The Physiological Functionality of PGR5/PGRL1-Dependent Cyclic Electron Transport in Sustaining Photosynthesis

Mingzhu Ma; Yifei Liu; Chunming Bai; Yunhong Yang; Zhiyu Sun; Xinyue Liu; Siwei Zhang; Xiaori Han; Jean Wan Hong Yong

doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.702196

The Physiological Functionality of PGR5/PGRL1-Dependent Cyclic Electron Transport in Sustaining Photosynthesis

Front Plant Sci. 2021 Jul 7:12:702196. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.702196. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mingzhu Ma¹, Yifei Liu^{1

2

3

4}, Chunming Bai⁵, Yunhong Yang⁶, Zhiyu Sun¹, Xinyue Liu¹, Siwei Zhang¹, Xiaori Han¹, Jean Wan Hong Yong^{3

7}

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 National Sorghum Improvement Center, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, China.
⁶ Professional Technology Innovation Center of Magnesium Nutrition, Yingkou Magnesite Chemical Ind Group Co., Ltd., Yingkou, China.
⁷ Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden.

Abstract

The cyclic electron transport (CET), after the linear electron transport (LET), is another important electron transport pathway during the light reactions of photosynthesis. The proton gradient regulation 5 (PGR5)/PRG5-like photosynthetic phenotype 1 (PGRL1) and the NADH dehydrogenase-like complex pathways are linked to the CET. Recently, the regulation of CET around photosystem I (PSI) has been recognized as crucial for photosynthesis and plant growth. Here, we summarized the main biochemical processes of the PGR5/PGRL1-dependent CET pathway and its physiological significance in protecting the photosystem II and PSI, ATP/NADPH ratio maintenance, and regulating the transitions between LET and CET in order to optimize photosynthesis when encountering unfavorable conditions. A better understanding of the PGR5/PGRL1-mediated CET during photosynthesis might provide novel strategies for improving crop yield in a world facing more extreme weather events with multiple stresses affecting the plants.

Keywords: PRG5-like photosynthetic phenotype 1; cyclic electron transport; photoinhibition; photosynthesis; proton gradient regulation 5.

Publication types

Review