Anionic lipids are required for chloroplast structure and function in Arabidopsis

Photosynthetic membranes of plants primarily contain non-phosphorous glycolipids. The exception is phosphatidylglycerol (PG), which is an acidic/anionic phospholipid. A second major anionic lipid in chloroplasts is the sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). It is hypothesized that under severe phosphate limitation, SQDG substitutes for PG, ensuring a constant proportion of anionic lipids even under adverse conditions. A newly constructed SQDG and PG-deficient double mutant supports this hypothesis. This mutant, sqd2 pgp1-1, carries a T-DNA insertion in the structural gene for SQDG synthase (SQD2) and a point mutation in the structural gene for phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase (PGP1). In the sqd2 pgp1-1 double mutant, the fraction of total anionic lipids is reduced by approximately one-third, resulting in pale yellow cotyledons and leaves with reduced chlorophyll content. Photoautotrophic growth of the double mutant is severely compromised, and its photosynthetic capacity is impaired. In particular, photosynthetic electron transfer at the level of photosystem II (PSII) is affected. Besides these physiological changes, the mutant shows altered leaf structure, a reduced number of mesophyll cells, and ultrastructural changes of the chloroplasts. All observations on the sqd2 pgp1-1 mutant lead to the conclusion that the total content of anionic thylakoid lipids is limiting for chloroplast structure and function, and is critical for overall photoautotrophic growth and plant development.     

LCI1, a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii plasma membrane protein,functions in active CO2 uptake under low CO2

In response to high CO₂ environmental variability, green algae, such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, have evolved multiple physiological states dictated by external CO₂ concentration. Genetic and physiological studies demonstrated that at least three CO₂ physiological states, a high CO₂ (0.5–5% CO₂), a low CO₂ (0.03–0.4% CO₂) and a very low CO₂ (< 0.02% CO₂) state, exist in Chlamydomonas. To acclimate in the low and very low CO₂ states, Chlamydomonas induces a sophisticated strategy known as a CO₂‐concentrating mechanism (CCM) that enables proliferation and survival in these unfavorable CO₂ environments. Active uptake of C_i from the environment is a fundamental aspect in the Chlamydomonas CCM, and consists of CO₂ and HCO₃^– uptake systems that play distinct roles in low and very low CO₂ acclimation states. LCI1, a putative plasma membrane C_i transporter, has been linked through conditional overexpression to active C_i uptake. However, both the role of LCI1 in various CO₂ acclimation states and the species of C_i, HCO₃^– or CO₂, that LCI1 transports remain obscure. Here we report the impact of an LCI1 loss‐of‐function mutant on growth and photosynthesis in different genetic backgrounds at multiple pH values. These studies show that LCI1 appears to be associated with active CO₂ uptake in low CO₂, especially above air‐level CO₂, and that any LCI1 role in very low CO₂ is minimal.     

Aggregative movement of C4 mesophyll chloroplasts is promoted by low CO2 under high intensity blue light

• C₄ plants supply concentrated CO₂ to bundle sheath (BS) cells, improving photosynthetic efficiency by suppressing photorespiration. Mesophyll chloroplasts in C₄ plants are redistributed toward the sides of the BS cells (aggregative movement) in response to environmental stresses under light. Although this chloroplast movement is common in C₄ plants, the significance and mechanisms underlying the aggregative movement remain unknown.
• Under environmental stresses, such as drought and salt, CO₂ uptake from the atmosphere is suppressed by closing stomata to prevent water loss. We hypothesized that CO₂ limitation may induce the chloroplast aggregative movement. In this study, the mesophyll chloroplast arrangement in a leaf of finger millet, an NAD-malic enzyme type C₄ plant, was examined under different CO₂ concentrations and light conditions.
• CO₂ limitation around the leaves promoted the aggregative movement, but the aggregative movement was not suppressed, even at the higher CO₂ concentration than in the atmosphere, under high intensity blue light. In addition, mesophyll chloroplasts did not change their arrangement under darkness or red light.
• From these results, it can be concluded that CO₂ limitation is not a direct inducer of the aggregative movement but would be a promoting factor of the movement under high intensity blue light.

     

CO2浓度倍增对干旱胁迫下黄瓜幼苗膜脂过氧化及抗氧化系统的影响

为了探明CO2浓度倍增对干旱胁迫下黄瓜幼苗氧化损伤的缓解机理,为未来大气CO2浓度升高或温室CO2施肥以及干旱、半干旱地区水分亏缺等逆境胁迫下黄瓜的优质高效栽培提供理论依据和技术参数,以温室专用黄瓜品种津优1号(Cucumissativus L.var.Jinyou No.1)为试材,采用裂区设计,主区因素为CO2浓度处理,设2个CO2浓度水平:大气CO2浓度(≈380μmol/mol,表示为Ambient[CO2])和倍增CO2浓度((760±20)μmol/mol,表示为Doubled[CO2]);裂区因素为水分处理,用PEG6000模拟根际干旱胁迫,设3个水分处理水平:对照(营养液,表示为C)、中度干旱胁迫(含5%PEG6000的营养液,相当于水势ψw=-0.05MPa,表示为M)和重度干旱胁迫(含10%PEG6000的营养液,相当于水势ψw=-0.15MPa,表示为S),研究了CO2浓度倍增对干旱胁迫条件下黄瓜幼苗叶片渗透调节物质含量、膜脂过氧化及抗氧化系统的影响,结果表明:(1)干旱胁迫导致黄瓜幼苗活性氧积累,质膜透性增大,丙二醛含量升高,同时幼苗叶片脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白质和可溶性总糖含量显著增加,抗氧化酶活性(SOD、POD、CAT、APX和GR)显著提高,抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著升高;(2)CO2浓度倍增不仅有利于促进干旱胁迫条件下黄瓜叶片渗透调节物质的积累,而且能够促进干旱胁迫条件下黄瓜叶片抗氧化酶(SOD、POD、CAT、APX和GR)活性的表达,减轻干旱胁迫下活性氧的积累,使膜脂过氧化程度下降,质膜相对透性降低,丙二醛含量减少,对防止植物的氧化损伤具有一定的保护作用。综上所述,推测温室CO2施肥或未来CO2浓度升高可在一定程度上增强黄瓜幼苗的抗旱性和缓解干旱胁迫的负效应。     

植物气孔导度对CO2响应模型的构建

构建一个普适性的植物叶片气孔导度(g_s)对CO₂浓度响应(g_s-C_a)的模型, 对定量研究植物叶片g_s对CO₂浓度的响应变化尤为必要。该研究运用便携式光合仪(LI-6400)测量了大豆(Glycine max)和小麦(Triticum aestivum)光合作用对CO₂的响应曲线(A_n-C_a), 在比较传统的Michaelis-Menten模型(M-M模型)和叶子飘构建的CO₂响应模型拟合大豆和小麦A_n-C_a效果的基础上, 构建了g_s-C_a响应新模型。然后用新构建的模型拟合大豆和小麦的g_s-C_a曲线, 并将拟合结果与传统模型的拟合结果, 以及与其对应的观测数据进行比较, 以判断所构建模型是否合理。结果显示: 叶子飘构建的A_n-C_a模型可较好地拟合大豆和小麦的A_n-C_a曲线, 确定系数(R²)均高达0.999。M-M模型拟合大豆和小麦的A_n-C_a曲线时的R²虽然也较高, 但在较高CO₂浓度时的拟合曲线偏离观测曲线。因此, 基于叶子飘的A_n-C_a模型构建g_s-C_a模型更为可行。新构建的g_s-C_a模型可较好地拟合大豆和小麦的g_s-C_a曲线, R²分别为0.995和0.994, 而且还可以直接给出最大气孔导度(g_s-max)、最小气孔导度(g_s-min), 以及与g_s-min相对应的CO₂浓度值(C_s-min)。拟合得到大豆和小麦的g_s-max分别为0.686和0.481 mol·m^-2·s^-1, 与其对应的观测值(分别为0.666和0.471 mol·m^-2·s^-1)之间均不存在显著差异; 同样, 拟合得到的大豆和小麦的g_s-min分别为0.271和0.297 mol·m^-2·s^-1, 与其对应的观测值(分别为0.279和0.293 mol·m^-2·s^-1)之间也均不存在显著差异; 此外, 新构建的g_s-C_a模型给出大豆和小麦的C_s-min值分别为741.45和1 112.43 μmol·mol ^-1, 与其对应的观测值(732.78和1 200.34 μmol·mol ^-1)也不存在显著差异。由此可见, 该研究新构建的g_s-C_a模型可作为定量研究植物叶片气孔导度对CO₂浓度变化的有效数学工具。     

Ferritin is required for rapid remodeling of the photosynthetic apparatus and minimizes photo-oxidative stress in response to iron availability in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Ferritin is a key player in the iron homeostasis due to its ability to store large quantities of iron. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contains two nuclear genes for ferritin ( ferr1 and ferr2 ) that are induced when Chlamydomonas cells are shifted to iron-deficient conditions. In response to the reduced iron availability, degradation of photosystem I (PSI) and remodeling of its light-harvesting complex occur. This active PSI degradation slows down under photo-autotrophic conditions where photosynthesis is indispensable. We observed a strong induction of ferritin correlated with the degree of PSI degradation during iron deficiency. The PSI level can be restored to normal within 24 h after iron repletion at the expense of the accumulated ferritin, indicating that the ferritin-stored iron allows fast adjustment of the photosynthetic apparatus with respect to iron availability. RNAi strains that are significantly reduced in the amount of ferritin show a striking delay in the degradation of PSI under iron deficiency. Furthermore, these strains are more susceptible to photo-oxidative stress under high-light conditions. We conclude that (i) ferritin is used to buffer the iron released by degradation of the photosynthetic complexes, (ii) the physiological status of the cell determines the strategy used to overcome the impact of iron deficiency, (iii) the availability of ferritin is important for rapid degradation of PSI under iron deficiency, and (iv) ferritin plays a protective role under photo-oxidative stress conditions.     

Tobacco aquaporin NtAQP1 is involved in mesophyll conductance to CO2 in vivo

Leaf mesophyll conductance to CO(2) (g(m)) has been recognized to be finite and variable, rapidly adapting to environmental conditions. The physiological basis for fast changes in g(m) is poorly understood, but current reports suggest the involvement of protein-facilitated CO(2) diffusion across cell membranes. A good candidate for this could be the Nicotiana tabacum L. aquaporin NtAQP1, which was shown to increase membrane permeability to CO(2) in Xenopus oocytes. The objective of the present work was to evaluate its effect on the in vivo mesophyll conductance to CO(2), using plants either deficient in or overexpressing NtAQP1. Antisense plants deficient in NtAQP1 (AS) and NtAQP1 overexpressing tobacco plants (O) were compared with their respective wild-type (WT) genotypes (CAS and CO). Plants grown under optimum conditions showed different photosynthetic rates at saturating light, with a decrease of 13% in AS and an increase of 20% in O, compared with their respective controls. CO(2) response curves of photosynthesis also showed significant differences among genotypes. However, in vitro analysis demonstrated that these differences could not be attributed to alterations in Rubisco activity or ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate content. Analyses of chlorophyll fluorescence and on-line (13)C discrimination indicated that the observed differences in net photosynthesis (A(N)) among genotypes were due to different leaf mesophyll conductances to CO(2), which was estimated to be 30% lower in AS and 20% higher in O compared with their respective WT. These results provide evidence for the in vivo involvement of aquaporin NtAQP1 in mesophyll conductance to CO(2).     

The PsbQ protein is required in Arabidopsis for photosystem II assembly/stability and photoautotrophy under low light conditions

RNA interference was used to simultaneously suppress the expression of the two genes that encode the PsbQ proteins of Photosystem II (PS II) in Arabidopsis thaliana, psbQ-1 (At4g21280) and psbQ-2 (At4g05180). Two independent PsbQ-deficient plant lines were examined. These plant lines produced little detectable PsbQ protein. Under normal growth light conditions, the wild type and mutant plants were visually indistinguishable. Additionally, analysis of steady state oxygen evolution rates and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics indicated little alteration of photosynthetic capacity in the mutant plants. No loss of other PS II proteins was evident. Interestingly, flash oxygen yield analysis performed on thylakoid membranes isolated from the mutant and wild type plants indicated that the oxygen-evolving complex was quite unstable in the mutants. Furthermore, the lifetime of the S2 state of the oxygen-evolving complex appeared to be increased in these plants. Incubation of the wild type and mutant plants under low light growth conditions led to a significantly stronger observed phenotype in the mutants. The mutant plants progressively yellowed (after 2 weeks) and eventually died (after 3-4 weeks). The wild type plants exhibited only slight yellowing after 4 weeks under low light conditions. The mutant plants exhibited a large loss of a number of PS II components, including CP47 and the D2 protein, under low light conditions. Additionally, significant alterations of their fluorescence characteristics were observed, including an increased FO and decreased FV, yielding a large loss in PS II quantum efficiency (FV/FM). Analysis of QA- decay kinetics in the absence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea indicated a defect in electron transfer from QA- to QB, whereas experiments performed in the presence of this herbicide indicated that the recombination rate between QA- and the S2 state was strongly retarded. These results indicate that the loss of the PsbQ protein induces significant changes in Photosystem II function, particularly in low light-grown plants, and that the PsbQ protein is required for photoautotrophic growth under low light conditions.     

