Membrane Permeability--Regulation by Exogenous Sugars during Senescence of Oat Leaf in Light and Darkness

The effect of sugars (sucrose, glucose and fructose) on normalphysiological changes during senescence of foliar segments ofAvena sativa cv. Suregrain was studied. In general applicationof sugars raised tissue permeability both in the light and indarkness. This change was associated with increases in endogenoussugars, hydroperoxide content and lipoxygenase activity. Inthe light it was also associated with low catalase activity.Sugars did not influence superoxide dismutase activity. In thelight, sugars accelerated senescence, measured as decreasesin chlorophyll and increases in soluble amino acids. In darknesssugars delayed senescence. The effect of sugars in the lightseemed to result from an increase in photo-oxidations associatedwith the increase in permeability. The delaying effect on senescence,found in darkness, seemed to result from an increase in respiratoryactivity plus the lack of (or combined with the lack of) photo-oxidations. (Received March 18, 1985; Accepted June 3, 1986)     

豌豆叶绿体脂氧合酶活性与叶片衰老及膜脂过氧化作用的关系

豌豆叶绿体脂氧合酶(LOX)活性在连体叶片衰老过程中变化不大。ABA处理离体叶片2d叶绿体LOX活性升高,处理时间延长活性下降。抗氧化剂α-生育酚、谷胱甘肽、没食子酸丙酯抑制豌豆叶绿体LOX活性。脂质过氧化产物丙二醛对豌豆叶绿体LOX和大豆纯LOX-1的活性均有抑制作用,大豆LOX-1能促进离体豌豆叶绿体膜脂过氧化作用。因此,豌豆叶绿体LOX可能参与叶片衰老过程中叶绿体膜结构和功能的改变,又受膜脂过氧化产物的制约。     

Arabidopsis STAY-GREEN2 Is a Negative Regulator of Chlorophyll Degradation during Leaf Senescence

Chlorophyll （Chl） degradation causes leaf yellowing during senescence or under stress conditions. For Chl breakdown, STAY-GREEN1 （SGR1） interacts with Chl catabolic enzymes （CCEs） and light-harvesting complex II （LHCII） at the thylakoid membrane, possibly to allow metabolic channeling of potentially phototoxic Chl breakdown intermediates. Among these Chl catabolic components, SGR1 acts as a key regulator of leaf yellowing. In addition to SGR1 （At4g22920）, the Arabidopsis thaliana genome contains an additional homolog, SGR2 （At4g11910）, whose biological function remains elusive. Under senescence-inducing conditions, SGR2 expression is highly up-regulated, similarly to SGR1 expression. Here we show that SGR2 function counteracts SGR1 activity in leaf Chl degradation; SGR2-overexpressing plants stayed green and the sgr2-1 knockout mutant exhibited early leaf yellowing under age-, dark-, and stress-induced senescence conditions. Like SGR1, SGR2 interacted with LHCII but, in contrast to SGR1, SGR2 interactions with CCEs were very limited. Furthermore, SGR1 and SGR2 formed homo- or heterodimers, strongly suggesting a role for SGR2 in negatively regulat- ing Chl degradation by possibly interfering with the proposed CCE-recruiting function of SGR1. Our data indicate an antagonistic evolution of the functions of SGR1 and SGR2 in Arabidopsis to balance Chl catabolism in chloroplasts with the dismantling and remobilizing of other cellular components in senescing leaf cells.     

Involvement of Calcium and Calmodulin in Membrane Deterioration during Senescence of Pea Foliage

