Action of Mercury on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Spinach Chloroplasts

In chloroplasts of Spinacea oleracea L., Hg2+ ions interact with some sites in the photosynthetic electron transport chain: (l) with the intermediates Z+/D+ situated in the D1 and D2 proteins and with the manganese cluster in the oxygen evolving complex which are located on the donor side of photosystem (PS) 2, (2) with the chlorophyll a dimer in the core of PS1 (P700). P700 is oxidized in the dark by HgCl2. The Hg2+ ions form organometallic complexes with amino acids contained in chloroplast proteins.     

Sugar and Light Effects on the Condition of the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Arabidopsis thaliana Cultured in vitro

Light and sugars are fundamental elements of plant metabolism and play signaling roles in many processes. They are also critical factors determining the condition of plants cultured in vitro. The aim of this work was to investigate the simultaneous influence of irradiance and sugar content in the medium on the growth and photosynthetic apparatus condition of Arabidopsis thaliana in vitro. Plants were grown on media containing 1 or 3% of sucrose or glucose at three irradiances: 25, 100, and 250 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ (weak, medium, and strong light). Media without sugar were used for control plants. Plant growth parameters were measured and the following physiological processes were investigated: photosynthesis, blue light-induced chloroplast relocations, and xanthophyll cycle activity. The expression of genes related to these processes was analyzed. The presence of sugar in the medium was found to be essential for the growth of Arabidopsis in vitro. Weak light significantly limited growth and the capacity to acclimate to changing light conditions. Strong light was a source of stress in some cases. Contrary to earlier reports, exogenous sugars showed a positive effect on photosynthesis. At higher concentration they acted as photoprotectants, overcoming the negative influence of strong light on photosynthesis and the xanthophyll cycle. The expression of all investigated genes was influenced by irradiance and sugar presence. In many cases differential effects of sugar type and concentration could be observed. The specific effects of some irradiance/sugar concentration combinations point to possible interactions between sugar- and light-induced signaling pathways.     

Photosynthetic Characteristics of Spinach Leaves Grown with Different Nitrogen Treatments

Spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea L.) were grown hydroponicallywith different concentrations of nitrate nitrogen, ranging from0.5 to 12 mM, in a glasshouse under full sunlight. Using anopen gas exchange system, the rate of CO₂ assimilation, A, wasdetermined as a function of intercellular partial pressure ofCO₂, P_i, with a constant amount of absorbed light per unit Chl.When expressed on a leaf area basis, A measured at high irradianceand at p_i=500 µbar, was proportional to the in vitro rateof uncoupled whole-chain electron transport as well as to Chlcontent. There was a curvilinear relationship between the mesophyllconductance (the slope of the A : P_i curve near the CO₂ compensationpoint) and the in vitro RuBP carboxylase activity. The curvaturedid not appear to be due to enzyme inactivation in vivo in leaveswith high nitrogen contents. The curvature suggested the presenceof a CO₂ transfer resistance between the intercellular spacesand the site of carboxylation of 2.2 m² s bar mol^–1 CO₂,which is similar to that previously observed in wheat. Thisimplied that, while nitrogen deficiency increased the ratioof in vitro activity of electron transport to that of RuBP carboxylase,the two activities remained balanced in vivo. Irradiance response curves were determined by both net CO₂ andO₂ exchange. The two methods gave reasonable agreement at lightsaturation. The quantum yield measured by O₂ evolution was 0.090?0.003mol O₂ mol^–1 absorbed quanta, whereas after correctingfor p_i = 500µbar, the quantum yield for CO₂ assimilationwas only 82% of that measured by oxygen evolution. ²Present address: Plant Environmental Biology Group, ResearchSchool of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University,G.P.O. Box 475, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601, Australia. (Received July 29, 1987; Accepted November 2, 1987)     

Vertical Gradient in Photosynthetic Properties of Spinach Chloroplast Dependent on Intra-Leaf Light Environment

A spinach leaf piece was planed into 10 layers parallel withleaf surface. The biochemical and ultrastructural propertiesof the chloroplasts of these 10 layers were compared. Resultsshowed that both the biochemical and ultrastructural propertiesof the chloroplasts change gradually and continuously from sun-to shade-type with the depth from the adaxial surface. ² Present address: Department of Biology, College of Arts andSciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguroku, Tokyo 153 Japan. (Received December 11, 1984; Accepted March 8, 1985)     

