Nuclear Gene-Induced Plastome Mutations in OENOTHERA HOOKERI. I. Genetic Analysis

A nuclear gene mutation in Oenothera hookeri increases the frequency of variegated sectors. The gene is recessive; the variegation is cytoplasmically transmitted. Once variegation is induced, the mutant gene is not required for its continued expression. The induced sectors may differ one from another. The gene expresses unique patterns of penetrance and of maternal effect. The genetic data implicate the chloroplasts as the site for the expression of variegation. The chloroplasts of O. parviflora are also subject to the action of the nuclear gene. Possible mechanisms by which a gene might cause chloroplasts to mutate are discussed.     

Reproduction and continuity of chloroplasts in spermatophytes

Without the continuity of chloroplasts there would be no higher life. Chloroplast reproduction and continuity can be studied in the guard cells of stomata, utilizing the result of reproduction, viz., the number of chloroplasts. An annotated list of such numbers from 261 families of spermatophytes is provided. For each family and many subfamilies or tribes are given the numbers of genera and species investigated as well as the ranges and medians of 1909 generic and 6161 specific chloroplast numbers, predominantly from my own countings. The driving forces behind the reproduction and continuity of chloroplasts are reviewed and discussed in the light of some figures of the list and other evidence. The results support the hypothesis that nuclear DNA replication paves the way for chloroplast reproduction and that the nuclear DNA amount is instrumental in ensuring the continuity of chloroplasts throughout meristematic cell successions.     

Studies on Spinach Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Using Large-scale Tissue Preparations

A method for the large-scale preparation of spinach chloroplasts using the Spinco Model L-4 zonal ultracentrifuge and for the extraction of DNA from the chloroplasts is described. Thirty-five percent of the chloroplast DNA (rho = 1.706 g/cc) differs from nuclear DNA (rho = 1.695 g/cc) in buoyant density. T(m), base composition, and renaturation properties. Sixty-five percent of the chloroplast DNA (rho = 1.696 g/cc) has the same buoyant density and T(m) as nuclear DNA, but it differs in base composition and renaturation properties.     

An Arabidopsis cotyledon-specific albino locus: a possible role in 16S rRNA maturation

We report here the isolation and characterization of a cotyledon-specific albino locus of Arabidopsis, WHITE COTYLEDONS (WCO). This recessive mutation in the WCO locus, located on the top of Chromosome 1, results in albino cotyledons but green true leaves. An accumulation profile of chlorophylls and ultrastructure of chloroplasts indicate that WCO is necessary for development of functional chloroplasts in cotyledons but is dispensable in true leaves. This was further supported by the fact that the mutants request feeding of sucrose for their survival at the early seedling stage where true leaves have not emerged, but the mutants which have developed true leaves are able to grow autotrophically without sucrose supplementation. The wco mutants accumulate low levels of chloroplast mRNA encoding photosynthesis-related proteins and have a specific defect in 16S rRNA maturation in a cotyledon-specific manner. Although wco mutants exhibited abnormal chloroplasts and chloroplast gene expression in cotyledons, nuclear genes for photosynthetic components are expressed at similar levels to those found in wild-type siblings. This lack of suppression of the nuclear genes is not due to a defect in the signaling of the so-called "plastid factor" to the nucleus since normal suppression of the nuclear genes was observed in response to the photo-oxidative damage due to norflurazon application.     

Blue light-dependent nuclear positioning in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf cells

The plant nucleus changes its intracellular position not only upon cell division and cell growth but also in response to environmental stimuli such as light. We found that the nucleus takes different intracellular positions depending on blue light in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf cells. Under dark conditions, nuclei in mesophyll cells were positioned at the center of the bottom of cells (dark position). Under blue light at 100 mumol m(-2) s(-1), in contrast, nuclei were located along the anticlinal walls (light position). The nuclear positioning from the dark position to the light position was fully induced within a few hours of blue light illumination, and it was a reversible response. The response was also observed in epidermal cells, which have no chloroplasts, suggesting that the nucleus has the potential actively to change its position without chloroplasts. Light-dependent nuclear positioning was induced specifically by blue light at >50 mumol m(-2) s(-1). Furthermore, the response to blue light was induced in phot1 but not in phot2 and phot1phot2 mutants. Unexpectedly, we also found that nuclei as well as chloroplasts in phot2 and phot1phot2 mutants took unusual intracellular positions under both dark and light conditions. The lack of the response and the unusual positioning of nuclei and chloroplasts in the phot2 mutant were recovered by externally introducing the PHOT2 gene into the mutant. These results indicate that phot2 mediates the blue light-dependent nuclear positioning and the proper positioning of nuclei and chloroplasts. This is the first characterization of light-dependent nuclear positioning in spermatophytes.     