The prospect that Ca(2+) promotes senescence by activating calmodulin has been examined using cut pea (Pisum sativum co Alaska) foliage as a model system. Senescence was induced by severing 17-day-old plants from their roots and maintaining them in aqueous test solutions in the dark for an additional 4 days. Treatment of the foliage with the Ca(2+) ionophore (A23187) during the senescence-induction period promoted a lateral phase separation of the bulk lipids in microsomal membranes indicating that internalization of Ca(2+) facilitates membrane deterioration. In addition, microsomal membranes from ionophore-treated tissue displayed an increased capacity to convert 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid to ethylene and an increased propensity to produce the superoxide anion (O(2) (tau)). Treatment of the tissue with fluphenazine during the senescence-induction period, which prevents binding of the Ca:Calmodulin complex to enzymes, delayed membrane deterioration as measured by these criteria. It also proved possible to simulate these in situ effects of the Ca(2+) ionophore on ethylene production and O(2) (tau) formation by treating microsomal membranes isolated from young tissue with phospholipase A(2) in the presence of Ca(2+) and calmodulin, and these effects of phospholipase A(2) and Ca:calmodulin were inhibited by calmodulin antagonists. The observations collectively suggest that internalized Ca(2+) promotes senescence by activating calmodulin, which in turn mediates the action of phospholipase A(2) on membranes.     

植物叶片衰老过程中叶绿素降解代谢研究进展

 本文对近年植物叶片衰老过程中叶绿素降解代谢研究进展作一介绍,包括叶绿素降解产物分离、检测和命名;叶绿素降解途径及降解酶系。此外,对叶绿素降解意义及今后研究趋势进行了评述。     

Studies on Leaf Surface Lipid of Tobacco I. Changes in Leaf Surface Lipid and Duvatrienediol during Growth,Senescence and Curing of Tobacco Leaves

Duvatrienediol is a diterpene specifically occurred in tobacco plants and thought to be a precursor of tobacco aroma. Green tobacco leaves contained 0.2~1% of duvatrienediol per dry weight and it was corresponded to 30~60% of leaf surface lipid. Leaves on upper stalk position contained more of leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol. In leaves on each stalk position, leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol contents increased with leaf growth and decreased by over-maturation. Production of leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol was affected by soil conditions or applied amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Both leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol were decreased during curing of tobacco leaves, but the change in the latter was more drastic. Comparing to leaf surface lipid, changes in cytoplasmic lipid were less during growth and senescence of tobacco leaves.     

Retardation of Leaf Senescence by Triadimefon Treatment in Mung Bean Seedling

Treatment of triadimefon on detached leaves of mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus L. ) seedlings increased the levels of chlorophyll and soluble proteins. Declined activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate-peroxidase (AsA-POD) and contents of ascorbate (ASA) and glutathione (GSH) were observed during the senescence of detached young leaves. Triadimefon at concentration of 20 mg/L promoted the activities of POD, AsA-POD and levels of AsA and GSH, but had no effect on the activities of SOD and CAT. On the other hand, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased and the increase of which was markedly negative correlated with the activities of POD, AsA-POD and with the contents of AsA and GSH during the senescence of leaves. MDA contents were decreased by triadimefon treatment. These resuits suggested that triadimefon retarded the senescence of leaves in mung bean seedlings in terms of enhancing the protective ability of plant tissues against membrane lipid peroxidation.     

大豆下胚轴线粒体的衰老与膜脂的过氧化作用

离体的大豆下胚轴线粒体,在人工衰老条件下,产生了结构膨胀和细胞色素氧化酶活性的下降。衰老的线粒体也发生膜脂的过氧化作用——丙二醛、脂质的氢过氧化物和荧光脂褐色素明显增加。而且,线粒体衰老时产生的膜脂过氧化产物雨二醛,可能是膜脂的磷脂酰胆碱和磷脂酰乙醇胺中的亚麻酸发生过氧化反应的结果。     

Exogenous Jasmonic Acid and Cytokinin Antagonistically Regulate Rice Flag Leaf Senescence by Mediating Chlorophyll Degradation,Membrane Deterioration,and Senescence-Associated Genes Expression

