Photosynthesis is sensitive to nitric oxide and respiration sensitive to hydrogen peroxide: Studies with pea mesophyll protoplasts

Abstract

Reports on the effect of nitric oxide (NO) or reactive oxygen species (ROS) on photosynthesis and respiration in leaf tissues are intriguing; therefore, the effects of exogenous addition of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, releases NO) or H₂O₂ on the photosynthetic O₂ evolution and respiratory O₂ uptake by mesophyll protoplasts in pea (Pisum sativum) were evaluated in the present study. Low concentrations of SNP or H₂O₂ were used to minimize nonspecific effects. The effects of NO or H₂O₂ on respiration and photosynthesis were different. The presence of NO decreased the rate of photosynthesis but caused a marginal stimulation of dark respiration. Conversely, externally administered H₂O₂ drastically decreased the rate of respiration but only slightly decreased photosynthesis. The PS I activity was more sensitive to NO than PS II. On the other hand, 100 μM H₂O₂ had no effect on the photochemical reactions of either PS I or PS II. The sensitivity of photosynthesis to antimycin A or SHAM (reflecting the interplay between chloroplasts and mitochondria) was not affected by NO. By contrast, H₂O₂ markedly decreased the sensitivity of photosynthesis to antimycin A and SHAM. It can be concluded that chloroplasts are the primary targets of NO, while mitochondria are the primary targets of ROS in plant cells. We propose that H₂O₂ can be an important signal to modulate the crosstalk between chloroplasts and mitochondria.

Keywords: Alternative oxidase; Cytochrome oxidase; Nitric oxide; Organelle interactions; Photosynthesis; Protoplasts; ROS; Respiration.