Remodeling of tobacco thylakoids by over-expression of maize plastidial transglutaminase

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Oct;1787(10):1215-22. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2009.05.014. Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Abstract

Transglutaminases (TGases, EC 2.3.2.13) are intra- and extra-cellular enzymes that catalyze post-translational modification of proteins by establishing epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl) links and covalent conjugation of polyamines. In chloroplast it is well established that TGases specifically polyaminylate the light-harvesting antenna of Photosystem (PS) II (LHCII, CP29, CP26, CP24) and therefore a role in photosynthesis has been hypothesised (Della Mea et al. [23] and refs therein). However, the role of TGases in chloroplast is not yet fully understood. Here we report the effect of the over-expression of maize (Zea mays) chloroplast TGase in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Petit Havana) chloroplasts. The transglutaminase activity in over-expressers was increased 4 times in comparison to the wild-type tobacco plants, which in turn increased the thylakoid associated polyamines about 90%. Functional comparison between Wt tobacco and tgz over-expressers is shown in terms of fast fluorescence induction kinetics, non-photochemical quenching of the singlet excited state of chlorophyll a and antenna heterogeneity of PSII. Both in vivo probing and electron microscopy studies verified thylakoid remodeling. PSII antenna heterogeneity in vivo changes in the over-expressers to a great extent, with an increase of the centers located in grana-appressed regions (PSIIalpha) at the expense of centers located mainly in stroma thylakoids (PSIIbeta). A major increase in the granum size (i.e. increase of the number of stacked layers) with a concomitant decrease of stroma thylakoids is reported for the TGase over-expressers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescence
  • Genome, Plant
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Biological*
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism*
  • Nicotiana / ultrastructure
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / metabolism
  • Pigments, Biological / metabolism
  • Polyamines / metabolism
  • Thylakoids / metabolism*
  • Thylakoids / ultrastructure
  • Transglutaminases / metabolism*
  • Zea mays / enzymology*

Substances

  • Photosystem II Protein Complex
  • Pigments, Biological
  • Polyamines
  • Transglutaminases