Antisense suppression of violaxanthin de-epoxidase in tobacco does not affect plant performance in controlled growth conditions

Violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE) catalyzes the de-epoxidation of violaxanthin to antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin in the xanthophyll cycle. Tobacco was transformed with an antisense VDE construct under control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter to determine the effect of reduced levels of VDE on plant growth. Screening of 40 independent transformants revealed 18 antisense lines with reduced levels of VDE activity with two in particular (TAS32 and TAS39) having greater than 95% reduction in VDE activity. Northern analysis demonstrated that these transformants had greatly suppressed levels of VDE mRNA. De-epoxidation of violaxanthin was inhibited to such an extent that no zeaxanthin and only very low levels of antheraxanthin could be detected after exposure of leaves to high light (2000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for 20 min) with no observable effect on levels of other carotenoids and chlorophyll. Non-photochemical quenching was greatly reduced in the antisense VDE tobacco, demonstrating that a significant level of the non-photochemical quenching in tobacco requires de-epoxidation of violaxanthin. Although the antisense plants demonstrated a greatly impaired de-epoxidation of violaxanthin, no effect on plant growth or photosynthetic rate was found when plants were grown at a photon flux density of 500 or 1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ under controlled growth conditions as compared to wild-type tobacco. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of photosynthetic photon flux densities before and during long-term chilling on xanthophyll cycle and chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in leaves of tomato (Lycopersicon hirsutum)

A high-altitude ecotype of tomato ( Lycopersicon hirsutum f. typicum Humb. and Bonpl.) has previously been shown to resist further loss of photosynthetic function after three to four days of chilling stress. This study examined the influence of PPFD prior to, and during chilling on the development of protective zeaxanthin and energy-dependent quenching mechanisms in this ecotype. Five-week-old tomato plants were acclimated to either low PPFD (60 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) or high PPFD (550 μmol m⁻² S⁻¹) at 25/20°C (day/night) for three days, and then exposed to a temperature of 5/5°C and a PPFD of either 60 or 550 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for three days. The plants acclimated to low PPFD had lower Chl a/b ratio, and lower level of total Chl per leaf area, total xanthophyll cycle pool and β-carotene. The capacity of their photosynthetic system to resist photoinhibition and to recover photosynthetic function was also lower compared to that of the plants acclimated at high PPFD but exposed to the same chilling stress. In the plants chilled at low PPFD, energy-dependent quenching preceded the formation of zeaxanthin on the first day of chilling and there was an overall reduction in the conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin as compared to the plants chilled at high PPFD. During the last day of chilling-induced photoinhibition, energy-dependent quenching in any of the treatments did not increase, but zeaxanthin levels increased continuously throughout the three days of chilling. Our results suggest that light-acclimation before chilling affects the capacity of the plants to resist chilling-induced photoinhibition. In addition, photoinhibitory quenching appears to be a major component for quenching excessive energy at the latter stage of long-term chilling.     

Chlorophyll fluorescence quenching and violaxanthin deepoxidation of FBPase antisense plants at low light intensities and low temperatures

Genetically modified potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desiree) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun N.N.) plants were used to analyze the effects exerted by the chloroplastic (cp) fructose- 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) on the regulation of light energy discrimination at the level of photosystem II. The cp-FBPase activity was progressively inhibited by an mRNA antisense to this FBPase. The chlorophyll fluorescence quenching parameters of these transgenic plants were compared to those of wild-type and transgenic plants that were acclimated to low temperatures. In particular various lines of the transgenic potato and tobacco plants were exposed to a temperature treatment of 10 and 20°C for 10 days. Light intensities were kept low to reduce photoinhibition so that we could analyze exclusively the effects of a modification in the carbon fixation cycle on the chlorophyll fluorescence quenching parameters. The photon flux densities (PFDs) employed at the level of the middle leaves of all plants were set to two different values of 10 μmol m^?2 s^?1 and 50 μmol m^?2 s^?1. Subsequent to this 10-day acclimation the chlorophyll-fluorescence parameters of all plants were measured. Photoinhibition as expressed by the F_y/F_m ratio was minor in plants subjected to a PFD of 10 μmol m^?2 s^?1. Higher photon fluence rates of 50 μmol m^?2 s^?1 at temperatures of 10°C gave rise to a significant reduction in the F_y/F_m ratios obtained from the transgenic plants which were characterized by a restriction in cp-FBPase capacity to 20% of normal activity. Furthermore, a progressive inhibition of the cp-FBPase activity induced an amplified nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence with in the genetically manipulated species (except at 10°C and 50 μmol m^?2 s^?1). The increase in nonphotochemical quenching depended upon light and temperature. Photochemical quenching of light quanta within the antisense plants declined relative to that in the wild type. To further characterize the mechanisms producing higher levels of nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching. we analyzed several of the xanthophyll cycle pigments. The deepoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle pigments in potato plants increased with attenuating FBPase activities under all conditions. For tobacco plants, this elevation of the deepoxidation state was only observed at a PFD of 50 μmol m^?2 s^?1.     