LPA2 is required for efficient assembly of photosystem II in Arabidopsis thaliana

To elucidate the molecular mechanism of photosystem II (PSII) assembly, we characterized the low psii accumulation2 (lpa2) mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, which is defective in the accumulation of PSII supercomplexes. The levels and processing patterns of the RNAs encoding the PSII subunits are unaltered in the mutant. In vivo protein-labeling experiments showed that the synthesis of CP43 (for chlorophyll a binding protein) was greatly reduced, but CP47, D1, and D2 were synthesized at normal rates in the lpa2-1 mutant. The newly synthesized CP43 was rapidly degraded in lpa2-1, and the turnover rates of D1 and D2 were higher in lpa2-1 than in wild-type plants. The newly synthesized PSII proteins were assembled into PSII complexes, but the assembly of PSII was less efficient in the mutant than in wild-type plants. LPA2 encodes an intrinsic thylakoid membrane protein, which is not an integral subunit of PSII. Yeast two-hybrid assays indicated that LPA2 interacts with the PSII core protein CP43 but not with the PSII reaction center proteins D1 and D2. Moreover, direct interactions of LPA2 with Albino3 (Alb3), which is involved in thylakoid membrane biogenesis and cell division, were also detected. Thus, the results suggest that LPA2, which appears to form a complex with Alb3, is involved in assisting CP43 assembly within PSII.     

Complex lipid metabolic remodeling is required for efficient hepatitis C virus replication

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle is tightly linked to the host cell lipid metabolism with the endoplasmic reticulum–derived membranous web harboring viral RNA replication complexes and lipid droplets as virion assembly sites. To investigate HCV-induced changes in the lipid composition, we performed quantitative shotgun lipidomic studies of whole cell extracts and subcellular compartments. Our results indicate that HCV infection reduces the ratio of neutral to membrane lipids. While the amount of neutral lipids and lipid droplet morphology were unchanged, membrane lipids, especially cholesterol and phospholipids, accumulated in the microsomal fraction in HCV-infected cells. In addition, HCV-infected cells had a higher relative abundance of phosphatidylcholines and triglycerides with longer fatty acyl chains and a strikingly increased utilization of C18 fatty acids, most prominently oleic acid (FA [18:1]). Accordingly, depletion of fatty acid elongases and desaturases impaired HCV replication. Moreover, the analysis of free fatty acids revealed increased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) caused by HCV infection. Interestingly, inhibition of the PUFA synthesis pathway via knockdown of the rate-limiting Δ6-desaturase enzyme or by treatment with a high dose of a small-molecule inhibitor impaired viral progeny production, indicating that elevated PUFAs are needed for virion morphogenesis. In contrast, pretreatment with low inhibitor concentrations promoted HCV translation and/or early RNA replication. Taken together our results demonstrate the complex remodeling of the host cell lipid metabolism induced by HCV to enhance both virus replication and progeny production.     

Effect of elevated CO2 concentration on photosynthetic characteristics of hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii under cadmium stress

The combined effects of elevated CO_2 and cadmium(Cd) on photosynthetic rate,chlorophyll fluorescence and Cd accumulation in hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance were investigated to predict plant growth under Cd stress with rising atmospheric CO_2 concentration.Both pot and hydroponic experiments were conducted and the plants were grown under ambient(350 μL L~(-1)) or elevated(800 μL L~(-1))CO_2.Elevated CO_2 significantly(P 0.05) increased Pn(105%-149%),Pn_(max)(38.8%-63.0%) and AQY(20.0%-34.8%) of S.alfredii in all the Cd treatments,but reduced chlorophyll concentration,dark respiration and photorespiration.After 10 days growth in medium with 50μM Cd under elevated CO_2,PSII activities were significantly enhanced(P 0.05) with Pm,Fv/Fm,Φ(Ⅱ) and qP increased by 66.1%,7.5%,19.5%and 16.4%,respectively,as compared with ambient-grown plants.Total Cd uptake in shoot of S.alfredii grown under elevated CO_2 was increased by 44.1%-48.5%,which was positively correlated with the increase in Pn.These results indicate that elevated CO_2 promoted the growth of 5.alfredii due to increased photosynthetic carbon uptake rate and photosynthetic lightuse efficiency,and showed great potential to improve the phytoextraction of Cd by S.alfredii.     

