| 1. |
- Benedict, Catherine, et al.
(author)
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Consensus by democracy. Using meta-analyses of microarray and genomic data to model the cold acclimation signaling pathway in Arabidopsis.
- 2006
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In: Plant Physiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0032-0889 .- 1532-2548. ; 141:4, s. 1219-1232
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The whole-genome response of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) exposed to different types and durations of abiotic stress has now been described by a wealth of publicly available microarray data. When combined with studies of how gene expression is affected in mutant and transgenic Arabidopsis with altered ability to transduce the low temperature signal, these data can be used to test the interactions between various low temperature-associated transcription factors and their regulons. We quantized a collection of Affymetrix microarray data so that each gene in a particular regulon could vote on whether a cis-element found in its promoter conferred induction (+1), repression (–1), or no transcriptional change (0) during cold stress. By statistically comparing these election results with the voting behavior of all genes on the same gene chip, we verified the bioactivity of novel cis-elements and defined whether they were inductive or repressive. Using in silico mutagenesis we identified functional binding consensus variants for the transcription factors studied. Our results suggest that the previously identified ICEr1 (induction of CBF expression region 1) consensus does not correlate with cold gene induction, while the ICEr3/ICEr4 consensuses identified using our algorithms are present in regulons of genes that were induced coordinate with observed ICE1 transcript accumulation and temporally preceding genes containing the dehydration response element. Statistical analysis of overlap and cis-element enrichment in the ICE1, CBF2, ZAT12, HOS9, and PHYA regulons enabled us to construct a regulatory network supported by multiple lines of evidence that can be used for future hypothesis testing.
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| 2. |
- Benedict, Catherine, et al.
(author)
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The CBF1-dependent low temperature signalling pathway, regulon and increase in freeze tolerance are conserved in Populus spp
- 2006
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In: Plant, Cell and Environment. - Oxford : Blackwell Scientific Publications Ltd. - 0140-7791 .- 1365-3040. ; 29:7, s. 1259-1272
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The meristematic tissues of temperate woody perennials must acclimate to freezing temperatures to survive the winter and resume growth the following year. To determine whether the C-repeat binding factor (CBF) family of transcription factors contributing to this process in annual herbaceous species also functions in woody perennials, we investigated the changes in phenotype and transcript profile of transgenic Populus constitutively expressing CBF1 from Arabidopsis (AtCBF1). Ectopic expression of AtCBF1 was sufficient to significantly increase the freezing tolerance of non-acclimated leaves and stems relative to wild-type plants. cDNA microarray experiments identified genes up-regulated by ectopic AtCBF1 expression in Populus, demonstrated a strong conservation of the CBF regulon between Populus and Arabidopsis and identified differences between leaf and stem regulons. We studied the induction kinetics and tissue specificity of four CBF paralogues identified from the Populus balsamifera subsp. trichocarpa genome sequence (PtCBFs). All four PtCBFs are cold-inducible in leaves, but only PtCBF1 and PtCBF3 show significant induction in stems. Our results suggest that the central role played by the CBF family of transcriptional activators in cold acclimation of Arabidopsis has been maintained in Populus. However, the differential expression of the PtCBFs and differing clusters of CBF-responsive genes in annual (leaf) and perennial (stem) tissues suggest that the perennial-driven evolution of winter dormancy may have given rise to specific roles for these 'master-switches' in the different annual and perennial tissues of woody species.
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| 3. |
- Hendrickson, Luke, et al.
(author)
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Cold acclimation of the Arabidopsis dgd1 mutant results in recovery from photosystem I-limited photosynthesis.
- 2006
-
In: FEBS Letters. - : Wiley. - 0014-5793. ; 580:20, s. 4959-68
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We compared the thylakoid membrane composition and photosynthetic properties of non- and cold-acclimated leaves from the dgd1 mutant (lacking >90% of digalactosyl–diacylglycerol; DGDG) and wild type (WT) Arabidopsis thaliana. In contrast to warm grown plants, cold-acclimated dgd1 leaves recovered pigment-protein pools and photosynthetic function equivalent to WT. Surprisingly, this recovery was not correlated with an increase in DGDG. When returned to warm temperatures the severe dgd1 mutant phenotype reappeared. We conclude that the relative recovery of photosynthetic activity at 5 °C resulted from a temperature/lipid interaction enabling the stable assembly of PSI complexes in the thylakoid.
