Identification of tonoplast aquaporins in chloroplast membranes with role in photosynthesis

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TIP family aquaporins play role in chloroplast osmoregulation and photosynthesis

SUMMARYPhotosynthetic oxygen evolution by photosystem II requires water supply into the chloroplast to reach the thylakoid lumen. A rapid water flow is also required into the chloroplast for optimal oxygen evolution and to overcome osmotic stress. The mechanisms governing water transport in chloroplasts are largely unexplored. Previous proteomics indicated the presence of three aquaporins from the tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) family, TIP1;1, TIP1;2 and TIP2;1, in chloroplast membranes of Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we revisited their location and studied their role in chloroplasts. Localization experiments indicated that TIP2;1 resides in the thylakoid, whereas TIP1;2 is present in both thylakoid and envelope membranes. Mutants lacking TIP1;2 and/or TIP2;1 did not display a macroscopic phenotype when grown under standard conditions. The mutant chloroplasts and thylakoids underwent less volume changes than the corresponding wild type preparations upon osmotic treatment and in the light. Significantly reduced rates of photosynthetic electron transport were obtained in the mutant leaves, with implications on the CO2 fixation rates. However, electron transport rates did not significantly differ between mutants and wild type when isolated thylakoids were examined. Less acidification of the thylakoid lumen was measured in mutants thylakoids, resulting in a slower induction of delta pH-dependent photoprotective mechanisms. These results identify TIP1;2 and TIP2;1 as chloroplast proteins and highlight their importance for osmoregulation and optimal photosynthesis. A third aquaporin, TIP1;1, is present in the chloroplast envelope, and may play role in photosynthesis under excessive light conditions, as based on the weak photosynthetic phenotype of its mutant.</jats:p

Enhanced Secondary- and Hormone Metabolism in Leaves of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula.

Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are the most common symbiotic associations between a plant's root compartment and fungi. They provide nutritional benefit (mostly inorganic phosphate [Pi]), leading to improved growth, and nonnutritional benefits, including defense responses to environmental cues throughout the host plant, which, in return, delivers carbohydrates to the symbiont. However, how transcriptional and metabolic changes occurring in leaves of AM plants differ from those induced by Pi fertilization is poorly understood. We investigated systemic changes in the leaves of mycorrhized Medicago truncatula in conditions with no improved Pi status and compared them with those induced by high-Pi treatment in nonmycorrhized plants. Microarray-based genome-wide profiling indicated up-regulation by mycorrhization of genes involved in flavonoid, terpenoid, jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis as well as enhanced expression of MYC2, the master regulator of JA-dependent responses. Accordingly, total anthocyanins and flavonoids increased, and most flavonoid species were enriched in AM leaves. Both the AM and Pi treatments corepressed iron homeostasis genes, resulting in lower levels of available iron in leaves. In addition, higher levels of cytokinins were found in leaves of AM- and Pi-treated plants, whereas the level of ABA was increased specifically in AM leaves. Foliar treatment of nonmycorrhized plants with either ABA or JA induced the up-regulation of MYC2, but only JA also induced the up-regulation of flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthetic genes. Based on these results, we propose that mycorrhization and Pi fertilization share cytokinin-mediated improved shoot growth, whereas enhanced ABA biosynthesis and JA-regulated flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthesis in leaves are specific to mycorrhization

Genome-wide identification and characterization of aquaporin gene family in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Plant aquaporins are a large and diverse family of water channel proteins that are essential for several physiological processes in living organisms. Numerous studies have linked plant aquaporins with a plethora of processes, such as nutrient acquisition, CO2 transport, plant growth and development, and response to abiotic stresses. However, little is known about this protein family in common bean. Here, we present a genome-wide identification of the aquaporin gene family in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a legume crop essential for human nutrition. We identified 41 full-length coding aquaporin sequences in the common bean genome, divided by phylogenetic analysis into five sub-families (PIPs, TIPs, NIPs, SIPs and XIPs). Residues determining substrate specificity of aquaporins (i.e., NPA motifs and ar/R selectivity filter) seem conserved between common bean and other plant species, allowing inference of substrate specificity for these proteins. Thanks to the availability of RNA-sequencing datasets, expression levels in different organs and in leaves of wild and domesticated bean accessions were evaluated. Three aquaporins (PvTIP1;1, PvPIP2;4 and PvPIP1;2) have the overall highest mean expressions, with PvTIP1;1 having the highest expression among all aquaporins. We performed an EST database mining to identify drought-responsive aquaporins in common bean. This analysis showed a significant increase in expression for PvTIP1;1 in drought stress conditions compared to well-watered environments. The pivotal role suggested for PvTIP1;1 in regulating water homeostasis and drought stress response in the common bean should be verified by further field experimentation under drought stress