Visualization by fluorescence of chloroplast DNA in higher plants by means of the DNA-specific probe 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole

The DNA in isolated chloroplasts was visualized by the fluorescent probe 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). When excited with light of 360 nm, the DNA-DAPI complex fluoresces brilliantly at 450 nm. Nuclei also fluoresce but their nucleoli do not. RNase and Pronase treatment of chloroplasts did not affect the fluorescence but both pre- and posttreatment of DAPI-stained chloroplasts with DNase specifically destroyed the fluorescence. DNA-DAPI complexes in the chloroplasts show up as bright dots. These are distributed uniformly within the chloroplast except for the outer margins. The fluorescent dots can be seen at different focal levels. The number of DNA dots is roughly proportional to chloroplast area which, in turn, is a function of leaf size. The number of fluorescent dots also gave the impression that large leaves with large chloroplasts contain more chloroplast DNA than nuclear DNA.     

The apicoplast: a review of the derived plastid of apicomplexan parasites

The apicoplast is a plastid organelle, homologous to chloroplasts of plants, that is found in apicomplexan parasites such as the causative agents of Malaria Plasmodium spp. It occurs throughout the Apicomplexa and is an ancient feature of this group acquired by the process of endosymbiosis. Like plant chloroplasts, apicoplasts are semi-autonomous with their own genome and expression machinery. In addition, apicoplasts import numerous proteins encoded by nuclear genes. These nuclear genes largely derive from the endosymbiont through a process of intracellular gene relocation. The exact role of a plastid in parasites is uncertain but early clues indicate synthesis of lipids, heme and isoprenoids as possibilities. The various metabolic processes of the apicoplast are potentially excellent targets for drug therapy.     

Gamma radiation-induced single strand breaks in DNA and their repair in spheroplasts and nuclei of light-grown and dark-grown Euglena cells

Exposure of light-grown and dark-grown Euglena cells to gamma radiation causes single strand breaks in nuclear DNA as assessed by sedimentation analysis in alkaline sucrose density gradients. The number of radiation-induced single strand breaks in nuclear DNA of light-grown cells is found to be less than that in dark-grown cells. Post-irradiation incubation of both types of cells in 0 . 1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7 . 0 at 25 degrees C for 1 hour results in restitution of the strand breaks in DNA. Light-grown cells (cells with chloroplasts) are able to rejoin all the single strand breaks in DNA produced by gamma irradiation at D50 and D5 doses. On the other hand, dark-grown cells (cells devoid of chloroplasts) are unable to rejoin all the strand breaks caused by irradiation at either of the doses. The rate of DNA repair in dark-grown cells is also much slower than that in light-grown cells. Radiation-induced single strand breaks in DNA and their repair in nuclei from both types of cells is found to be similar to that observed in the spheroplasts. It is suggested that some factor(s) elaborated by chloroplasts may contribute towards the efficiency of nuclear DNA repair in Euglena cells.     

Translation efficiencies of synonymous codons are not always correlated with codon usage in tobacco chloroplasts

Codon usage in chloroplasts is different from that in prokaryotic and eukaryotic nuclear genomes. However, no experimental approach has been made to analyse the translation efficiency of individual codons in chloroplasts. We devised an in vitro assay for translation efficiencies using synthetic mRNAs, and measured the translation efficiencies of five synonymous codon groups in tobacco chloroplasts. Among four alanine codons (GCN, where N is U, C, A or G), GCU was the most efficient for translation, whereas the chloroplast genome lacks tRNA genes corresponding to GCU. Phenylalanine and tyrosine are each encoded by two codons (UUU/C and UAU/C, respectively). Phenylalanine UUC and tyrosine UAC were translated more than twice as efficiently than UUU and UAU, respectively, contrary to their codon usage, whereas translation efficiencies of synonymous codons for alanine, aspartic acid and asparagine were parallel to their codon usage. These observations indicate that translation efficiencies of individual codons are not always correlated with codon usage in vitro in chloroplasts. This raises an important issue for foreign gene expression in chloroplasts.     