Expression of vde Gene Integrated Into Tobacco Genome in Antisense and Overexpressed Ways

Violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE) is localised in the thylakoid lumen of chloroplasts and catalyses de-epoxidation of violaxanthin into antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin. Tobacco vde gene was inserted into a binary vector pCAMBIA1301 with the hygromycin resistant gene for selection in antisense and overexpressed ways. Two constructs with antisense and overexpressed vde gene were introduced in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404, PCR and Southern blot analyses demonstrated that the exogenous gene was integrated into genome of tobacco plants. VDE activity assay and HPLC analysis of pigments showed that the vde gene was expressed in the overexpressed transformants, whereas suppressed in the antisense ones. The chlorophyll fluorescence measurements proved that the contents of VDE in transgenic plants have a significant function in non-photochemical quenching.     

Photosynthetic capacity is differentially affected by reductions in sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase activity during leaf development in transgenic tobacco plants

The impact of reduced sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) activity on photosynthetic capacity and carbohydrate status was examined during leaf expansion and maturation in antisense transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Samsun) plants. In wild-type plants, photosynthetic capacity was lowest in young expanding leaves and reached a maximum in the fully expanded, mature leaves. In contrast, the transgenic antisense SBPase plants had the highest photosynthetic rates in the young expanding leaves and lowest rates in the mature leaves. In the mature, fully expanded leaves of the transgenic plants photosynthetic capacity was closely correlated with the level of SBPase activity. However, in the youngest leaves of the SBPase antisense plants, photosynthetic rates were close to, or higher than, those observed in wild-type plants, despite having a lower SBPase activity than the equivalent wild-type leaves. Reductions in SBPase activity affected carbohydrate levels in both the mature and young developing leaves. The overall trend was for decreased SBPase activity to lead to reductions in carbohydrate levels, particularly in starch. However, these changes in carbohydrate content were also dependent on the developmental status of the leaf. For example, in young expanding leaves of plants with the smallest reductions in SBPase activity, the levels of starch were higher than in wild-type plants. These data suggest that the source status of the mature leaves is an important determinant of photosynthetic development.     

High non-photochemical quenching of VPZ transgenic potato plants limits CO2 assimilation under high light conditions and reduces tuber yield under fluctuating light

Under natural conditions, photosynthesis has to be adjusted to fluctuating light intensities.Leaves exposed to high light dissipate excess light energy in form of heat at photosystem II(PSII) by a process called non-photochemical quenching(NPQ). Upon fast transition from light to shade, plants lose light energy by a relatively slow relaxation from photoprotection. Combined overexpression of violaxanthin de-epoxidase(VDE), PSII subunit S(PsbS) and zeaxanthin epoxidase(ZEP) in tobacco accelerates ...     

Antisense inhibition of the photosynthetic antenna proteins CP29 and CP26: implications for the mechanism of protective energy dissipation

The specific roles of the chlorophyll a/b binding proteins CP29 and CP26 in light harvesting and energy dissipation within the photosynthetic apparatus have been investigated. Arabidopsis was transformed with antisense constructs against the genes encoding the CP29 or CP26 apoprotein, which gave rise to several transgenic lines with remarkably low amounts of the antisense target proteins. The decrease in the level of CP24 protein in the CP29 antisense lines indicates a physical interaction between these complexes. Analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence showed that removal of the proteins affected photosystem II function, probably as a result of changes in the organization of the light-harvesting antenna. However, whole plant measurements showed that overall photosynthetic rates were similar to those in the wild type. Both antisense lines were capable of the qE type of nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching, although there were minor changes in the capacity for quenching and in its induction kinetics. High-light-induced violaxanthin deepoxidation to zeaxanthin was not affected, although the pool size of these pigments was decreased slightly. We conclude that CP29 and CP26 are unlikely to be sites for nonphotochemical quenching.     