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| 4. |
- Huner, Norman P A, et al.
(author)
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Photoprotection of Photosystem II: Reaction center quenching versus antenna quenching
- 2006
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In: Photoprotection, Photoinhibition, Gene Regulation and Environment. - : Springer. - 9781402035647 ; , s. 155-174
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Photoprotection, Photoinhibition, Gene Regulation, and Environment examines the processes whereby plants monitor environmental conditions and orchestrate their response to change, an ability paramount to the life of all plants. "Excess light", absorbed by the light-harvesting systems of photosynthetic organisms, is an integrative indicator of the environment, communicating the presence of intense light and any conditions unfavorable for growth and photosynthesis. Key plant responses are photoprotection and photoinhibition. In this volume, the dual role of photoprotective responses in the preservation of leaf integrity and in redox signaling networks modulating stress acclimation, growth, and development is addressed. In addition, the still unresolved impact of photoinhibition on plant survival and productivity is discussed. Specific topics include dissipation of excess energy via thermal and other pathways, scavenging of reactive oxygen by antioxidants, proteins key to photoprotection and photoinhibition, peroxidation of lipids, as well as signaling by reactive oxygen, lipid-derived messengers, and other messengers that modulate gene expression. Approaches include biochemical, physiological, genetic, molecular, and field studies, addressing intense visible and ultraviolet light, winter conditions, nutrient deficiency, drought, and salinity. This book is directed toward advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers interested in Plant Ecology, Stress Physiology, Plant Biochemistry, Integrative Biology, and Photobiology.
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| 5. |
- Ivanov, Alexander G, et al.
(author)
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Acclimation to temperature and irradiance modulates PSII charge recombination.
- 2006
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In: FEBS Letters. - : Wiley. - 0014-5793. ; 580:11, s. 2797-802
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Acclimation of wild type and the chlorina F2 mutant of barley to either high light or low temperature results in a 2- to 3-fold increase in non-photochemical quenching which occurred independently of either energy-dependent quenching (qE), xanthophyll cycle-mediated antenna quenching or state transitions. Results of in vivo thermoluminescence measurements used to address this conundrum indicated that excitation pressure regulates the temperature gap for Click to view the MathML source and Click to view the MathML source charge recombinations within photosystem II reaction centers. This is discussed in terms of photoprotection through non-radiative charge recombination.
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| 6. |
- Ivanov, Alexander G, et al.
(author)
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Characterization of the photosynthetic apparatus in cortical bark chlorenchyma of Scots pine.
- 2006
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In: Planta. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0032-0935 .- 1432-2048. ; 223:6, s. 1165-77
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Winter-induced inhibition of photosynthesis in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles is accompanied by a 65% reduction of the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), measured as F v/F m, but relatively stable photosystem I (PSI) activity. In contrast, the photochemical efficiency of PSII in bark chlorenchyma of Scots pine twigs was shown to be well preserved, while PSI capacity was severely decreased. Low-temperature (77 K) chlorophyll fluorescence measurements also revealed lower relative fluorescence intensity emitted from PSI in bark chlorenchyma compared to needles regardless of the growing season. Nondenaturating SDS-PAGE analysis of the chlorophyll–protein complexes also revealed much lower abundance of LHCI and the CPI band related to light harvesting and the core complex of PSI, respectively, in bark chlorenchyma. These changes were associated with a 38% reduction in the total amount of chlorophyll in the bark chlorenchyma relative to winter needles, but the Chl a/b ratio and carotenoid composition were similar in the two tissues. As distinct from winter pine needles exhibiting ATP/ADP ratio of 11.3, the total adenylate content in winter bark chlorenchyma was 2.5-fold higher and the estimated ATP/ADP ratio was 20.7. The photochemical efficiency of PSII in needles attached to the twig recovered significantly faster (28–30 h) then in detached needles. Fluorescence quenching analysis revealed a high reduction state of Q A and the PQ-pool in the green bark tissue. The role of bark chlorenchyma and its photochemical performance during the recovery of photosynthesis from winter stress in Scots pine is discussed.
