Chlorophyll fluorescence--a practical guide

Different algal symbionts explain the vertical distribution of dominant reef corals in the eastern Pacific

Symbiotic reef corals occupy the entire photic zone; however, most species have distinct zonation patterns within the light intensity gradient. It is hypothesized that the presence of specific symbionts adapted to different light regimes may determine the vertical distribution of particular hosts. We have tested this hypothesis by genetic and in situ physiological analyses of the algal populations occupying two dominant eastern Pacific corals, over their vertical distribution in the Gulf of California. Our findings indicate that each coral species hosts a distinct algal taxon adapted to a particular light regime. The differential use of light by specific symbiotic dinoflagellates constitutes an important axis for niche diversification and is sufficient to explain the vertical distribution patterns of these two coral species.

LESION SIMULATING DISEASE 1 is required for acclimation to conditions that promote excess excitation energy

The lsd1 mutant of Arabidopsis fails to limit the boundaries of hypersensitive cell death response during avirulent pathogen infection and initiates unchecked lesions in long day photoperiod giving rise to the runaway cell death (rcd) phenotype. We link here the initiation and propagation of rcd to the activity of photosystem II, stomatal conductance and ultimately to photorespiratory H(2)O(2). A cross of lsd1 with the chlorophyll a/b binding harvesting-organelle specific (designated cao) mutant, which has a reduced photosystem II antenna, led to reduced lesion formation in the lsd1/cao double mutant. This lsd1 mutant also had reduced stomatal conductance and catalase activity in short-day permissive conditions and induced H(2)O(2) accumulation followed by rcd when stomatal gas exchange was further impeded. All of these traits depended on the defense regulators EDS1 and PAD4. Furthermore, nonphotorespiratory conditions retarded propagation of lesions in lsd1. These data suggest that lsd1 failed to acclimate to light conditions that promote excess excitation energy (EEE) and that LSD1 function was required for optimal catalase activity. Through this regulation LSD1 can influence the effectiveness of photorespiration in dissipating EEE and consequently may be a key determinant of acclimatory processes. Salicylic acid, which induces stomatal closure, inhibits catalase activity and triggers the rcd phenotype in lsd1, also impaired acclimation of wild-type plants to conditions that promote EEE. We propose that the roles of LSD1 in light acclimation and in restricting pathogen-induced cell death are functionally linked.

Traffic lights in trichodesmium. Regulation of photosynthesis for nitrogen fixation studied by chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic microscopy

We investigated interactions between photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in the non-heterocystous marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium IMS101 at the single-cell level by two-dimensional (imaging) microscopic measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics. Nitrogen fixation was closely associated with the appearance of cells with high basic fluorescence yield (F(0)), termed bright cells. In cultures aerated with normal air, both nitrogen fixation and bright cells appeared in the middle of the light phase. In cultures aerated with 5% oxygen, both processes occurred at a low level throughout most of the day. Under 50% oxygen, nitrogen fixation commenced at the beginning of the light phase but declined soon afterwards. Rapid reversible switches between fluorescence levels were observed, which indicated that the elevated F(0) of the bright cells originates from reversible uncoupling of the photosystem II (PSII) antenna from the PSII reaction center. Two physiologically distinct types of bright cells were observed. Type I had about double F(0) compared to the normal F(0) in the dark phase and a PSII activity, measured as variable fluorescence (F(v) = F(m) - F(0)), similar to normal non-diazotrophic cells. Correlation of type I cells with nitrogen fixation, oxygen concentration, and light suggests that this physiological state is connected to an up-regulation of the Mehler reaction, resulting in oxygen consumption despite functional PSII. Type II cells had more than three times the normal F(0) and hardly any PSII activity measurable by variable fluorescence. They did not occur under low-oxygen concentrations, but appeared under high-oxygen levels outside the diazotrophic period, suggesting that this state represents a reaction to oxidative stress not necessarily connected to nitrogen fixation. In addition to the two high-fluorescence states, cells were observed to reversibly enter a low-fluorescence state. This occurred mainly after a cell went through its bright phase and may represent a fluorescence-quenching recovery phase.

Salicylate accumulation inhibits growth at chilling temperature in Arabidopsis

The growth of Arabidopsis plants in chilling conditions could be related to their levels of salicylic acid (SA). Plants with the SA hydroxylase NahG transgene grew at similar rates to Col-0 wild types at 23 degrees C, and growth of both genotypes was slowed by transfer to 5 degrees C. However, at 5 degrees C, NahG plants displayed relative growth rates about one-third greater than Col-0, so that by 2 months NahG plants were typically 2.7-fold larger. This resulted primarily from greater cell expansion in NahG rosette leaves. Specific leaf areas and leaf area ratios remained similar in both genotypes. Net assimilation rates were similar in both genotypes at 23 degrees C, but higher in NahG at 5 degrees C. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements revealed no PSII photodamage in chilled leaves of either genotype. Col-0 shoots at 5 degrees C accumulated SA, particularly in glucosylated form. SA in NahG shoots showed similar tendencies at 5 degrees C, but at greatly depleted levels. Catechol was not detected as a metabolite of the NahG transgene product. We also examined growth and SA levels in SA signaling and metabolism mutants at 5 degrees C. The partially SA-insensitive npr1 mutant displayed growth intermediate between NahG and Col-0, while the SA-deficient eds5 mutant behaved like NahG. In contrast, the cpr1 mutant at 5 degrees C accumulated very high levels of SA and its growth was much more inhibited than wild type. At both temperatures, cpr1 was the only SA-responsive genotype in which oxidative damage (measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) was significantly different from wild type.

