The Combined Loss of Triose Phosphate and Xylulose 5-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocators Leads to Severe Growth Retardation and Impaired Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana tpt/xpt Double Mutants

The xylulose 5-phosphate/phosphate translocator (XPT) represents the fourth functional member of the phosphate translocator (PT) family residing in the plastid inner envelope membrane. In contrast to the other three members, little is known on the physiological role of the XPT. Based on its major tr...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elke J. A. Hilgers, Mark Aurel Schöttler, Tabea Mettler-Altmann, Stephan Krueger, Peter Dörmann, Michael Eicks, Ulf-Ingo Flügge, Rainer E. Häusler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2018.01331/full
_version_ 1819161677998850048
author Elke J. A. Hilgers
Mark Aurel Schöttler
Tabea Mettler-Altmann
Stephan Krueger
Peter Dörmann
Michael Eicks
Ulf-Ingo Flügge
Rainer E. Häusler
author_facet Elke J. A. Hilgers
Mark Aurel Schöttler
Tabea Mettler-Altmann
Stephan Krueger
Peter Dörmann
Michael Eicks
Ulf-Ingo Flügge
Rainer E. Häusler
author_sort Elke J. A. Hilgers
collection DOAJ
description The xylulose 5-phosphate/phosphate translocator (XPT) represents the fourth functional member of the phosphate translocator (PT) family residing in the plastid inner envelope membrane. In contrast to the other three members, little is known on the physiological role of the XPT. Based on its major transport substrates (i.e., pentose phosphates) the XPT has been proposed to act as a link between the plastidial and extraplastidial branches of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP). As the XPT is also capable of transporting triose phosphates, it might as well support the triose phosphate PT (TPT) in exporting photoassimilates from the chloroplast in the light (‘day path of carbon’) and hence in supplying the whole plant with carbohydrates. Two independent knockout mutant alleles of the XPT (xpt-1 and xpt-2) lacked any specific phenotype, suggesting that the XPT function is redundant. However, double mutants generated from crossings of xpt-1 to different mutant alleles of the TPT (tpt-1 and tpt-2) were severely retarded in size, exhibited a high chlorophyll fluorescence phenotype, and impaired photosynthetic electron transport rates. In the double mutant the export of triose phosphates from the chloroplasts is completely blocked. Hence, precursors for sucrose biosynthesis derive entirely from starch turnover (‘night path of carbon’), which was accompanied by a marked accumulation of maltose as a starch breakdown product. Moreover, pentose phosphates produced by the extraplastidial branch of the OPPP also accumulated in the double mutants. Thus, an active XPT indeed retrieves excessive pentose phosphates from the extra-plastidial space and makes them available to the plastids. Further metabolic profiling revealed that phosphorylated intermediates remained largely unaffected, whereas fumarate and glycine contents were diminished in the double mutants. The assessment of C/N-ratios suggested co-limitations of C- and N-metabolism as possible cause for growth retardation of the double mutants. Feeding of sucrose partially rescued the growth and photosynthesis phenotypes of the double mutants. Immunoblots of thylakoid proteins, spectroscopic determinations of photosynthesis complexes, and chlorophyll a fluorescence emission spectra at 77 Kelvin could only partially explain constrains in photosynthesis observed in the double mutants. The data are discussed together with aspects of the OPPP and central carbon metabolism.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T17:16:09Z
format Article
id doaj.art-36a1d0b842e54f559a69218ffd62c0f8
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1664-462X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T17:16:09Z
publishDate 2018-10-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj.art-36a1d0b842e54f559a69218ffd62c0f82022-12-21T18:18:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2018-10-01910.3389/fpls.2018.01331401187The Combined Loss of Triose Phosphate and Xylulose 5-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocators Leads to Severe Growth Retardation and Impaired Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana tpt/xpt Double MutantsElke J. A. Hilgers0Mark Aurel Schöttler1Tabea Mettler-Altmann2Stephan Krueger3Peter Dörmann4Michael Eicks5Ulf-Ingo Flügge6Rainer E. Häusler7Department of Biology, Cologne Biocenter, Botanical Institute II and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyMax-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam, GermanyPlant Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Biology, Cologne Biocenter, Botanical Institute II and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyMolecular Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Universität Bonn, Bonn, GermanyBerufskolleg Kartäuserwall, Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Biology, Cologne Biocenter, Botanical Institute II and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Biology, Cologne Biocenter, Botanical Institute II and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyThe xylulose 5-phosphate/phosphate translocator (XPT) represents the fourth functional member of the phosphate translocator (PT) family residing in the plastid inner envelope membrane. In contrast to the other three members, little is known on the physiological role of the XPT. Based on its major transport substrates (i.e., pentose phosphates) the XPT has been proposed to act as a link between