endogenous rhythm of mRNA abundance. The functional significance of these transients in chloroplast gene transcription is discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK.
authors.forename: Sujith
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puthiyaveetil
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000235:genetics*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000502:physiology*; D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex