Characterization of cytoplasmic mutants of Nicotiana tabacum with altered photosynthetic function

Cytological, genetic, and proteomic analysis of a sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) mutant Siyl-1 with yellow-green leaf color

BACKGROUND

Both photosynthetic pigments and chloroplasts in plant leaf cells play an important role in deciding on the photosynthetic capacity and efficiency in plants. Systematical investigating the regulatory mechanism of chloroplast development and chlorophyll (Chl) content variation is necessary for clarifying the photosynthesis mechanism for crops.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the critical regulatory mechanism of leaf color mutation in a yellow-green leaf sesame mutant Siyl-1.

METHODS

We performed the genetic analysis of the yellow-green leaf color mutation using the F2 population of the mutant Siyl-1. We compared the morphological structure of the chloroplasts, chlorophyll content of the three genotypes of the mutant F2 progeny. We performed the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and compared the protein expression variation between the mutant progeny and the wild type.

RESULTS

Genetic analysis indicated that there were 3 phenotypes of the F2 population of the mutant Siyl-1, i.e., YY type with light-yellow leaf color (lethal); Yy type with yellow-green leaf color, and yy type with normal green leaf color. The yellow-green mutation was controlled by an incompletely dominant nuclear gene, Siyl-1. Compared with the wild genotype, the chloroplast number and the morphological structure in YY and Yy mutant lines varied evidently. The chlorophyll content also significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The 2-DE comparison showed that there were 98 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) among YY, Yy, and yy lines. All the 98 DEPs were classified into 5 functional groups. Of which 82.7% DEPs proteins belonged to the photosynthesis and energy metabolism group.

CONCLUSION

The results revealed the genetic character of yellow-green leaf color mutant Siyl-1. 98 DEPs were found in YY and Yy mutant compared with the wild genotype. The regulation pathway related with the yellow leaf trait mutation in sesame was analyzed for the first time. The findings supplied the basic theoretical and gene basis for leaf color and chloroplast development mechanism in sesame.

Detection of point mutations in chloroplast genes of Antirrhinum majus L. I. Identification of a point mutation in the psaB gene of a photosystem I plastome mutant

A point mutation in the plastome-encoded psaB gene of the mutant en:alba-1 of Antirrhinum majus L. was identified by an analysis of chloroplast DNA with a modified PCR-SSCP technique. Application of this technique is indicated when a gene or a group of genes is known in which the point mutation is located. Analysis of primary photosynthetic reactions in the yellowish white plastome mutant indicated a dysfunction of photosystem (PS) I. The peak wavelength of PS I-dependent chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence emission at 77 K was shifted by 4 nm to 730 nm, as compared to fluorescence from wild-type. There were no redox transients of the reaction center Chl P700 upon illumination of leaves with continuous far-red light or with rate-saturating flashes of white light. The PS I reaction center proteins PsaA and PsaB are not detectable by SDS-PAGE in mutant plastids. Hence, plastome encoded PS I genes were regarded as putative sites of mutation. In order to identify plastome mutations we developed a modified SSCP (single-strand conformation polymorphism) procedure using a large PCR fragment which can be cleaved with various restriction enzymes. When DNA from wild-type and en:alba-1 was submitted to SSCP analysis, a single stranded HinfI fragment of a PCR product of the psaB gene showed differences in electrophoretic mobility. Sequence analysis revealed that the observed SSCP was caused by a single base substitution at codon 136 (TAT-->TAG) of the psaB gene. The point mutation produces a new stop codon that leads to a truncated PsaB protein. The results presented indicate that the mutation prevents the assembly of a functional PS I complex. The applicability to other plastome mutants of the new method for detection of point mutations is discussed.

Changes in frequencies of variegated leaves in NMU treated tobacco : Evidence for a differential response to NMU

Seeds of Nicotiana tabacum were allowed to imbibe water for 1 h and were then treated with 5-20 mM N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) for 1 h. Seedlings were planted out separately and leaves no. 1-6 were scored individually after expansion was complete: frequencies of leaves with mutant sectors and the percentage of leaf area that was mutant were determined for the numbered leaves. Treatment with 5 mM NMU gave few mutant plants but after 10-20 mM NMU 50-98% of plants were mutant. The frequency of mutant leaves increased from leaf no. 1 to leaves no. 3-4; as much as a 5.6-fold increase, from leaf no. 1 to no. 3 was found. There appears to be differential sensitivity to NMU: it is lower in the initial cells for leaf no. 1 than in the initials for leaves no. 3 or 4. Leaves no. 1-4 arise from four different groups of initial cells: mutations appearing in two or more of leaves no. 1-4 must, therefore, arise independently of one another. From mutants found in leaves no. 1-4 it is estimated that the mean number of mutations per seedling was 2.68 after treatment with 20 mM NMU. Mean percentage of leaf surface area occupied by mutant sectors increased from 14% to 29.4% as NMU concentration increased from 10 to 20 mM. It also increased significantly from leaf no. 1 to leaves no. 3-6 after treatment with 15 or 20 mM NMU but not after 10 mM NMU: this suggests that mutagen treatment may affect the formation of mutant homoplasmon cells and their contribution to leaf primordia.