TROL-FNR interaction reveals alternative pathways of electron partitioning in photosynthesis

Sci Rep. 2015 Jun 4:5:10085. doi: 10.1038/srep10085.

Abstract

In photosynthesis, final electron transfer from ferredoxin to NADP(+) is accomplished by the flavo enzyme ferredoxin:NADP(+) oxidoreductase (FNR). FNR is recruited to thylakoid membranes via integral membrane thylakoid rhodanase-like protein TROL. We address the fate of electrons downstream of photosystem I when TROL is absent. We have employed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to study free radical formation and electron partitioning in TROL-depleted chloroplasts. DMPO was used to detect superoxide anion (O2(.-)) formation, while the generation of other free radicals was monitored by Tiron. Chloroplasts from trol plants pre-acclimated to different light conditions consistently exhibited diminished O2(.-) accumulation. Generation of other radical forms was elevated in trol chloroplasts in all tested conditions, except for the plants pre-acclimated to high-light. Remarkably, dark- and growth light-acclimated trol chloroplasts were resilient to O2(.-) generation induced by methyl-viologen. We propose that the dynamic binding and release of FNR from TROL can control the flow of photosynthetic electrons prior to activation of the pseudo-cyclic electron transfer pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chloroplasts / metabolism
  • Electron Transport*
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways*
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Photoperiod
  • Photosynthesis*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • TROL protein, Arabidopsis
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase
  • Oxygen