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| 7. |
- Ivanov, Alexander G, et al.
(author)
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Digalactosyl-diacylglycerol deficiency impairs the capacity for photosynthetic intersystem electron transport and state transitions in Arabidopsis thaliana due to photosystem I acceptor-side limitations.
- 2006
-
In: Plant Cell Physiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0032-0781 .- 1471-9053. ; 47:8, s. 1146-57
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Compared with wild type, the dgd1 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana exhibited a lower amount of PSI-related Chl–protein complexes and lower abundance of the PSI-associated polypeptides, PsaA, PsaB, PsaC, PsaL and PsaH, with no changes in the levels of Lhca1–4. Functionally, the dgd1 mutant exhibited a significantly lower light-dependent, steady-state oxidation level of P700 (P700+) in vivo, a higher intersystem electron pool size, restricted linear electron transport and a higher rate of reduction of P700+ in the dark, indicating an increased capacity for PSI cyclic electron transfer compared with the wild type. Concomitantly, the dgd1 mutant exhibited a higher sensitivity to and incomplete recovery of photoinhibition of PSI. Furthermore, dgd1 exhibited a lower capacity to undergo state transitions compared with the wild type, which was associated with a higher reduction state of the plastoquinone (PQ) pool. We conclude that digalactosyl-diacylglycerol (DGDG) deficiency results in PSI acceptor-side limitations that alter the flux of electrons through the photosynthetic electron chain and impair the regulation of distribution of excitation energy between the photosystems. These results are discussed in terms of thylakoid membrane domain reorganization in response to DGDG deficiency in A. thaliana.
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| 8. |
- Ivanov, Alexander G, et al.
(author)
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Iron deficiency in cyanobacteria causes monomerization of photosystem I trimers and reduces the capacity for state transitions and the effective absorption cross section of photosystem I in vivo.
- 2006
-
In: Plant Physiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0032-0889 .- 1532-2548. ; 141:4, s. 1436-45
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The induction of the isiA (CP43') protein in iron-stressed cyanobacteria is accompanied by the formation of a ring of 18 CP43' proteins around the photosystem I (PSI) trimer and is thought to increase the absorption cross section of PSI within the CP43'-PSI supercomplex. In contrast to these in vitro studies, our in vivo measurements failed to demonstrate any increase of the PSI absorption cross section in two strains (Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803) of iron-stressed cells. We report that iron-stressed cells exhibited a reduced capacity for state transitions and limited dark reduction of the plastoquinone pool, which accounts for the increase in PSII-related 685 nm chlorophyll fluorescence under iron deficiency. This was accompanied by lower abundance of the NADP-dehydrogenase complex and the PSI-associated subunit PsaL, as well as a reduced amount of phosphatidylglycerol. Nondenaturating polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation of the chlorophyll-protein complexes indicated that the monomeric form of PSI is favored over the trimeric form of PSI under iron stress. Thus, we demonstrate that the induction of CP43' does not increase the PSI functional absorption cross section of whole cells in vivo, but rather, induces monomerization of PSI trimers and reduces the capacity for state transitions. We discuss the role of CP43' as an effective energy quencher to photoprotect PSII and PSI under unfavorable environmental conditions in cyanobacteria in vivo.
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| 9. |
- Ivanov, Alexander G., et al.
