Effects and mechanism of acid rain on plant chloroplast ATP synthase.
Acid rain can directly or indirectly affect plant physiological functions, especially photosynthesis. The enzyme ATP synthase is the key in photosynthetic energy conversion, and thus, it affects plant photosynthesis. To clarify the mechanism by which acid rain affects photosynthesis, we studied the effects of acid rain on plant growth, photosynthesis, chloroplast ATP synthase activity and gene expression, chloroplast ultrastructure, intracellular H(+) level, and water content of rice seedlings. Acid rain at pH 4.5 remained the chloroplast structure unchanged but increased the expression of six chloroplast ATP synthase subunits, promoted chloroplast ATP synthase activity, and increased photosynthesis and plant growth. Acid rain at pH 4.0 or less decreased leaf water content, destroyed chloroplast structure, inhibited the expression of six chloroplast ATP synthase subunits, decreased chloroplast ATP synthase activity, and reduced photosynthesis and plant growth. In conclusion, acid rain affected the chloroplast ultrastructure, chloroplast ATPase transcription and activity, and P n by changing the acidity in the cells, and thus influencing the plant growth and development. Finally, the effects of simulated acid rain on the test indices were found to be dose-dependent.
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
Jingwen
J
Sun
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
Huiqing
H
Hu
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
Yueli
Y
Li
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
Lihong
L
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China. qingzhou510@yahoo.com.
Qing
Q
Zhou
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, China. huangxiaohuanjnu@yahoo.com.
Xiaohua
X
Huang
D015258:Acid Rain / Q000032:analysis*; D025222:Chloroplast Proton-Translocating ATPases; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology
D015258:Acid Rain; D025222:Chloroplast Proton-Translocating ATPases
ATP synthase; Acid rain; Chloroplast; Gene expression; Rice leaves