Light- induced electron transfer and ATP synthesis in a carotene synthesizing insect.
A singular adaptive phenotype of a parthenogenetic insect species (Acyrthosiphon pisum) was selected in cold conditions and is characterized by a remarkable apparition of a greenish colour. The aphid pigments involve carotenoid genes well defined in chloroplasts and cyanobacteria and amazingly present in the aphid genome, likely by lateral transfer during evolution. The abundant carotenoid synthesis in aphids suggests strongly that a major and unknown physiological role is related to these compounds beyond their canonical anti-oxidant properties. We report here that the capture of light energy in living aphids results in the photo induced electron transfer from excited chromophores to acceptor molecules. The redox potentials of molecules involved in this process would be compatible with the reduction of the NAD+ coenzyme. This appears as an archaic photosynthetic system consisting of photo-emitted electrons that are in fine funnelled into the mitochondrial reducing power in order to synthesize ATP molecules.
IM2NP UMR 7334 CNRS, Université du Sud Toulon Var, P.O. Box 20132, 83957 La Garde CEDEX, France.
Jean Christophe
JC
Valmalette
Aviv
A
Dombrovsky
Pierre
P
Brat
Christian
C
Mertz
Maria
M
Capovilla
Alain
A
Robichon
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004579:Electron Transport; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008027:Light; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010788:Photosynthesis; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
D009243:NAD; D002338:Carotenoids; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate