Winter acclimation of PsbS and related proteins in the evergreen Arctostaphylos uva-ursi as influenced by altitude and light environment.

• The evergreen groundcover bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi[L.] Sprengel) was characterized over two successive years (2002–2004) from both sun-exposed and shaded sites at a montane ponderosa pine and subalpine forest community of 1900- and 2800-m-high altitudes, respectively. During summer, photosynthetic capacities and pre-dawn photosystem II (PSII) efficiency were similarly high in all four populations, and in winter, only the sun-exposed and shaded populations at 2800 m exhibited complete down-regulation of photosynthetic oxygen evolution capacity and consistent sustained down-regulation of PSII efficiency. This photosynthetic down-regulation at high altitude involved a substantial decrease in PSII components [pheophytin, D1 protein, oxygen evolving complex ([OEC)], a strong up-regulation of several anti-early-light-inducible protein (Elip)- and anti-high-light-inducible protein (Hlip)-reactive bands and a warm-sustained retention of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin (Z + A). PsbS, the protein modulating the rapid engagement and disengagement of Z + A in energy dissipation, exhibited its most pronounced winter increases in the shade at 1900 m, and thus apparently assumes a greater role in providing rapidly reversible zeaxanthin-dependent photoprotection during winter when light becomes excessive in the shaded population, which remains photosynthetically active. It is attractive to hypothesize that PsbS relatives (Elips/Hlips) may be involved in sustained zeaxanthin-dependent photoprotection under the more extreme winter conditions at 2800 m.

Nyckelord

Adaptation

Physiological

Altitude

Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism

Arctostaphylos/metabolism/*physiology

Cold

Electrophoresis

Polyacrylamide Gel

Fluorescence

Light

Photosynthesis

Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins/*metabolism

Photosystem II Protein Complex/*metabolism

Seasons

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