Loss of alpha-tocopherol in tobacco plants with decreased geranylgeranyl reductase activity does not modify photosynthesis in optimal growth conditions but increases sensitivity to high-light stress

The enzyme geranylgeranyl reductase (CHL P) catalyses the reduction of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to phytyl diphosphate in higher-plant chloroplasts and provides phytol for both chlorophyll (Chl) and tocopherol synthesis. The reduction in CHL P activity in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants is accompanied by the reduction in total Chl and tocopherol content and the accumulation of geranylgeranylated Chl (ChlGG). The photosynthetic performance and the susceptibility to photo-oxidative stress have been investigated in these transgenic plants. The reduced total Chl content in Chl P antisense plants resulted in the reduction of electron transport chains per leaf area without a concomitant effect on the stoichiometry, composition and activity of both photosystems. However, Chl P antisense plants were much more sensitive to light stress. Analyses of Chl fluorescence quenching indicated an increased photoinhibitory quenching at the expense of the pH-dependent fluorescence quenching after short illumination (15 min) at moderate light intensities. Prolonged illumination (up to 1 h) at saturating light intensities induced an increased photoinactivation from which the Chl P antisense plants could not recover or could only partially recover during a subsequent low light phase. Our data imply that the presence of ChlGG has no influence on harvesting and transfer of light energy in either photosystem. However, the reduced tocopherol content of the thylakoid membrane is a limiting factor for defensive reactions to photo-oxidative stress.     

The xanthophyll cycle pool size controls the kinetics of non-photochemical quenching in Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis plants overexpressing beta-carotene hydroxylase 1 accumulate over double the amount of zeaxanthin present in wild-type plants. The final amplitude of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was found to be the same in these plants, but the kinetics were different. The formation and relaxation of NPQ consistently correlated with the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle pool and not the amount of zeaxanthin. These data indicate that zeaxanthin and violaxanthin antagonistically regulate the switch between the light harvesting and photoprotective modes of the light harvesting system and show that control of the xanthophyll cycle pool size is necessary to optimize the kinetics of NPQ.     

Reduced sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase levels in transgenic tobacco lead to decreased photosynthetic capacity and altered carbohydrate accumulation

Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) plants with reduced levels of the Calvin cycle enzyme sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase; EC 3.1.3.37) were produced using an antisense construct in which the expression of a tobacco SBPase cDNA clone was driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter. The reduction in SBPase protein levels observed in the primary transformants correlated with the presence of the antisense construct and lower levels of the endogenous SBPase mRNA. No changes in the amounts of other Calvin cycle enzymes were detected using Western blot analysis. The SBPase antisense plants with less than 20% of wild-type SBPase activity were observed to display a range of phenotypes, including chlorosis and reduced growth rates. Measurements of photosynthesis, using both light-dosage response and CO₂ response curves, of T1 plants revealed a reduction in carbon assimilation rates, which was apparent in plants retaining 57% of wild-type SBPase activity. Reductions were also observed in the quantum efficiency of photosystem II. This decrease in photosynthetic capacity was reflected in a reduction in the carbohydrate content of leaves. Analysis of carbohydrate status in fully expanded source leaves showed a shift in carbon allocation away from starch, whilst sucrose levels were maintained in all but the most severely affected plants. Plants with less than 15% of wild-type SBPase activity were found to contain less than 5% of wild-type starch levels. The results of this preliminary analysis indicate that SBPase activity may limit the rate of carbon assimilation. Received: 23 February 1997 / Accepted: 2 May 1997     

Potato hexokinase 2 complements transgenic Arabidopsis plants deficient in hexokinase 1 but does not play a key role in tuber carbohydrate metabolism

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Désirée) transformed with sense and antisense constructs of a cDNA encoding the potato hexokinase 2 exhibited altered enzyme activities and expression of hexokinase 2 mRNA. Measurements of the maximum catalytic activity of hexokinase revealed an 11-fold variation in leaf (from 48% of the wild-type activity in antisense transformants to 446% activity in sense transformants) and an 8-fold variation in developing tubers (from 35% of the wild-type activity in antisense transformants to 212% activity in sense transformants). Despite the wide range of hexokinase activities, no substantial change was found in the fresh weight yield, starch, sugar and metabolite levels of transgenic tubers. However, both potato hexokinases 1 and 2 were able to complement the hyposensitivity of antisense hexokinase 1 Arabidopsis transgenic plants to glucose. In an in vitro bioassay of seed germination in a medium with high glucose levels, double transformants showed the same sensitivity to glucose as that of the wild-type ecotype, displaying a stunted phenotype in hypocotyls, cotyledons and roots.     

