Suppression of NDA-type alternative mitochondrial NAD(P)H dehydrogenases in Arabidopsis thaliana modifies growth and metabolism, but not high light stimulation of mitochondrial electron transport.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Suppression of NDA-type alternative mitochondrial NAD(P)H dehydrogenases in Arabidopsis thaliana modifies growth and metabolism, but not high light stimulation of mitochondrial electron transport.

AU - Wallström, Sabá

AU - Florez-Sarasa, Igor

AU - Araújo, Wagner L

AU - Escobar, Matthew A

AU - Geisler, Daniela A

AU - Aidemark, Mari

AU - Lager, Ida

AU - Fernie, Alisdair R

AU - Ribas-Carbó, Miquel

AU - Rasmusson, Allan G.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - The plant respiratory chain contains several pathways which bypass the energy-conserving electron transport complexes I, III, and IV. These energy-bypasses, including type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases and the alternative oxidase (AOX), may have a role in redox-stabilisation and regulation, but current evidence is inconclusive. Using RNA interference, we generated Arabidopsis thaliana plants simultaneously suppressing the type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenase genes NDA1 and NDA2. Leaf mitochondria contained substantially reduced levels of both proteins. In sterile culture in the light, the transgenic lines displayed a slow growth phenotype, which was more severe when the complex I inhibitor rotenone was present. Slower growth was also observed in soil. In rosette leaves, a higher NAD(P)H/NAD(P)(+)-ratio and elevated levels of lactate relative to sugars and citric acid cycle metabolites were observed. However, photosynthetic performance was unaffected and microarray analyses indicated few transcriptional changes. A high light treatment increased AOX1a mRNA levels, in vivo AOX and cytochrome oxidase activities, and levels of citric acid cycle intermediates and hexoses in all genotypes. However, NDA-suppressing plants deviated from the wild type merely by having higher levels of several amino acids. These results suggest that NDA-suppression restricts citric acid cycle reactions, inducing a shift towards increased levels of fermentation products, but do not support a direct association between photosynthesis and NDA proteins.

AB - The plant respiratory chain contains several pathways which bypass the energy-conserving electron transport complexes I, III, and IV. These energy-bypasses, including type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases and the alternative oxidase (AOX), may have a role in redox-stabilisation and regulation, but current evidence is inconclusive. Using RNA interference, we generated Arabidopsis thaliana plants simultaneously suppressing the type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenase genes NDA1 and NDA2. Leaf mitochondria contained substantially reduced levels of both proteins. In sterile culture in the light, the transgenic lines displayed a slow growth phenotype, which was more severe when the complex I inhibitor rotenone was present. Slower growth was also observed in soil. In rosette leaves, a higher NAD(P)H/NAD(P)(+)-ratio and elevated levels of lactate relative to sugars and citric acid cycle metabolites were observed. However, photosynthetic performance was unaffected and microarray analyses indicated few transcriptional changes. A high light treatment increased AOX1a mRNA levels, in vivo AOX and cytochrome oxidase activities, and levels of citric acid cycle intermediates and hexoses in all genotypes. However, NDA-suppressing plants deviated from the wild type merely by having higher levels of several amino acids. These results suggest that NDA-suppression restricts citric acid cycle reactions, inducing a shift towards increased levels of fermentation products, but do not support a direct association between photosynthesis and NDA proteins.

U2 - 10.1093/pcp/pcu021

DO - 10.1093/pcp/pcu021

M3 - Article

C2 - 24486764

VL - 55

SP - 881

EP - 896

JO - Plant and Cell Physiology

JF - Plant and Cell Physiology

SN - 1471-9053

IS - 5

ER -