Transverse heterogeneity in lipid fluidity in spinach thylakoids,photosystem II preparations,and thylakoid galactolipid vesicles

We have used three doxyl stearic acid spin labels to study the transverse hetero-geneity in lipid fluidity in thylakoids, photosystem II (PS II) preparations, and thylakoid galactolipid vesicles. This comparative study shows that spin labels incorporated into the membrane of the PS II preparation experience far more immobilization than do the same spin labels incorporated into either thylakoids or vesicles prepared from the polar lipids extracted from thylakoids. The spin label immobilization found in the PS II preparation is manifest even near the center of the bilayer, where lipid mobility is normally at its maximum. Analysis of the lipid content of the PS II preparation, relative to chlorophyll, suggests that the PS II preparation may be lipid depleted. This lipid depletion could explain the results presented. However, electron microscopy [Dunahay et al. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 764:179–193] has not indicated that major delipidation has occurred, and so it remains possible that the immobilization found in the PS II preparation is due primarily to the normal (but close) juxtaposition of adjacent PS II complexes and the cooperative immobilization of their surrounding lipids. Based on the results presented, we conclude that highly mobile lipids are not required for oxygen evolution, the primary photochemistry or the secondary reduction of exogenously added quinones. Unfortunately, the relationship between the plastoquinone pool and the fluidity of the membrane in the PS II preparation remains ambiguous.Abbreviations PS II photosystem II - SDSA 5-doxylstearic acid - 12DSA 12-doxylstearic acid - 16DSA 16-doxylstearic acid - 7N14 2-heptyl-2-hexyl-5,5-dimethyloxazolidine-N-oxyl - chromium oxalate potassium trioxalatochromiate - EPR electron paramagnetic resonance - Chl chlorophyll - MGDG monogalactosyldiacylglycerol - DGDG digalactosyldiacylglycerol     

Ecosystem carbon exchange in two terrestrial ecosystem mesocosms under changing atmospheric CO2 concentrations

The ecosystem-level carbon uptake and respiration were measured under different CO₂ concentrations in the tropical rainforest and the coastal desert of Biosphere 2, a large enclosed facility. When the mesocosms were sealed and subjected to step-wise changes in atmospheric CO₂ between daily means of 450 and 900 μmol mol⁻¹, net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO₂ was derived using the diurnal changes in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. The step-wise CO₂ treatment was effectively replicated as indicated by the high repeatability of NEE measurements under similar CO₂ concentrations over a 12-week period. In the rainforest mesocosm, daily NEE was increased significantly by the high CO₂ treatments because of much higher enhancement of canopy CO₂ assimilation relative to the increase in the nighttime ecosystem respiration under high CO₂. Furthermore, the response of daytime NEE to increasing atmospheric CO₂ in this mesocosm was not linear, with a saturation concentration of 750 μmol mol⁻¹. In the desert mesocosm, a combination of a reduction in ecosystem respiration and a small increase in canopy CO₂ assimilation in the high CO₂ treatments also enhanced daily NEE. Although soil respiration was not affected by the short-term change in atmospheric CO₂ in either mesocosm, plant dark respiration was increased significantly by the high CO₂ treatments in the rainforest mesocosm while the opposite was found in the desert mesocosm. The high CO₂ treatments increased the ecosystem light compensation points in both mesocosms. High CO₂ significantly increased ecosystem radiation use efficiency in the rainforest mesocosm, but had a much smaller effect in the desert mesocosm. The desert mesocosm showed much lower absolute response in NEE to atmospheric CO₂ than the rainforest mesocosm, probably because of the presence of C₄ plants. This study illustrates the importance of large-scale experimental research in the study of complex global change issues. Received: 30 October 1998 / Accepted: 2 December 1998     

