0000000000027958

AUTHOR

Cornelia Spetea

Screening for Solute Transporters in Plant Photosynthetic Membranes

As compared to chloroplast envelope transporters, the field of thylakoid transporters is largely unexplored. There is evidence for several transport activities in the plant thylakoid membrane, but only a copper P-type ATPase and an ATP/ADP carrier have been so far identified at the gene level in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using in silico analyses, we have predicted the existence of approximately 15 thylakoid transporters, including phosphate transporters and cation channels. For experimental validation, we have used peptide- specific antibodies and functional analyses in heterologous system. These novel data are highly relevant to understand the transport network of the thylakoid membrane and it…

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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…

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Mixotrophy in diatoms: Molecular mechanism and industrial potential

Diatoms are microalgae well known for their high variability and high primary productivity, being responsible for about 20% of the annual global carbon fixation. Moreover, they are interesting as potential feedstocks for the production of biofuels and high-value lipids and carotenoids. Diatoms exhibit trophic flexibility and, under certain conditions, they can grow mixotrophically by combing photosynthesis and respiration. So far, only a few species of diatoms have been tested for their mixotrophic metabolism; in some cases, they produced more biomass and with higher lipid content when grown under this condition. Phaeodactylum tricornutum is the most studied diatom species for its mixotroph…

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Role of Thylakoid ATP/ADP Carrier in Photoinhibition and Photoprotection of Photosystem II in Arabidopsis

L'article original est publié par The American Society of Plant Biologists; International audience; The chloroplast thylakoid ATP/ADP carrier (TAAC) belongs to the mitochondrial carrier superfamily and supplies the thylakoid lumen with stromal ATP in exchange for ADP. Here, we investigate the physiological consequences of TAAC depletion in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We show that the deficiency of TAAC in two T-DNA insertion lines does not modify the chloroplast ultrastructure, the relative amounts of photosynthetic proteins, the pigment composition, and the photosynthetic activity. Under growth light conditions, the mutants initially displayed similar shoot weight, but lower when r…

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The Arabidopsis PsbO2 protein regulates dephosphorylation and turnover of the photosystem II reaction centre D1 protein

The extrinsic photosystem II (PSII) protein of 33 kDa (PsbO), which stabilizes the water-oxidizing complex, is represented in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) by two isoforms. Two T-DNA insertion ...

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Solute transporters in plant thylakoid membranes

International audience; Plants utilize sunlight to drive photosynthetic energy conversion in the chloroplast thylakoid membrane. Here are located four major photosynthetic complexes, about which we have great knowledge in terms of structure and function. However, much less we know about auxiliary proteins, such as transporters, ensuring an optimum function and turnover of these complexes. The most prominent thylakoid transporter is the proton-translocating ATP-synthase. Recently, four additional transporters have been identified in the thylakoid membrane of Arabidopsis thaliana, namely one copper-transporting P-ATPase, one chloride channel, one phosphate transporter, and one ATP/ADP carrier…

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Mixotrophy in a Local Strain of Nannochloropsis granulata for Renewable High-Value Biomass Production on the West Coast of Sweden

A local strain of Nannochloropsis granulata (Ng) has been reported as the most productive microalgal strain in terms of both biomass yield and lipid content when cultivated in photobioreactors that simulate the light and temperature conditions during the summer on the west coast of Sweden. To further increase the biomass and the biotechnological potential of this strain in these conditions, mixotrophic growth (i.e., the simultaneous use of photosynthesis and respiration) with glycerol as an external carbon source was investigated in this study and compared with phototrophic growth that made use of air enriched with 1–2% CO2. The addition of either glycerol or CO2-enriched air stimulated the…

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