Influences of Blue and Red Light on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Chlorella kessleri*

In white light of 33.2 μmol . m^?2 . s^?1 oxygen evolution of Chlorella kessleri is about 30 % higher after growth in blue light than after growth in red light of the same quantum fluence rate. When determined by the light-induced absorbance change at γ 820 nm, blue light-adapted cells possess about 60% more reaction centres per total chlorophyll in photosystem II. Correspondingly, the cells exhibit about 30% more Hill activity of PS II. Conversely, red light-adapted cells contain relatively more reaction centres and higher electron flow capacities of photosystem I. The distribution of total chlorophyll among the pigment-protein complexes, CPI, CPIa, CPa, and LHC II, corresponds to these data. There is more chlorophyll associated with the light-harvesting complex of PS II, LHC II, in cells under blue light conditions, but more chlorophyll bound to both complexes of PS I, CPI and CPIa, in cells under red light conditions. The respective ratios of chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b of all complexes are identical for blue and red light-adapted cells. This results in a higher relative amount of chlorophyll b in blue light-adapted cells. Total carotenoids per total chlorophyll are increased by 20% in red light-adapted cells. Their distribution among the pigment-protein complexes is unknown, however the ratios of lutein, neoxanthin and violaxanthin extractable from LHC II are different in blue (32.1:35.9:32.0) and in red (51.4:26.7:21.9) light-adaptod cells.     

Cd2+ Effect on Photosynthetic Apparatus in Synechococcus elongatus and Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

Thylakoid membranes (TM) of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus were exposed for 30 min to the influence of 0, 10, 100, and 1 000 mM CdCl₂ (= Cd₀, Cd₁₀, Cd₁₀₀, and Cd₁₀₀₀). Cd₁₀ and Cd₁₀₀ caused some increase in activity of photosystem 2, PS2 (H₂O DCPIP), while distinct inhibition was observed with Cd₁₀₀₀. We also observed a similar effect when measuring oxygen evolution (H₂O PBQ + FeCy). Chloroplasts of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) were incubated for 30 min with 0, 15, 30, and 60 mM CdCl₂ (= Cd₀, Cd₁₅, Cd₃₀, and Cd₆₀). All concentrations studied inhibited the PS2 activity, the effect being stronger with increasing concentration of Cd²⁺. The photosynthetic oxygen evolution activity was also influenced most distinctly by the highest concentration employed, i.e. Cd₆₀. Electrophoretic analysis of the protein composition of cyanobacterium TM showed chief changes in the molecular mass regions of M_r 29 000 and 116 000, while with spinach chloroplasts the most distinct differences were observed in the regions of M_r 15 000 and 50 000. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) activity in cyanobacterial spheroplasts still remained on the 40 % level in the case of Cd₁₀₀₀, but it decreased down to approx. 2.5 % in the Cd₆₀ sample of spinach chloroplasts.     

Effects of Nitrogen Nutrition on Flowering in Carnation

Two varieties of perpetual flowering carnation were grown undervarious conditions of nitrogen supply, daylength, and temperature. In short days as compared with long, the number of leaves belowthe flower bud was always greater and the flower bud alwaysappeared later. At low levels of nitrogen, successive leaf pairs developed moreslowly and more leaves were formed below the flower, so thatflower initiation was delayed. This effect was more marked undershort days than under long days. The development of the flower bud from macroscopic appearanceto anthesis was affected primarily by temperature. Low temperaturesgenerally retarded development, this effect being most pronouncedin nitrogen deficient plants grown under short days.     

Adaptation of the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Chlorella and Ankistrodesmus to Blue and Red Light

The mode of adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus of three unicellular green algae, Ankistrodesmus braunii, Chlorella fusca and Chlorella saccharophila to red and blue light are documented by the fluence-rate curves of photosynthetic oxygen evolution. For all three algae tested photosynthetic capacity, respiration and light compensation point were higher for cells grown under red light, while the chlorophyll content increased in blue light-grown cells. Blue light-adapted cells have a lower chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b ratio and more chlorophyll in the light-harvesting system than red light-adapted cells, as shown in the electrophoretic profile of the pigment-protein complexes. It is concluded that the action of red light resembles that of high levels of white light, while blue light causes the same effects as low levels of white light. In agreement with previous publications these findings indicate that the mode of adaptation to different light qualities is ubiquitous in unicellular green algae.     

Adaptation of the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Scenedesmus obliquus to Strong and Weak Light Conditions

Homocontinuous cultures of the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus obliquus were grown under strong (28 W/m²～28,000 lux) and weak (5 W/m²～5000 lux) light conditions to simulate the conditions of ‘sun’ and ‘shade’ plants. As in higher plants the cells adapted to strong light had less chlorophyll but demonstrated a higher photosynthetic capacity and a higher respiration rate, so that their compensation point was reached at three times higher energy than in the cells grown under low light intensities. The CO₂ fixation rate and the RuDP carboxylase activity under saturating light intensities were both higher in the cells grown in strong light. In spite of the differences in the pigment content and in the light saturated photosynthetic capacities for both cultures, the quantum yields of photosynthetic oxygen evolution were equal. As documented for some species of higher plants Scenedesmus is not genetically determined to be either a ‘sun’ or ‘shade’ organism but can adapt its photosynthetic apparatus to the different light intensities.     

New Facts about CdCl2 Action on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Spinach Chloroplasts and Its Comparison with HgCl2 Action

Using EPR spectroscopy it was found that CdCl₂ and HgCl₂ interact (1) with the intermediates , i.e. with the tyrosine radicals on the donor side of photosystem (PS) 2 situated in the 161^st position in D₁ and D₂ proteins; (2) with the primary donor of PS1 (P700) whereby the oxidation of chlorophyll (Chl) a dimer in the reaction centre of PS1 occurs yet in the dark; (3) with the manganese cluster which is situated in the oxygen evolving complex. Due to these interactions of investigated metal chlorides with the photosynthetic apparatus, the interruption of the photosynthetic electron transport through photosynthetic centres occurs. Monitoring of time dependence of EPR signal I of chloroplasts treated with CdCl₂ or HgCl₂ after switching off the light suggests that all mechanisms, i.e. direct, cyclic, and non-cyclic reductions of P700⁺ are damaged. The formation of complexes between mercury or cadmium ions and amino acid residues constituting photosynthetic peptides was suggested as possible mechanism of their inhibitory action. The higher HgCl₂ efficiency in comparison with that of CdCl₂ was explained by higher ability of mercury ions to form complexes with amino acids, what was demonstrated by their apparent binding constants: K = 10 200 M^–1 for Hg²⁺ ions, and K = 3 700 M^–1 for Cd²⁺ ions.     

生长光强对4种热带雨林树苗光合机构的影响

于雾凉季研究了西双版纳热带雨林 4种植物幼苗对光抑制及光破坏的防御。发现不同光强下生长的玉蕊和滇南红厚壳日间光抑制均较团花树和滇南插柚紫重 ,在中光强下还发生了长期光抑制。中光强下生长的团花树和滇南插柚紫叶绿素含量降低 ,光合能力升高 ,同时增加热耗散量 ,维持光能平衡 ,避免了光破坏的发生。中光强下玉蕊和滇南红厚壳减少光能吸收、提高热耗散的同时 ,发生了光系统II光化学量子产量长期下调。中光强下生长的 4种植物叶片的类胡罗卜素的绝对含量并不高 ,但单位叶绿素的类胡罗卜素含量显著升高 ,相对保护作用增强。先锋树种团花树类胡罗卜素含量低于另 3种植物 ,这与其较低的热耗散速率相一致 ,光合能力的提高对其光破坏的防御有重要的作用     

Photosynthetic Characteristics in Two Wheat Genotypes as Affected by Nitrogen Nutrition

Chlorophyll (Chl) a and b content, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) content and activity, and electron transport rate were measured in flag leaves of wheat genotypes Uniculm and Kalyansona, grown at suboptimal and optimal supply of nitrogen. The Chl content, RuBPCO activity, and electron transport rate were decreased due to suboptimal nitrogen supply only in Kalyansona. There was no change in the ratio of RuBPCO and photosystem 2 (PS2) activity at various stages which suggests that there was no alteration in distribution of N due to additional N supply. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Photosynthetic Determinants of Growth in Maize Plants: Effects of Nitrogen Nutrition on Growth, Carbon Fixation and Photochemical Features