(author)
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Photosystem II reaction centre quenching : mechanisms and physiological role
- 2008
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In: Photosynthesis Research. - : Springer Netherlands. - 0166-8595 .- 1573-5079. ; 98:1-3, s. 565-574
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dissipation of excess absorbed light energy in eukaryotic photoautotrophs through zeaxanthin- and ΔpH-dependent photosystem II antenna quenching is considered the major mechanism for non-photochemical quenching and photoprotection. However, there is mounting evidence of a zeaxanthin-independent pathway for dissipation of excess light energy based within the PSII reaction centre that may also play a significant role in photoprotection. We summarize recent reports which indicate that this enigma can be explained, in part, by the fact that PSII reaction centres can be reversibly interconverted from photochemical energy transducers that convert light into ATP and NADPH to efficient, non-photochemical energy quenchers that protect the photosynthetic apparatus from photodamage. In our opinion, reaction centre quenching complements photoprotection through antenna quenching, and dynamic regulation of photosystem II reaction centre represents a general response to any environmental condition that predisposes the accumulation of reduced QA in the photosystem II reaction centres of prokaryotic and eukaryotic photoautotrophs. Since the evolution of reaction centres preceded the evolution of light harvesting systems, reaction centre quenching may represent the oldest photoprotective mechanism.
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| 10. |
- Ivanov, Alexander G, et al.
(author)
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Reaction centre quenching of excess light energy and photoprotection of photosystem II
- 2008
-
In: Journal of Plant Biology. ; 51:2, s. 85-96
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In addition to the energy dissipation of excess light occurring in PSII antenna via the xanthophyll cycle, there is mounting evidence of a zeaxanthin-independent pathway for non-photochemical quenching based within the PSII reaction centre (reaction centre quenching) that may also play a significant role in photoprotection. It has been demonstrated that acclimation of higher plants, green algae and cyanobacteria to low temperature or high light conditions which potentially induce an imbalance between energy supply and energy utilization is accompanied by the development of higher reduction state of QA and higher resistance to photoinhibition (Huner et al., 1998). Although this is a fundamental feature of all photoautotrophs, and the acquisition of increased tolerance to photoinhibition has been ascribed to growth and development under high PSII excitation pressure, the precise mechanism controlling the redox state of QA and its physiological significance in developing higher resistance to photoinhibition has not been fully elucidated. In this review we summarize recent data indicating that the increased resistance to high light in a broad spectrum of photosynthetic organisms acclimated to high excitation pressure conditions is associated with an increase probability for alternative non-radiative P680+QA − radical pair recombination pathway for energy dissipation within the reaction centre of PSII. The various molecular mechanisms that could account for nonphotochemical quenching through PSII reaction centre are also discussed.
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| 11. |
- Ivanov, Alexander G, et al.
(author)
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The induction of CP43' by iron-stress in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 is associated with carotenoid accumulation and enhanced fatty acid unsaturation.
- 2007
-
In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3002 .- 0005-2728. ; 1767:6, s. 807-13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Comparative lipid analysis demonstrated reduced amount of PG (50%) and lower ratio of MGDG/DGDG in iron-stressed Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 cells compared to cells grown under iron sufficient conditions. In parallel, the monoenoic (C:1) fatty acids in MGDG, DGDG and PG increased from 46.8%, 43.7% and 45.6%, respectively in control cells to 51.6%, 48.8% and 48.7%, respectively in iron-stressed cells. This suggests increased membrane dynamics, which may facilitate the diffusion of PQ and keep the PQ pool in relatively more oxidized state in iron-stressed compared to control cells. This was confirmed by chlorophyll fluorescence and thermoluminescence measurements. Analysis of carotenoid composition demonstrated that the induction of isiA (CP43′) protein in response to iron stress is accompanied by significant increase of the relative abundance of all carotenoids. The quantity of carotenoids calculated on a Chl basis increased differentially with nostoxanthin, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and β-carotene showing 2.6-, 3.1-, 1.9- and 1.9-fold increases, respectively, while the relative amount of caloxanthin was increased only by 30%. HPLC analyses of the pigment composition of Chl–protein complexes separated by non-denaturating SDS-PAGE demonstrated even higher relative carotenoids content, especially of cryptoxanthin, in trimer and monomer PSI Chl–protein complexes co-migrating with CP43′ from iron-stressed cells than in PSI complexes from control cells where CP43′ is not present. This implies a carotenoid-binding role for the CP43′ protein which supports our previous suggestion for effective energy quenching and photoprotective role of CP43′ protein in cyanobacteria under iron stress.
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| 12. |
- Pocock, Tessa, et al.