羧酶体结构及其CO_2浓缩机制研究进展

羧酶体(Carboxysome)是高效的固碳微体,在CO2浓缩机制(CO2-concentrating mechanism,CCM)中发挥重要作用。在蓝藻及某些化能自养菌中,羧酶体作为类细胞器包裹1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶/加氧酶(RubisCO)和碳酸酐酶(Carbonic anhydrase,CA),它与无机碳转运蛋白共同在胞质中积累HCO3–,通过增加RubisCO周围的CO2浓度来提高固碳效率。随着羧酶体结构和功能的阐明,异源表达羧酶体已成功实现,并且已鉴定出编码羧酶体壳蛋白及内部组分的基因。首先简要介绍羧酶体的发现和种类,然后系统分析其结构及在CCM机制中的作用,并对其在代谢工程上的广阔应用前景进行了展望。     

CO2激光辐照拟微绿球藻的当代生物学效应研究

采用CO₂激光（波长10.6μm,功率10 w,光束长74 cm）辐照拟微绿球藻（Nannochloropsis sp.YW0980）,辐照时间为30 s、60 s、90 s,通过测定藻色素、多糖、蛋白质及油脂含量,研究CO₂激光对藻的生物学效应。结果表明:30 s、60 s、90 s辐照条件下,对拟微绿球藻细胞生长及代谢产物均有一定的促进作用,其中CO₂激光60 s处理组有利于拟微绿球藻的生长及色素的积累,但30 s剂量下更有利于多糖、蛋白质及油脂含量的积累,分别比对照组提高了51.05%（胞外多糖）,289.45%（总多糖）、37.05%、172.16%。     

Photosynthetic acclimation and resource use by the C3 and C4 subspecies of Alloteropsis semialata in low CO2 atmospheres

During the past 25 Myr, partial pressures of atmospheric CO₂ (C_a) imposed a greater limitation on C₃ than C₄ photosynthesis. This could have important downstream consequences for plant nitrogen economy and biomass allocation. Here, we report the first phylogenetically controlled comparison of the integrated effects of subambient C_a on photosynthesis, growth and nitrogen allocation patterns, comparing the C₃ and C₄ subspecies of Alloteropsis semialata. Plant size decreased more in the C₃ than C₄ subspecies at low C_a, but nitrogen pool sizes were unchanged, and nitrogen concentrations increased across all plant partitions. The C_3, but not C₄ subspecies, preferentially allocated biomass to leaves and increased specific leaf area at low C_a. In the C₃ subspecies, increased leaf nitrogen was linked to photosynthetic acclimation at the interglacial C_a, mediated via higher photosynthetic capacity combined with greater stomatal conductance. Glacial C_a further increased the biochemical acclimation and nitrogen concentrations in the C₃ subspecies, but these were insufficient to maintain photosynthetic rates. In contrast, the C₄ subspecies maintained photosynthetic rates, nitrogen‐ and water‐use efficiencies and plant biomass at interglacial and glacial C_a with minimal physiological adjustment. At low C_a, the C₄ carbon‐concentrating mechanism therefore offered a significant advantage over the C₃ type for carbon acquisition at the whole‐plant scale, apparently mediated via nitrogen economy and water loss. A limiting nutrient supply damped the biomass responses to C_a and increased the C₄ advantage across all C_a treatments. Findings highlight the importance of considering leaf responses in the context of the whole plant, and show that carbon limitation may be offset at the expense of greater plant demand for soil resources such as nitrogen and water. Results show that the combined effects of low CO₂ and resource limitation benefit C₄ plants over C₃ plants in glacial–interglacial environments, but that this advantage is lessened under anthropogenic conditions.     

大气CO2浓度升高对毛竹叶片膜脂过氧化和抗氧化系统的影响

为了解竹子对大气CO2浓度升高的生理响应,为气候变化背景下的竹林适应性管理提供理论依据,运用开顶式气室(OTCs)设置了3个CO2处理浓度(环境大气、500和700μmol·mol-1),探讨了大气CO2浓度升高对毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)叶片光合色素、膜脂过氧化和抗氧化系统的影响。结果表明:与环境大气比较,500μmol·mol-1浓度处理30d时对毛竹叶片光合色素、膜脂过氧化和抗氧化系统影响并不明显,仅叶片CAT活性显著降低;随着处理时间的延长,对毛竹叶片膜脂过氧化和抗氧化系统的影响逐渐显现,至处理90d时,除叶片可溶性糖含量无明显变化,其他测定指标均有显著变化;700μmol·mol-1浓度处理在不同时间上对毛竹叶片膜脂过氧化和抗氧化系统的影响均较500μmol·mol-1CO2浓度处理明显,处理30d时毛竹叶片可溶性糖含量和抗氧化酶活性有明显变化,处理90d时,各项测定指标均有显著变化;研究表明大气CO2浓度升高一定程度上能增强毛竹的抗氧化能力,但光合产物的过量积累也会造成碳水化合物源-库失衡和Rubisco的再生受到反馈作用抑制。     