Maize(Zea mays L.) plants were grown in a greenhouse with differentlevels of nitrate-N (2 to 20 millimolar). Nitrogen nutritionhad dramatic effects on plant growth and photosynthetic characteristicsof mature leaves. Increasing nitrogen resulted in greater biomassproduction, shoot/root ratios, and rates of leaf expansion duringthe day. The elongating zone of high-N plants had higher activities(per gram fresh weight) of sucrose synthase and neutral invertasethan low-N plants, suggesting that increased leaf growth wasrelated to a greater biochemical capacity for sucrose metabolism. Mature leaves of high-N plants had higher rates of photosynthesisand assimilate export (sucrose formation), and partitioned morecarbon into sucrose relative to starch. Increased photosyntheticrates (leaf area basis) were associated with higher levels ofribulose-l,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylaseand pyruvate, phosphate dikinase (determined immunochemically).In addition, N-nutrition affected the functional organizationof chlorophyll in the leaves. Large increases in the numberof PS I reaction centers were observed which fully accountedfor increases in leaf chlorophyll content with increasing nitratesupply. Collectively, the results suggest that increased growth of maizeplants at high light and optimal nitrogen nutrition is relatedto greater capacity for photosynthesis and translocation inmature leaves, and possibly increased capacity for sucrose metabolismin expanding leaves. (Received May 22, 1989; Accepted August 28, 1989)     

Identification of Gibberellins in Spinach and Effects of Light and Darkness on their Levels

The endogenous gibberellin (GA) content of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was reinvestigated by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The 13-hydroxy GAs: GA₅₃, GA₄₄, GA₁₉, GA₁₇, GA₂₀, GA₅, GA₁, GA₂₉, and GA₈; the non-3, 13-hydroxy GAs: GA₁₂, GA₁₅, GA₉, and GA₅₁; and the 3β-hydroxy GAs: GA₄, GA₇, and GA₃₄, were identified in spinach extracts by comparing full-scan mass spectra and Kovats retention indices with those of reference GAs. In addition, spinach plants contained GA₇-isolactone, 16,17-dihydro-17-hydroxy-GA₅₃, GA₂₉-catabolite, 3-epi-GA₁, and 10 uncharacterized GAs with mass spectra indicative of mono- and dihydroxy-GA₁₂, monohydroxy-GA₂₅, dihydroxy-GA₂₄, and dihydroxy-GA_g. The effect of light-dark conditions on the GA levels of the 13-hydroxylation pathway was studied by using labeled internal standards in selected ion monitoring mode. In short day, the GA levels were higher at the end of the light period than at the end of the dark period. Levels of GAs at the end of each short day were relatively constant. During the first supplementary light period of long day treatment, GA₅₃ and GA₁₉ declined dramatically, GA₄₄ and GA₁ decreased slightly, and GA₂₀ increased. During the subsequent high-intensity light period, the GA₂₀ level decreased and the levels of GA₅₃, GA₄₄, GA₁₉, and GA₁ increased slightly. Within 7 days after the beginning of long day treatment, similar patterns for GA₅₃ and GA₁₉ occurred. Furthermore, when these plants were transferred to darkness, an increase in the levels of GA₅₃ and GA₁₉ was observed. These results are compatible with the idea that in spinach, the flow through the GA biosynthetic pathway is much enhanced during the high-intensity light period, although GA turnover occurs also during the supplementary period of long day, both effects being responsible for the increase of GA₂₀ and GA₁ in long day.     