PCT-233, a novel modulator of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production

Plant extracts have been implicated in various immunoregulatory effects that are poorly understood. Thus, we investigated the modulatory activity of PureCell Complex (PCT)-233, an active molecular complex from mesophyll tissue of Spinacia oleacea on the inflammatory process. Alveolar macrophages (AM) were treated with PCT-233 and/or budesonide, a well-known anti-inflammatory agent, before or after being stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-10, respectively, were measured in cell-free supernatants at different times after the treatment. PCT-233 increased unstimulated AM release of both TNF and IL-10, whereas heat- and light-inactivated PCT-233 stimulated only the release of TNF without affecting IL-10 production, suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in the modulation of TNF and IL-10 release by PCT-233. The presence of LPS did not modify PCT-233-stimulated TNF production, but the ratio TNF/IL-10 production by LPS-stimulated AM was reduced significantly in the presence of PCT-233. Pretreatment of AM with PCT-233 and budesonide before LPS stimulation reduced TNF production at both protein and mRNA levels, whereas IL-10 production was increased. Moreover, TNF/IL-10 ratio was reduced further with the combination PCT-233/budesonide. Interestingly, AM treatment with PCT-233 and budesonide 18 h after LPS stimulation did not modulate TNF release significantly but it did increase IL-10 production, and a synergistic effect was observed with the combination PCT-233/budesonide. These exciting data suggest that PCT-233 possesses some anti-inflammatory properties, even when added during the inflammatory process, and could potentiate the effect of other anti-inflammatory agents.

Modulation of energy-dependent quenching of excitons in antennae of higher plants

Energy-dependent exciton quenching, or q(E), protects the higher plant photosynthetic apparatus from photodamage. Initiation of q(E) involves protonation of violaxanthin deepoxidase and PsbS, a component of the photosystem II antenna complex, as a result of lumen acidification driven by photosynthetic electron transfer. It has become clear that the response of q(E) to linear electron flow, termed "q(E) sensitivity," must be modulated in response to fluctuating environmental conditions. Previously, three mechanisms have been proposed to account for q(E) modulation: (i) the sensitivity of q(E) to the lumen pH is altered; (ii) elevated cyclic electron flow around photosystem I increases proton translocation into the lumen; and (iii) lowering the conductivity of the thylakoid ATP synthase to protons (g(H+)) allows formation of a larger steady-state proton motive force (pmf). Kinetic analysis of the electrochromic shift of intrinsic thylakoid pigments, a linear indicator of transthylakoid electric field component, suggests that, when CO(2) alone was lowered from 350 ppm to 50 ppm CO(2), modulation of q(E) sensitivity could be explained solely by changes in conductivity. Lowering both CO(2) (to 50 ppm) and O(2) (to 1%) resulted in an additional increase in q(E) sensitivity that could not be explained by changes in conductivity or cyclic electron flow associated with photosystem I. Evidence is presented for a fourth mechanism, in which changes in q(E) sensitivity result from variable partitioning of proton motive force into the electric field and pH gradient components. The implications of this mechanism for the storage of proton motive force and the regulation of the light reactions are discussed.

Ascorbate-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis grow in high light despite chronic photooxidative stress

Acclimation to changing environments, such as increases in light intensity, is necessary, especially for the survival of sedentary organisms like plants. To learn more about the importance of ascorbate in the acclimation of plants to high light (HL), vtc2, an ascorbate-deficient mutant of Arabidopsis, and the double mutants vtc2npq4 and vtc2npq1 were tested for growth in low light and HL and compared with the wild type. The vtc2 mutant has only 10% to 30% of wild-type levels of ascorbate, vtc2npq4 has lower ascorbate levels and lacks non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ) because of the absence of the photosystem II protein PsbS, and vtc2npq1 is NPQ deficient and also lacks zeaxanthin in HL but has PsbS. All three genotypes were able to grow in HL and had wild-type levels of Lhcb1, cytochrome f, PsaF, and 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin. However, the mutants had lower electron transport and oxygen evolution rates and lower quantum efficiency of PSII compared with the wild type, implying that they experienced chronic photooxidative stress. The mutants lacking NPQ in addition to ascorbate were only slightly more affected than vtc2. All three mutants had higher glutathione levels than the wild type in HL, suggesting a possible compensation for the lower ascorbate content. These results demonstrate the importance of ascorbate for the long-term acclimation of plants to HL.

Thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase mutant exhibits impaired electron transport and photosynthetic activity

In chloroplasts, stromal and thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidases (tAPX) play a major role in the removal of H(2)O(2) produced during photosynthesis. Here, we report that hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) expresses three homeologous tAPX genes (TaAPX-6A, TaAPX-6B, and TaAPX-6D) mapping on group-6 chromosomes. The tAPX activity of a mutant line lacking TaAPX-6B was 40% lower than that of the wild type. When grown at high-light intensity photosystem II electron transfer, photosynthetic activity and biomass accumulation were significantly reduced in this mutant, suggesting that tAPX activity is essential for photosynthesis. Despite the reduced tAPX activity, mutant plants did not exhibit oxidative damage probably due to the reduced photochemical activity. This might be the result of a compensating mechanism to prevent oxidative damage having as a consequence a decrease in growth of the tAPX mutant plants.

In vivo modulation of nonphotochemical exciton quenching (NPQ) by regulation of the chloroplast ATP synthase

Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of excitation energy, which protects higher plant photosynthetic machinery from photodamage, is triggered by acidification of the thylakoid lumen as a result of light-induced proton pumping, which also drives the synthesis of ATP. It is clear that the sensitivity of NPQ is modulated in response to changing physiological conditions, but the mechanism for this modulation has remained unclear. Evidence is presented that, in intact tobacco or Arabidopsis leaves, NPQ modulation in response to changing CO(2) levels occurs predominantly by alterations in the conductivity of the CF(O)-CF(1) ATP synthase to protons (g(H)(+)). At a given proton flux, decreasing g(H)(+) will increase transthylakoid proton motive force (pmf), thus lowering lumen pH and contributing to the activation of NPQ. It was found that an approximately 5-fold decrease in g(H)(+) could account for the majority of NPQ modulation as atmospheric CO(2) was decreased from 2,000 ppm to 0 ppm. Data are presented that g(H)(+) is kinetically controlled, rather than imposed thermodynamically by buildup of DeltaG(ATP). Further results suggest that the redox state of the ATP synthase gamma-subunit thiols is not responsible for altering g(H)(+). A working model is proposed wherein g(H)(+) is modulated by stromal metabolite levels, possibly by inorganic phosphate.

Long-term anoxia tolerance in leaves of Acorus calamus L. and Iris pseudacorus L

Mature green leaves of Acorus calamus and Iris pseudacorus have been shown to survive at least 28 d of total anoxia in the dark during the growing season, increasing up to 75 d and 60 d in overwintering leaves in A. calamus and I. pseudacorus, respectively. During the period of anaerobic incubation the glycolytic rate is reduced, carbohydrate reserves are conserved and ethanol levels in the tissues reached an equilibrium. Prolonged anoxia significantly suppressed leaf capacity for respiration and photosynthesis. After 28 d of anoxia, respiratory capacity was reduced in A. calamus and I. pseudacorus by 80% and 90%, respectively. The photosynthetic capacity of leaves decreased by 83% in A. calamus and by 97% in I. pseudacorus after 28 d of anoxia. This reduction in photosynthetic capacity was accompanied by a modification of the chlorophyll fluorescence pattern indicating damage to the PSII reaction centre and subsequent electron transport. Chlorophyll content was only slightly reduced after 28 d under anoxia and darkness in A. calamus, whereas there was a 50% reduction in I. pseudacorus. On return to air A. calamus leaves that endured 28 d of anoxia recovered full photosynthetic activity within 7 d while those of I. pseudacorus had a lag phase of 3-10 d. This well-developed ability to endure prolonged periods of oxygen deprivation in both these species is associated with a down-regulation in metabolic activity in response to the imposition of anaerobiosis. It is suggested that when leaf damage eventually does take place in these species after protracted oxygen deprivation, it is anoxic rather than post-anoxic stress that is responsible.

In situ and in vitro senescence induced by KCl stress: nutritional imbalance, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant metabolism

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. SH222) plants and calli were exposed to KCl stress for three weeks. Calli were more tolerant to KCl than plants. KCl stress decreased NO(-)(3), Mn, Fe and B levels in whole plants and P, Ca and Mg in shoots. NO(-)(3), P, Ca, Mg, Mn, and B levels decreased in 100 mM-stressed calli. Chlorophyll content, F:(m) and (F:(m)-F:(0))/F:(m) ratio decreased in stressed leaves, while F:(0) increased only in leaves exposed to severe stress (100 and 150 mM). Membrane permeability and lipid peroxidation increased in plants under all stress conditions and in 100 and 150 mM stressed calli, but remained unchanged in 25 mM stressed calli. Salt stress also induced changes relating to antioxidant enzymes: plants under all stress conditions showed a decrease in catalase, peroxidase and SOD activities. Calli under moderate stress (25 mM KCl) showed an increase of catalase, peroxidase and SOD activities, but the activities of peroxidase and SOD decreased when calli were exposed to higher KCl concentrations. The decrease of antioxidant enzyme activities is in tune with lipid peroxidation and membrane permeability increases. On the other hand, calli adapted for 6 months to 100 mM KCl showed an increase of these enzyme activities compared to unstressed calli, while MDA production and membrane permeability were not significantly affected.