(author)
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Chlamydomonas raudensis Ettl. (UWO241) exhibits the capacity for rapid D1 repair in response to chronic photoinhibition at low temperature
- 2007
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In: Journal of Phycology. - : Wiley. - 0022-3646 .- 1529-8817. ; 43:5, s. 924-936
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Maximum photosynthetic capacity indicates that the Antarctic psychrophile Chlamydomonas raudensis H. Ettl UWO 241 is photosynthetically adapted to low temperature. Despite this finding, C. raudensis UWO 241 exhibited greater sensitivity to low-temperature photoinhibition of PSII than the mesophile Chlamydomonas reinhardtii P. A. Dang. However, in contrast with results for C. reinhardtii, the quantum requirement to induce 50% photoinhibition of PSII in C. raudensis UWO 241 (50 μmol photons) was comparable at either 8°C or 29°C. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a photoautotroph whose susceptibility to photoinhibition is temperature independent. In contrast, the capacity of the psychrophile to recover from photoinhibition of PSII was sensitive to temperature and inhibited at 29°C. The maximum rate of recovery from photoinhibition of the psychrophile at 8°C was comparable to the maximum rate of recovery of the mesophile at 29°C. We provide evidence that photoinhibition in C. raudensis UWO 241 is chronic rather than dynamic. The photoinhibition-induced decrease in the D1 content in C. raudensis recovered within 30 min at 8°C. Both the recovery of the D1 content as well as the initial fast phase of the recovery of Fv/Fm at 8°C were inhibited by lincomycin, a chloroplast protein synthesis inhibitor. We conclude that the susceptibility of C. raudensis UWO 241 to low-temperature photoinhibition reflects its adaptation to low growth irradiance, whereas the unusually rapid rate of recovery at low temperature exhibited by this psychrophile is due to a novel D1 repair cycle that is adapted to and is maximally operative at low temperature.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Rosso, Dominic, et al.
(author)
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IMMUTANS does not act as a stress-induced safety valve in the protection of the photosynthetic apparatus of Arabidopsis during steady-state photosynthesis.
- 2006
-
In: Plant Physiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0032-0889 .- 1532-2548. ; 142:2, s. 574-85
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IMMUTANS (IM) encodes a thylakoid membrane protein that has been hypothesized to act as a terminal oxidase that couples the reduction of O2 to the oxidation of the plastoquinone (PQ) pool of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Because IM shares sequence similarity to the stress-induced mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX), it has been suggested that the protein encoded by IM acts as a safety valve during the generation of excess photosynthetically generated electrons. We combined in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence quenching analyses with measurements of the redox state of P700 to assess the capacity of IM to compete with photosystem I for intersystem electrons during steady-state photosynthesis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Comparisons were made between wild-type plants, im mutant plants, as well as transgenics in which IM protein levels had been overexpressed six (OE-6x) and 16 (OE-16x) times. Immunoblots indicated that IM abundance was the only major variant that we could detect between these genotypes. Overexpression of IM did not result in increased capacity to keep the PQ pool oxidized compared to either the wild type or im grown under control conditions (25°C and photosynthetic photon flux density of 150 µmol photons m–2 s–1). Similar results were observed either after 3-d cold stress at 5°C or after full-leaf expansion at 5°C and photosynthetic photon flux density of 150 µmol photons m–2 s–1. Furthermore, IM abundance did not enhance protection of either photosystem II or photosystem I from photoinhibition at either 25°C or 5°C. Our in vivo data indicate that modulation of IM expression and polypeptide accumulation does not alter the flux of intersystem electrons to P700+ during steady-state photosynthesis and does not provide any significant photoprotection. In contrast to AOX1a, meta-analyses of published Arabidopsis microarray data indicated that IM expression exhibited minimal modulation in response to myriad abiotic stresses, which is consistent with our functional data. However, IM exhibited significant modulation in response to development in concert with changes in AOX1a expression. Thus, neither our functional analyses of the IM knockout and overexpression lines nor meta-analyses of gene expression support the model that IM acts as a safety valve to regulate the redox state of the PQ pool during stress and acclimation. Rather, IM appears to be strongly regulated by developmental stage of Arabidopsis.