the plastidial and extraplastidial branches of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP). As the XPT is also capable of transporting triose phosphates, it might as well support the triose phosphate PT (TPT) in exporting photoassimilates from the chloroplast in the light (‘day path of carbon’) and hence in supplying the whole plant with carbohydrates. Two independent knockout mutant alleles of the XPT (xpt-1 and xpt-2) lacked any specific phenotype, suggesting that the XPT function is redundant. However, double mutants generated from crossings of xpt-1 to different mutant alleles of the TPT (tpt-1 and tpt-2) were severely retarded in size, exhibited a high chlorophyll fluorescence phenotype, and impaired photosynthetic electron transport rates. In the double mutant the export of triose phosphates from the chloroplasts is completely blocked. Hence, precursors for sucrose biosynthesis derive entirely from starch turnover (‘night path of carbon’), which was accompanied by a marked accumulation of maltose as a starch breakdown product. Moreover, pentose phosphates produced by the extraplastidial branch of the OPPP also accumulated in the double mutants. Thus, an active XPT indeed retrieves excessive pentose phosphates from the extra-plastidial space and makes them available to the plastids. Further metabolic profiling revealed that phosphorylated intermediates remained largely unaffected, whereas fumarate and glycine contents were diminished in the double mutants. The assessment of C/N-ratios suggested co-limitations of C- and N-metabolism as possible cause for growth retardation of the double mutants. Feeding of sucrose partially rescued the growth and photosynthesis phenotypes of the double mutants. Immunoblots of thylakoid proteins, spectroscopic determinations of photosynthesis complexes, and chlorophyll a fluorescence emission spectra at 77 Kelvin could only partially explain constrains in photosynthesis observed in the double mutants. The data are discussed together with aspects of the OPPP and central carbon metabolism.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2018.01331/fulltransportchloroplastsphotosynthesispentose phosphatessignaling
spellingShingle Elke J. A. Hilgers
Mark Aurel Schöttler
Tabea Mettler-Altmann
Stephan Krueger
Peter Dörmann
Michael Eicks
Ulf-Ingo Flügge
Rainer E. Häusler
The Combined Loss of Triose Phosphate and Xylulose 5-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocators Leads to Severe Growth Retardation and Impaired Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana tpt/xpt Double Mutants
Frontiers in Plant Science
transport
chloroplasts
photosynthesis
pentose phosphates
signaling
title The Combined Loss of Triose Phosphate and Xylulose 5-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocators Leads to Severe Growth Retardation and Impaired Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana tpt/xpt Double Mutants
title_full The Combined Loss of Triose Phosphate and Xylulose 5-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocators Leads to Severe Growth Retardation and Impaired Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana tpt/xpt Double Mutants
title_fullStr The Combined Loss of Triose Phosphate and Xylulose 5-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocators Leads to Severe Growth Retardation and Impaired Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana tpt/xpt Double Mutants
title_full_unstemmed The Combined Loss of Triose Phosphate and Xylulose 5-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocators Leads to Severe Growth Retardation and Impaired Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana tpt/xpt Double Mutants
title_short The Combined Loss of Triose Phosphate and Xylulose 5-Phosphate/Phosphate Translocators Leads to Severe Growth Retardation and Impaired Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana tpt/xpt Double Mutants
title_sort combined loss of triose phosphate and xylulose 5 phosphate phosphate translocators leads to severe growth retardation and impaired photosynthesis in arabidopsis thaliana tpt xpt double mutants
topic transport
chloroplasts
photosynthesis
pentose phosphates
signaling
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2018.01331/full
work_keys_str_mv AT elkejahilgers thecombinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT markaurelschottler thecombinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT tabeamettleraltmann thecombinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT stephankrueger thecombinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT peterdormann thecombinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT michaeleicks thecombinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT ulfingoflugge thecombinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT rainerehausler thecombinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT elkejahilgers combinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT markaurelschottler combinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT tabeamettleraltmann combinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT stephankrueger combinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT peterdormann combinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT michaeleicks combinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT ulfingoflugge combinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants
AT rainerehausler combinedlossoftriosephosphateandxylulose5phosphatephosphatetranslocatorsleadstoseveregrowthretardationandimpairedphotosynthesisinarabidopsisthalianatptxptdoublemutants