Although it is well known that jasmonic acid (JA) and cytokinin (CK) are involved in regulating leaf senescence, the antagonistic mechanisms of JA and CK on leaf senescence are still unknown. To explore the antagonistic effects of JA and CK on leaf senescence, we treated detached rice flag leaves with JA and CK under dark conditions, and evaluated their chlorophyll contents, membrane deterioration, and expression levels of chlorophyll-degradation-related genes (CDRGs) and senescence-associated genes (SAGs). Our results demonstrated that exogenous application of JA promoted chlorophyll degradation by enhancing the expression levels of CDRGs, promoted membrane deterioration by accelerating the increases in lipid peroxidation and membrane permeability, enhanced the expression levels of SAGs, and consequently accelerated rice flag leaf senescence. On the other hand, exogenous application of CK retarded chlorophyll degradation by down-regulating the expression levels of CDRGs, retarded membrane deterioration by retarding the increases in lipid peroxidation and membrane permeability, down-regulated the expression levels of SAGs, and consequently delayed rice flag leaf senescence. Furthermore, the senescence-accelerating effect of a certain concentration of JA was nullified by the senescence-retarding effect of a certain concentration of CK. These results suggested that exogenous applications of JA and CK were able to antagonistically regulate flag leaf senescence by mediating chlorophyll degradation, membrane deterioration, and SAGs expression. In addition, our results suggested that the progression of flag leaf senescence might not only depend on the level of JA or CK but also depend on the balance between JA and CK.     

Leaf Senescence: Correlated with Increased Levels of Membrane Permeability and Lipid Peroxidation, and Decreased Levels of Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase

The changes in membrane permeability (soluble leakage), lipidperoxidation, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) andcatalase have been studied during in situ senescence of leavesof Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Wisconsin 38. After full leaf expansionwas reached there was a rapid, almost linear increase in therate of ⁸⁶Rb leakage from the preloaded leaf discs, with leafage. Parallel with this increase in membrane permeability wasa cumulative increase in the level of lipid peroxidation. Atthe same leaf age there were changes in the activities of SODand catalase. SOD activity decreased on the basis of fresh weightbut did not change when measured on the basis of protein contentprobably due to relative stability of SOD during the senescence-associatedgeneral decline in protein content. Catalase activity firstincreased parallel with the chlorophyll content of the leafand then, after full leaf expansion, declined on the basis ofboth fresh weight and protein content. These changes in membranepermeability, lipid peroxidation, and the enzyme activitiescoincide in leaf age with the decline in protein and chlorophyllcontents and in chlorophyll a: b ratio. When the senescenceof the bottom-most leaves was reversed by removing the stemfrom immediately above them, the senescence-associated changesin protein and chlorophyll contents, lipid peroxidation, andthe enzyme activities were also reversed. It is suggested thatleaf senescence may be a consequence of cumulative membranedeterioration due to increasing level of lipid peroxidationprobably controlled by, among other factors, the activitiesof SOD and catalase.     

Expression of Phospholipase D during Castor Bean Leaf Senescence

Membrane deterioration in plant senescence is commonly associated with progressive decreases in membrane phospholipid content. This study investigated the expression and regulation of phospholipase D (PLD; EC 3.1.4.4) during senescence in castor bean (Ricinus communis L. cv Hale) leaf discs. The rate of leaf senescence was accelerated by 50 [mu]M abscisic acid and was attenuated by 50 [mu]M cytokinin during incubation at 23[deg]C for up to 5 d. Leaf senescence was indicated by decreases in the content of total proteins, chlorophyll, and phospholipids. PLD activity in both membrane-associated and cytosolic fractions showed a gradual increase in the absence of phytohormones. Abscisic acid stimulated an increase in membrane-associated PLD and had little effect on the soluble form. On the other hand, cytokinin retarded the increase in membrane-associated PLD. Immunoblotting analysis using PLD-specific antibodies revealed that the changes in PLD activity were correlated with those of PLD protein. Analysis of PLD by nondenaturing PAGE showed the appearance of a PLD structural variant, PLD 3, in abscisic acid-treated leaf discs. Northern blotting analysis using a PLD cDNA probe revealed an increase in PLD mRNA in senescing leaf discs. These data indicate complex mechanisms for the regulation of PLD during senescence, which include increases in membrane-associated PLD, differential expression of PLD isoforms, and changes in amounts of PLD protein and mRNA. Such controlled expression points to a role for PLD in membrane deterioration and plant senescence.     

Retardation of Leaf Senescence by Ascorbic Acid

Leaf discs of Solatium melongena were floated on various concentrationsof ascorbic acid (AA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), and kinetin inorder to study their effect on senescence. AA was highly effectivein retarding senescence as shown by the arrest of the fall inlevels of chlorophyll, DNA, RNA, and proteins. AA was effectiveat a lower concentration than that of GA₃ or kinetin.     

