This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nie, G. Y. Articles by Baker, N. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nie, G. Y. Articles by Baker, N. R. Agricola Articles by Nie, G. Y. Articles by Baker, N. R.

Molecular Biology and Gene Regulation

Modifications to Thylakoid Composition during Development of Maize Leaves at Low Growth Temperatures ¹

Department of Biology, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, Essex, United Kingdom

The effects of reductions in growth temperature on the development of thylakoids of maize (Zea mays var LG11) leaves are examined. Thylakoids isolated from mesophyll cells of leaves grown at 17° and 14°C, compared with 25°C, exhibited a decreased accumulation of many polypeptides, which was accompanied by a loss of activity of photosystems (PS) I and II. Probing the polypeptide profiles with a range of antibodies specific for thylakoid proteins demonstrated that a number of polypeptides encoded by the chloroplast genome failed to accumulate at low temperatures. Although thylakoid protein synthesis was reduced severely at 14°C compared with 25°C, major synthesis of both chloroplast and nuclear encoded polypeptides was detected. It is suggested that the lack of accumulation of some thylakoid proteins at low temperatures may be due to an inability to stabilize the proteins in the membranes. A number of thylakoid polypeptides were found to appear as the growth temperature was decreased. Analyses of pigments and polypeptides demonstrated that decreases in the photosystem reaction center core complexes occur relative to the light harvesting complex associated with PS II at reduced growth temperatures. Differential effects on the development of PSI and PSII were also observed, with PSII activity being preferentially reduced. Reductions in PSII content and activity occurred in parallel with decreases in the quantum yield and light-saturated rate of CO₂ assimilation. Fractionation of thylakoid pigment-protein complexes showed that the ratio of monomeric:oligomeric form of the light harvesting complex associated with PSII increased at low growth temperature, which is consistent with a chill-induced modification of thylakoid organization. Many, but not all, of the characteristic changes in thylakoid protein metabolism, which were observed when leaves were grown at low temperatures in controlled environments, were identified in leaves of a field maize crop during the early growing season when low temperatures were experienced by the crop. Chill-induced perturbations of thylakoid development can occur in the field in temperate regions and may have implications for the photosynthetic productivity of the crop.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Matringe, B. Ksas, P. Rey, and M. Havaux Tocotrienols, the Unsaturated Forms of Vitamin E, Can Function as Antioxidants and Lipid Protectors in Tobacco Leaves Plant Physiology, June 1, 2008; 147(2): 764 - 778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Jompuk, Y. Fracheboud, P. Stamp, and J. Leipner Mapping of quantitative trait loci associated with chilling tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings grown under field conditions J. Exp. Bot., April 1, 2005; 56(414): 1153 - 1163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. R. Baker and E. Rosenqvist Applications of chlorophyll fluorescence can improve crop production strategies: an examination of future possibilities J. Exp. Bot., August 1, 2004; 55(403): 1607 - 1621. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Naidu, S. P. Moose, A. K. AL-Shoaibi, C. A. Raines, and S. P. Long Cold Tolerance of C4 photosynthesis in Miscanthus x giganteus: Adaptation in Amounts and Sequence of C4 Photosynthetic Enzymes Plant Physiology, July 1, 2003; 132(3): 1688 - 1697. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Fracheboud, J-M. Ribaut, M. Vargas, R. Messmer, and P. Stamp Identification of quantitative trait loci for cold-tolerance of photosynthesis in maize (Zea mays L.) J. Exp. Bot., September 1, 2002; 53(376): 1967 - 1977. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Kingston-Smith and C. H. Foyer Overexpression of Mn-superoxide dismutase in maize leaves leads to increased monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase activities J. Exp. Bot., November 1, 2000; 51(352): 1867 - 1877. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. M. Pastori, P. M. Mullineaux, and C. H. Foyer Post-Transcriptional Regulation Prevents Accumulation of Glutathione Reductase Protein and Activity in the Bundle Sheath Cells of Maize Plant Physiology, March 1, 2000; 122(3): 667 - 676. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.H. Kingston-Smith and C.H. Foyer Bundle sheath proteins are more sensitive to oxidative damage than those of the mesophyll in maize leaves exposed to paraquat or low temperatures J. Exp. Bot., January 1, 2000; 51(342): 123 - 130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Fryer, J. R. Andrews, K. Oxborough, D. A. Blowers, and N. R. Baker Relationship between CO2 Assimilation, Photosynthetic Electron Transport, and Active O2 Metabolism in Leaves of Maize in the Field during Periods of Low Temperature Plant Physiology, February 1, 1998; 116(2): 571 - 580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]