Effects of Nitrate Nutrition on Nitrogen Metabolism in Cassava

Two experiments were conducted independently with plants of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) growing in sand with nutrient solutions with four nitrate concentrations (0.5, 3, 6 or 12 mM). In leaves, nitrate-N was undetectable at the low nitrate applications; total-N, ammonium-N, amino acid-N, reduced-N and insoluble-N all increased linearly, while soluble proteins did it curvilinearly, with increasing nitrate supply. In contrast, soluble-N did not respond to N treatments. Total-N and soluble proteins, but not nitrate-N or ammonium-N, were much higher in leaves than in roots. Plants grown under severe N deficiency accumulated ammonium-N and amino acid-N in their roots. Further, plants were exposed to either 3 or 12 mM nitrate-N, and leaf activities of key N-assimilating enzymes were evaluated. Activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase and glutamate dehydrogenase were considerably lower in low nitrate supply than in high one. Despite the low nitrate reductase activity, cassava leaves showed an ability to maintain a large proportion of N in soluble proteins.     

Response of the Photosynthetic Apparatus of the Diatom Thallassiosira weisflogii to High Irradiance Light

The response of the photosynthetic apparatus to high irradiance illumination (440–2200 W/m²) was studied in the diatom Thallassiosira weisflogii by fluorescence methods. Changes in the photosynthetic apparatus were monitored by measuring characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence F ₀, F _m, F _v/F _m, and qN for several hours after illumination of the alga with high-intensity light. Incubation of the alga with 2 mM DTT, an inhibitor of de-epoxidase of carotenoids in the diadinoxanthin cycle, led to a decrease in the nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence and a drop in the F _v/F _m ratio, a characteristic that reflects the quantum efficiency of the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus. Light-induced absorption changes associated with transformations of carotenoids of diadinoxanthin cycle were recorded in vivo in algal suspensions in the absence and in the presence of DTT. Using the microfluorometric method, we measured cell distribution over the efficiency of the primary processes of photosynthesis (F _v/F _m) after illumination. We found cells with a high tolerance of their photosynthetic apparatus to photooxidative damage. The relatively high tolerance of a portion of the cell population to high-light illumination can be related to light-induced transformation of carotenoids and to the functioning of other protective systems of the photosynthetic apparatus in diatoms.     

Carotenoids and Reaction Center II-D1 Protein in Light Regulation of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Aphanocapsa*

A new cyanobacterial isolate, morphologically closely resembling Aphanocapsa, was characterized for its growth requirements, as well as pigmentation, photosynthetic activity and dynamics of the D1 protein in the reaction center (RC) of photosystem II (PSII). It was shown to be able to grow on glucose in the dark in the presence of DCMU. The cyanobacterium turned light yellow at high light intensity in the absence, and dark emerald green in high light in the presence of sublethal concentrations of the DCMU-type inhibitor atrazine. While total carotenoids per cell slightly decreased with increasing light intensity during growth, the cells still turned pale yellow due to decreased levels of chlorophyll and phycocyanin. In contrast to β-carotene, zeaxanthin and echinenone which decreased with increasing light intensity during growth, the carotenoid glycoside, myxoxanthophyll, continuously increased in concentration. Extremely high rates of light-saturated O₂ evolution were recorded for the high light cultures after a 0.5 h recovery period in the dark. The recovery measured after 2.5 h was shown to be less effective in darkness than in dim light and was prohibited by chloramphenicol. The degree of recovery was dependent on the light intensity during growth. A fast light intensity-dependent RC II-D1 protein turnover was found for the bleached yellow cells rich in myxoxanthophyll. The half-life of the RC II-D1 protein, plotted against the light intensity during growth and experimentation, yielded a curve the slope of which was considerably steeper for Aphanocapsa than for Anacystis. Apparently, the isolated strain of Aphanocapsa reacts more vigorously to changes in the environment than other strains tested and may, therefore, turn out to be a suitable organism in the attempt to elucidate the molecular mechanism of light intensity adaptation.     

Ontogenetic Changes in the Photosynthetic Apparatus and Effects of Cytokinins (Review)

Data on structural and functional changes in the photosynthetic apparatus of agricultural plants are presented. Results of experiments with the regulatory effects of cytokinin-like phytohormones on photosynthesis are discussed. Cytokinins are involved in the structural formation and maintenance of the photosynthetic apparatus, stomatal function, supply of CO₂ to carboxylation sites through the leaf mesophyll, synthesis of pigments and enzyme systems, and regulation of photoreduction and carbon metabolism. Possible mechanisms mediating the regulatory effects of cytokinins are discussed.