Relationship between photosystem II activity and CO2 fixation in leaves

There is now potential to estimate photosystem II (PSII) activity in vivo from chlorophyll fluorescence measurements and thus gauge PSII activity per CO₂ fixed. A measure of the quantum yield of photosystem II, Φ_II (electron/photon absorbed by PSII), can be obtained in leaves under steady-state conditions in the light using a modulated fluorescence system. The rate of electron transport from PSII equals Φ_II times incident light intensity times the fraction of incident light absorbed by PSII. In C₄ plants, there is a linear relationship between PSII activity and CO₂ fixation, since there are no other major sinks for electrons; thus measurements of quantum yield of PSII may be used to estimate rates of photosynthesis in C₄ species. In C₃ plants, both CO₂ fixation and photorespiration are major sinks for electrons from PSII (a minimum of 4 electrons are required per CO₂, or per O₂ reacting with RuBP). The rates of PSII activity associated with photosynthesis in C₃ plants, based on estimates of the rates of carboxylation (v_o) and oxygenation (v_o) at various levels of CO₂ and O₂, largely account for the PSII activity determined from fluorescence measurements. Thus, in C₃ plants, the partitioning of electron flow between photosynthesis and photorespiration can be evaluated from analysis of fluorescence and CO₂ fixation.     

Structure and function of LCI1: a plasma membrane CO2 channel in the Chlamydomonas CO2 concentrating mechanism

Microalgae and cyanobacteria contribute roughly half of the global photosynthetic carbon assimilation. Faced with limited access to CO₂ in aquatic environments, which can vary daily or hourly, these microorganisms have evolved use of an efficient CO₂ concentrating mechanism (CCM) to accumulate high internal concentrations of inorganic carbon (C_i) to maintain photosynthetic performance. For eukaryotic algae, a combination of molecular, genetic and physiological studies using the model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, have revealed the function and molecular characteristics of many CCM components, including active C_i uptake systems. Fundamental to eukaryotic C_i uptake systems are C_i transporters/channels located in membranes of various cell compartments, which together facilitate the movement of C_i from the environment into the chloroplast, where primary CO₂ assimilation occurs. Two putative plasma membrane C_i transporters, HLA3 and LCI1, are reportedly involved in active C_i uptake. Based on previous studies, HLA3 clearly plays a meaningful role in HCO₃^? transport, but the function of LCI1 has not yet been thoroughly investigated so remains somewhat obscure. Here we report a crystal structure of the full‐length LCI1 membrane protein to reveal LCI1 structural characteristics, as well as in vivo physiological studies in an LCI1 loss‐of‐function mutant to reveal the C_i species preference for LCI1. Together, these new studies demonstrate LCI1 plays an important role in active CO₂ uptake and that LCI1 likely functions as a plasma membrane CO₂ channel, possibly a gated channel.     

厚壁毛竹光合作用对CO2浓度倍增的短期响应

采用Li-6400P光合测定仪对比测定了大气CO2浓度和短期CO2浓度倍增下不同季节厚壁毛竹的光合特性,结果表明:CO2浓度加倍促使最大净光合速率、净光合速率、水分利用率、光合量子效率和光饱和点升高,年平均增幅分别为62.79%、48.74%、94.41%、8.70%和16.67%;CO2浓度加倍促使蒸腾速率、暗呼吸速率和光补偿点下降,年平均降幅分别为17.60%、37.25%和40.50%。不同季节厚壁毛竹光合生理特性参数在CO2浓度加倍后的增加幅度或降低幅度与叶片生理活性和气候变化密切相关。CO2浓度的倍增并未明显改变厚壁毛竹光合特性的季节变化规律,除光补偿点外,其它光合参数的季节大小顺序仍与大气CO2浓度下的相同。厚壁毛竹光合作用对短期CO2浓度升高的响应特征与C3植物光合作用对短期CO2浓度升高响应的普遍规律相符。