Alteration of the Amount of the Chloroplast Phosphate Translocator in Transgenic Tobacco Affects the Distribution of Assimilate between Starch and Sugar

Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) transformed with sense and antisense constructs of a cDNA encoding the tobacco phosphate-triose phosphate-3-phosphoglycerate translocator (phosphate translocator) were shown to contain altered amounts of phosphate translocator mRNA and protein. Phosphate translocator activity in intact chloroplasts isolated from transformed plants showed a 15-fold variation, from 20% of the wild-type activity in antisense transformants to 300% of the wild-type activity in sense transformants. However, the maximal rates of photosynthesis and the rates of photosynthetic carbon assimilation in ambient CO2 showed no consistent differences between transformants. Starch content was decreased by 20% and total soluble sugars were increased by 20% in leaves of antisense transformants compared to sense transformants. The 40% decrease in the ratio of starch to total soluble sugars in antisense transformants relative to sense transformants indicates that distribution of assimilate between starch and sugar had been altered. However, the amount of sucrose in the leaves was unchanged. The changes in total soluble sugars were accounted for completely by changes in glucose and fructose, suggesting the existence of a homeostatic mechanism for maintaining sucrose concentrations in the leaves at the expense of glucose and fructose.     

Antioxidants and xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation in Cucurbita pepo L. and Vinca major L. acclimated to four growth PPFDs in the field

The acclimation of photochemistry, xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation, and antioxidants was characterized in leaves of Cucurbita pepo L. and Vinca major L. that developed under photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) ranging from deep shade to full sunlight in the field. The predominant acclimatory response of leaf pigment composition was an increase in the xanthophyll cycle pool size with increasing growth PPFD. In both species, the estimated rate of thermal energy dissipation at midday increased with increasing PPFD and midday levels of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin per chlorophyll were closely correlated with the levels of non-photochemical fluorescence quenching under all growth PPFD regimes. However, at full sunlight there appeared to be considerably higher levels of xanthophyll cycle dependent energy dissipation in V. major compared with pumpkin while estimated rates of photochemistry exhibited the reverse trend. Leaf activities of the antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, as well as ascorbate content, increased with increasing growth PPFD in both plant species. Activities/contents were higher under 100% full sunlight and increased more strongly from intermediate growth PPFDs to 100% full sunlight in V. major than in C. pepo. These patterns of acclimation are similar to those exhibited by xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation. The patterns of acclimation of glutathione reductase are discussed in the context of the multiple roles for reduced glutathione. Catalase acclimated in a manner consistent with its role in scavenging H2O2 generated via photorespiration and/or mitochondrial respiration. Leaf -tocopherol did not exhibit growth PPFD-dependent trends.     

Overexpression of the Arabidopsis thaliana MinD1 gene alters chloroplast size and number in transgenic tobacco plants

The Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. minD gene (AtMinD1) was isolated and constitutively expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants using the CaMV 35S promoter. Confocal and electron-microscopic analysis of the AtMinD1 transgenic tobacco lines revealed that the chloroplasts were abnormally large and fewer in number compared with wild-type tobacco plants. The abnormal chloroplasts were less prevalent in guard cells than in mesophyll cells. Chloroplast and nuclear gene expression was not significantly different in AtMinD1-overexpressing plants relative to wild-type tobacco plants. Chloroplast DNA copy number was not affected, based on the relative level of the rbcL gene in transgenic plants. Transgenic tobacco plants constitutively overexpressing AtMinD1 were completely normal phenotypically with respect to growth and development, and also displayed normal photosynthetic electron transport rates. These results show that the Arabidopsis MinD1 gene also functions in a heterologous system and confirm the role of the MinD protein in regulation of chloroplast division.     

Drought and chlorophyll fluorescence in field-grown potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Light interception, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured in potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) grown either irrigated, or droughted from the time of plant emergence. Compared with the irrigated treatment, drought reduced both light interception and stomatal conductance. In both treatments, the yields of variable fluorescence in the dark- and light-adapted states (F_y/F_m and F'_v/F'_m, respectively) were negatively correlated with photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and mirrored daytime changes in PPFD. Photochemical quenching was positively correlated with PPFD, but the dominant effect of F'_v/F'_m resulted in a decrease in the quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) electron transport with increasing PPFD.
Drought had no significant effect on the functioning of PSII and the balance between photochemical and non-photochemical quenching was unaffected. Non-photochemical quenching was not increased by drought and the quantum yield of PSII electron transport was unaffected. It is concluded that, in leaves of droughted plants, excess energy, resultant of stomatal limitation of photosynthesis, was dissipated by photochemical quenching such as increased photorespiration.     