Stabilization of Thylakoid Membranes by Spermine during Stress-induced Senescence of Barley Leaf Discs

The effect of spermine on photochemical activity and polypeptide composition of chloroplasts from barley leaf discs during senescence in the dark was studied. Chloroplast membranes did not show photosystem II activity after spermine treatment when water was the electron donor, but in the presence of diphenylcarbazide, this activity was observed. The diphenylcarbazide-stimulated photoreduction of dichloroindophenol was 3-fold greater in leaf discs incubated for 72 hours in spermine than in water. Photosystem I activity was reduced by about 90% within the first 24 hours in the spermine-treated samples. This reduction, however, was not due to a decrease in the photosynthetic unit size. A preferential loss of polypeptides other than those associated with photosystem II was observed during senescence of the leaf discs in water, but this loss was reduced by spermine. Spermine treatment also prevented the appearance of several additional chlorophyll proteins found in the controls during senescence. The results have been interpreted on the basis of the interaction of spermine with thylakoid membranes resulting in stabilization of membrane function during senescence.     

菜豆叶片衰老过程中叶绿体被膜的相变特征

用示差扫描量热计测定了菜豆第一片真叶在衰老过程中叶绿体被膜相变温度与叶绿体总脂熔融温度的变化。15日龄成长叶片叶绿体被膜相变温度为-6.7～-3.6℃,当转向衰老后,在22,29和35日龄时的相变温度分别为3.2～8.8℃、18.7～24.1℃和27.3～37.8℃。叶绿体总脂的熔融温度在15至35日龄期间也逐渐升高,但升高幅度小于被膜相变温度的升高幅度。可是,叶绿体总脂熔融温度范围却大于相应时期被膜相变温度范围。蛋白质含量下降趋势发生在叶片15日龄前,而叶绿素含量下降趋势开始于叶片21日龄之后。     

萝卜离体子叶衰老与膜脂过氧化的关系

萝卜离体子叶在光下或暗中衰老及激素调节衰老过程中,作为叶片衰老指标的叶绿素和蛋白质含量的降低,发生在MDA含量增高之前,更早于SOD活性的下降。表明由SOD活性降低所导致的膜脂过氧化的增强,并非衰老的原初反应,而是叶片衰老到一定程度的生理变化。因此,至少在萝卜离体子叶上,不能将其衰老的启动归因于受SOD控制的膜脂过氧化作用导致的膜累积性质变。     

棉花叶片衰老过程中激素和膜脂过氧化的关系

以陆地棉品种辽棉9号的去根幼苗为材料,对其进行暗诱导衰老培养.在培养液中分别加入6-BA、ABA、GSH、H2O2、CaCl2、A23187 和A23187 CaCl2,测定在不同培养条件下棉花去根幼苗叶片内源激素、SOD酶活性和MDA含量的变化.结果表明:棉花叶片衰老表现为细胞分裂素含量的下降和ABA含量的上升.6-BA、GSH和钙离子均延缓叶片的衰老,ABA和H2O2促进叶片的衰老.     

Ribulose-1,5-Diphosphate Carboxylase Protein during Flag Leaf Senescence

Ribulose-l,5-diphosphate (RuDP) carboxylase protein and activitywere determined in relation to net photosynthetic rate duringthe senescence of intact flag leaves of wheat on the plant.Initially the decrease in RuDP carboxylase activity was greaterthan the decline in net photosynthesis. The major decrease inRuDP carboxylase activity over this period resulted from a decreasein enzyme specific activity from 11 to 2 µmol CO₂ fixedh^–1 mg^–1 protein. Loss of RuDP carboxylase proteindid not occur until late in senescence by which time chlorophyllconcentration had decreased by more than 50%. Treatment of flagleaves at weekly intervals with either 1000 parts 10^–62-chloro-ethyltrimethylammonium chloride or 100 parts 10^–6gibberellic acid with 1 part 10^–6 kinetin did not significantlyaffect net photosynthetic rate, RuDP carboxylase protein oractivity during senescence.