A mitochondrial presequence can transport a chloroplast-encoded protein into yeast mitochondria

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase of chloroplasts contains eight large and eight small subunits. The small subunit is encoded by nuclear DNA, synthesized in the cytoplasm, and imported into chloroplasts. The large subunit is encoded by chloroplast DNA and synthesized within chloroplasts. We show in this communication that the large subunit of Chlamydomonas chloroplasts could be efficiently imported into isolated yeast mitochondria if it was attached to the presequence of a protein transported into the yeast mitochondrial matrix. Thus, synthesis of the large subunit within chloroplasts does not reflect the inability of this subunit to cross membranes. The same mitochondrial presequence could also transport the nuclear-encoded small subunit into yeast mitochondria. However, when the two types of subunits were coimported into mitochondria, they did not assemble with each other inside the heterologous organelle.     

植物细胞中蛋白质向叶绿体转运的研究进展

植物细胞中叶绿体的功能主要依赖于叶绿体蛋白, 大部分叶绿体蛋白由核基因组编码, 在细胞质中合成并经过正确的分选后, 通过叶绿体外膜上的Toc复合体和/或内膜上的Tic复合体转运到叶绿体的不同部位。该文主要综述可能参与叶绿体蛋白分选的胞质因子以及Toc和Tic组分如何参与叶绿体蛋白转运的研究进展。     

Phototropins and neochrome1 mediate nuclear movement in the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris

In gametophytic cells (prothalli) of the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris, nuclei as well as chloroplasts change their position according to light conditions. Nuclei reside on anticlinal walls in darkness and move to periclinal or anticlinal walls under weak or strong light conditions, respectively. Here we reveal that red light-induced nuclear movement is mediated by neochrome1 (neo1), blue light-induced movement is redundantly mediated by neo1, phototropin2 (phot2) and possibly phot1, and dark positioning of both nuclei and chloroplasts is mediated by phot2. Thus, both the nuclear and chloroplast photorelocation movements share common photoreceptor systems.     

Tetrapyrrole involvement in expression regulation of a nuclear gene of low-molecular-weight plastid protein ELIP

An inhibitor analysis was used for studying the tetrapyrrole role in the regulation of the expression of the nuclear gene encoding a low-molecular-weight protein, a stress plastid light-inducible protein ELIP. 2,2'-Dipyridyl and norflurazon were used as inhibitors. Experiments with dipyridyl demonstrated that tetrapyrroles were involved in the regulation of Elip gene expression, inhibiting it by approximately 50%. Similar results were obtained when there was photodestruction of the chloroplasts, caused by a plant treatment with norflurazon. The results confirm the involvement of the chloroplasts in the regulation of the nuclear gene expression coding for plastid proteins. Tetrapyrroles are important contributors to this process.     

AUTORADIOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE FOR MANY SEGREGATING DNA MOLECULES IN THE CHLOROPLAST OF OCHROMONAS DANICA

Light-grown cells of Ochromonas danica, which contain a single chloroplast per cell, were labeled with [methyl-³H]thymidine for 3 h (0.36 generations) and the distribution of labeled DNA among the progeny chloroplasts was followed during exponential growth in unlabeled medium for a further 3.3 generations using light microscope autoradiography of serial sections of entire chloroplasts. Thymidine was specifically incorporated into DNA in both nuclei and chloroplasts. Essentially all the chloroplasts incorporated label in the 3-h labeling period, indicating that chloroplast DNA is synthesized throughout the cell cycle. Nuclear DNA has a more limited S period. Both chloroplast DNA and nuclear DNA are conserved during 3.3 generations. After 3.3 generations in unlabeled medium, grains per chloroplast followed a Poisson distribution indicating essentially equal labeling of all progeny chloroplasts. It is concluded that the average chloroplast in cells of Ochromonas growing exponentially in the light contains at least 10 segregating DNA molecules.     