Antisense Repression of Hexokinase 1 Leads to an Overaccumulation of Starch in Leaves of Transgenic Potato Plants But Not to Significant Changes in Tuber Carbohydrate Metabolism

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants transformed with sense and antisense constructs of a cDNA encoding the potato hexokinase 1 (StHK1) exhibited altered enzyme activities and expression of StHK1 mRNA. Measurements of the maximum catalytic activity of hexokinase revealed a 22-fold variation in leaves (from 22% of the wild-type activity in antisense transformants to 485% activity in sense transformants) and a 7-fold variation in developing tubers (from 32% of the wild-type activity in antisense transformants to 222% activity in sense transformants). Despite the wide range of hexokinase activities, no change was found in the fresh weight yield, starch, sugar, or metabolite levels of transgenic tubers. However, there was a 3-fold increase in the starch content of leaves from the antisense transformants after the dark period. Starch accumulation at the end of the night period was correlated with a 2-fold increase of glucose and a decrease of sucrose content. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that glucose is a primary product of transitory starch degradation and is the sugar that is exported to the cytosol at night to support sucrose biosynthesis.     

Inhibition of Ethylene Biosynthesis Enhances Vegetative Bud Formation without Affecting Growth and Development of Transgenic Tobacco Plants

The role of ethylene in vegetative bud formation was investigated using transgenic tobacco plants expressing an antisense tomato 1-aminocyclopropane-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) gene. Northern blot hybridization showed that the accumulation of ACS mRNA was strongly reduced in the bud-forming leaf explants of the transgenic plants. Consequently, these transgenic tissues exhibited low ACS enzyme activity, 1-aminocyclopropane-carboxylic acid (ACC) content and ethylene production, and at the same time the tissue capacity to generate buds was greatly enhanced. However, it was also noted that the antisense ACS gene did not inhibit the endogenous ACS gene expression in intact transgenic tobacco plants. The growth and development of the transgenic tobacco was almost identical to control plants with respect to height, internode number, leaf morphology, and flowering time. Furthermore, mature leaves of transgenic tobacco had similar chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic ability, and transpiration rates compared to control plants. These results demonstrated that ethylene plays an important role in bud formation in tobacco tissue culture.     

Pigment apparatus in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ajuga reptans</Emphasis> plants as affected by adaptation to light growth conditions

Mechanisms of adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus at the level of pigment complex in a shade-tolerant bugle plant (Ajuga reptans L.) grown at full solar irradiation in an open plot were studied. In “sun” plants, the content of photosynthetic pigments decreased markedly as compared to “shade” plants grown under a forest canopy at 5–10% of the full solar irradiation. In leaves of sun plants, the portion of β-carotene and lutein in the carotenoid spectrum was higher than in shade plant leaves, antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin were present, and de-epoxidation of violaxanthin was by an order of magnitude higher in sun plant leaves reaching 40%. The data obtained indicate the role of the violaxanthin cycle in the protection of photosynthetic apparatus in a shade-tolerant plant against destruction under excessive irradiation.     

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase deficiency delays senescence of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase but progressively impairs its catalysis during tobacco leaf development.

Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv W38) plants with an antisense gene directed against the mRNA of ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activase grew more slowly than wild-type plants in a CO2-enriched atmosphere, but eventually attained the same height and number of leaves. Compared with the wild type, the anti-activase plants had reduced CO2 assimilation rates, normal contents of chlorophyll and soluble leaf protein, and much higher Rubisco contents, particularly in older leaves. Activase deficiency greatly delayed the usual developmental decline in Rubisco content seen in wild-type leaves. This effect was much less obvious in another transgenic tobacco with an antisense gene directed against chloroplast-located glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, which also had reduced photosynthetic rates and delayed development. Although Rubisco carbamylation was reduced in the anti-activase plants, the reduction was not sufficient to explain the reduced photosynthetic rate of older anti-activase leaves. Instead, up to a 10-fold reduction in the catalytic turnover rate of carbamylated Rubisco in vivo appeared to be the main cause. Slower catalytic turnover by carbamylated Rubisco was particularly obvious in high-CO2-grown leaves but was also detectable in air-grown leaves. Rubisco activity measured immediately after rapid extraction of anti-activase leaves was not much less than that predicted from its degree of carbamylation, ruling out slow release of an inhibitor from carbamylated sites as a major cause of the phenomenon. Nor could substrate scarcity or product inhibition account for the impairment. We conclude that activase must have a role in vivo, direct or indirect, in promoting the activity of carbamylated Rubisco in addition to its role in promoting carbamylation.