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| 15. |
- Sveshnikov, Dmitry, et al.
(author)
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Excitation energy partitioning and quenching during cold acclimation in Scots pine.
- 2006
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In: Tree Physiology. - 0829-318X. ; 26:3, s. 325-36
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We studied the influence of two irradiances on cold acclimation and recovery of photosynthesis in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings to assess mechanisms for quenching the excess energy captured by the photosynthetic apparatus. A shift in temperature from 20 to 5 °C caused a greater decrease in photosynthetic activity, measured by chlorophyll fluorescence and oxygen evolution, in plants exposed to moderate light (350 µmol m–2 s–1) than in shaded plants (50 µmol m–2 s–1). In response to the temperature shift, maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), measured as the ratio of variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) of dark-adapted samples, decreased to 70% in exposed seedlings, whereas shaded seedlings maintained Fv/Fm close to initial values. After a further temperature decrease to –5 °C, only 8% of initial Fv/Fm remained in exposed plants, whereas shaded plants retained 40% of initial Fv/Fm. Seven days after transfer from –5 to 20 °C, recovery of photochemical efficiency was more complete in the shaded plants than in the exposed plants (87 and 65% of the initial Fv/Fm value, respectively).In response to cold stress, the estimated functional absorption cross section per remaining PSII reaction center increased at both irradiances, but the increase was more pronounced in exposed seedlings. Estimates of energy partitioning in the needles showed a much higher dissipative component in the expoesd seedlings at low temperatures, pointing to stronger development of non-photochemical quenching at moderate irradiances. The de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle pigments increased in exposed seedlings at 5 °C, contributing to the quenching capacity, whereas significant de-epoxidation in the shaded plants was observed only when temperatures decreased to –5 °C. Thermoluminescence (TL) measurements of PSII revealed that charge recombinations between the second oxidation state of Mn-cluster S2 and the semireduced secondary electron acceptor quinone QB–(S2QB–) were shifted to lower temperatures in cold-acclimated seedlings compared with control seedlings and this effect depended on irradiance. Concomitant with this, cold-acclimated seedlings demonstrated a significant shift in the S2 recombination with primary acceptor QA– (S2QA–) characteristic TL emission peak to higher temperatures, thus narrowing the redox potential gap between S2QB– and S2QA–, which might result in increased probability for non-radiative radical pair recombination betweem the PSII reaction center chlorophyll a (P680+) and QA– (P680+QA–) (reaction center quenching) in cold-acclimated seedlings. In Scots pine seedlings, mechanisms of quenching excess light energy in winter therefore involve light-dependent regulation of reaction center content and both reaction center-based and antenna-based quenching of excess light energy, enabling them to withstand high excitation pressure under northern winter conditions.
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| 16. |
- Wilson, Kenneth E, et al.
(author)
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Energy balance, organellar redox status, and acclimation to environmental stress
- 2006
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In: Canadian Journal of Botany. - 0008-4026 .- 1480-3305. ; 84, s. 1355-1370
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In plants and algal cells, changes in light intensity can induce intrachloroplastic and retrograde regulation of gene expression in response to changes in the plastoquinone redox status. We review the evidence in support of the thesis that the chloroplast acts as a general sensor of cellular energy imbalance sensed through the plastoquinone pool. Alteration in cellular energy balance caused by chloroplast or mitochondrial metabolism can induce intracellular signalling to affect chloroplastic and nuclear gene expression in response, not only to light intensity, but to a myriad of abiotic stresses. In addition, this chloroplastic redox sensing also appears to have a broader impact, affecting long-distance systemic signalling related to plant growth and development. The organization of the respiratory electron transport chains of mitochondria and heterotrophic prokaryotes is comparable to that of chloroplast thylakoid membranes, and the redox state of the respiratory ubiquinone pool is a well-documented cellular energy sensor. Thus, modulation of electron transport component redox status by abiotic stress regulates organellar as well as nuclear gene expression. From the evidence presented, we suggest that the photosynthetic and respiratory machinery in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms have a dual function: primary cellular energy transformation, and global environmental sensing.
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