The Significance of Chloroplast NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase Complex and Its Dependent Cyclic Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

Mingzhu Ma; Yifei Liu; Chunming Bai; Jean Wan Hong Yong

doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.661863

The Significance of Chloroplast NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase Complex and Its Dependent Cyclic Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

Front Plant Sci. 2021 Apr 23:12:661863. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.661863. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mingzhu Ma¹, Yifei Liu^{1

2

3

4}, Chunming Bai^{2

5}, Jean Wan Hong Yong^{3

6}

Affiliations

¹ College of Land and Environment, National Key Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Northeast China Plant Nutrition and Fertilization Scientific Observation and Research Center for Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture of Education Ministry and Liaoning Province, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
² The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
³ School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁴ School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁵ Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, China.
⁶ Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden.

Abstract

Chloroplast NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) complex, a multiple-subunit complex in the thylakoid membranes mediating cyclic electron transport, is one of the most important alternative electron transport pathways. It was identified to be essential for plant growth and development during stress periods in recent years. The NDH-mediated cyclic electron transport can restore the over-reduction in stroma, maintaining the balance of the redox system in the electron transfer chain and providing the extra ATP needed for the other biochemical reactions. In this review, we discuss the research history and the subunit composition of NDH. Specifically, the formation and significance of NDH-mediated cyclic electron transport are discussed from the perspective of plant evolution and physiological functionality of NDH facilitating plants' adaptation to environmental stress. A better understanding of the NDH-mediated cyclic electron transport during photosynthesis may offer new approaches to improving crop yield.

Keywords: NAD(P)H; chloroplast; cyclic electron transport; dehydrogenase complex; photosynthesis.

Publication types

Review