Mollusc-algal chloroplast endosymbiosis. Photosynthesis, thylakoid protein maintenance, and chloroplast gene expression continue for many months in the absence of the algal nucleus

Early in its life cycle, the marine mollusc Elysia chlorotica Gould forms an intracellular endosymbiotic association with chloroplasts of the chromophytic alga Vaucheria litorea C. Agardh. As a result, the dark green sea slug can be sustained in culture solely by photoautotrophic CO(2) fixation for at least 9 months if provided with only light and a source of CO(2). Here we demonstrate that the sea slug symbiont chloroplasts maintain photosynthetic oxygen evolution and electron transport activity through photosystems I and II for several months in the absence of any external algal food supply. This activity is correlated to the maintenance of functional levels of chloroplast-encoded photosystem proteins, due in part at least to de novo protein synthesis of chloroplast proteins in the sea slug. Levels of at least one putative algal nuclear encoded protein, a light-harvesting complex protein homolog, were also maintained throughout the 9-month culture period. The chloroplast genome of V. litorea was found to be 119.1 kb, similar to that of other chromophytic algae. Southern analysis and polymerase chain reaction did not detect an algal nuclear genome in the slug, in agreement with earlier microscopic observations. Therefore, the maintenance of photosynthetic activity in the captured chloroplasts is regulated solely by the algal chloroplast and animal nuclear genomes.     

盐胁迫对玉米叶片叶肉细胞生物膜超微结构的影响

研究了NaCl胁迫对玉米叶肉细胞生物膜超微结构的影响. 结果表明：NaCl胁迫破坏了玉米叶片叶肉细胞生物膜的正常结构,50 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理胁迫下,玉米叶肉细胞核膜,线粒体膜,细胞膜,叶绿体膜,液泡膜都受到不同程度的破坏,叶绿体基粒类囊体膨胀,间质片层空间增大,片层紊乱。100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理胁迫下,质膜,液泡膜,线粒体,叶绿体都受到严重的破坏。细胞质膜破坏,破损的叶绿体充斥在细胞间隙中;叶绿体外膜破坏,甚至解体消失,叶肉细胞中充满膜结构,基粒排列方向改变,垛叠层数减少,基粒和基质片层界限模糊不清,有的基粒解体消失,甚至叶绿体完全解体;核膜破坏、解体,核中的染色质高度凝缩;线粒体的数量增多,线粒体膜破坏,脊的数量减少,甚至整个线粒体破损解体;液泡膜破坏;由于各种生物膜的破坏,使细胞内充满许多囊状小泡、多泡体或斑层小体;叶肉细胞发生严重的质壁分离,严重时发生细胞壁断裂;甚至整个细胞溶解。     

PEG-mediated plastid transformation: a new system for transient gene expression assays in chloroplasts

Summary Evidence is presented for the introduction of functional copies of the GUS-reporter gene with plastid regulatory signals into chloroplasts after treatment of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia leaf protoplasts with PEG. GUS-activity is found in cells derived from protoplasts treated with PEG in the presence of plasmids harbouring the GUS-gene under the control of plastid promoter and terminator signals (plastid-specific reporter gene constructions). The activity is maintained after chloroplast isolation and incubation with the protease thermolysin under conditions sufficient to completely remove the much higher transient nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of a GUS-gene carrying the CaMV 35S-promoter. Likewise, GUS-activity derived from a plasmid coding for the nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of the reporter gene with a plastid transit presequence is also maintained after these procedures. These results indicate that PEG-treatment is a suitable protocol by which to introduce DNA into chloroplasts for the study of transient gene expression.     

Introduction and expression of foreign DNA in isolated spinach chloroplasts by electroporation

An electroporation-mediated method for the study of foreign gene expression within chloroplasts has been developed. The chloroplast expression vector pHD203-GUS, which consists of coding regions for β-glucuronidase (GUS) and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) separated by a double psbA promoter fragment from pea (in opposite orientation) was electroporated into spinach chloroplasts and the transient gene expression was examined. Conditions for the expression of the reporter genes have been optimized. Both CAT and GUS activities were detected in chloroplasts electroporated with pHD203-GUS, but not with nuclear expression vector pBI221 or negative control pUC18. No GUS activity was detected when pHD203-GUS was electroporated into spinach protoplasts. Dot immunoblot analysis using anti-GUS antibody confirmed the existence of GUS protein in chloroplasts electroporated with chloroplast-specific vector but not the negative controls, excluding the possibilities of endogenous GUS or bacterial contamination. The expression of GUS protein in treated chloroplasts was further confirmed by Western blot analysis.