Induction of Poplar Leaf Nitrate Reductase: A Test of Extrachloroplastic Control of Isoprene Emission Rate

T. N. Rosenstiel; A. L. Ebbets; W. C. Khatri; R. Fall; R. K. Monson

doi:10.1055/s-2003-44722

Plant Biology, Table of Contents

Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2004; 6(1): 12-21
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-44722

Original Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Induction of Poplar Leaf Nitrate Reductase: A Test of Extrachloroplastic Control of Isoprene Emission Rate

T. N. Rosenstiel¹ , A. L. Ebbets² , W. C. Khatri² , R. Fall² ^, ³ , R. K. Monson¹ ^, ³

¹Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
²Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
³Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA

Abstract

Several recent studies have suggested that control of isoprene emission rate is in part exerted by supply of extrachloroplastic phosphoenolpyruvate to the chloroplast. To test this hypothesis, we altered PEP supply by differential induction of cytosolic nitrate reductase (NR) and PEP carboxylase (PEPC) in plants of Populus deltoides grown with NO₃ ^- or NH₄ ⁺ as the sole nitrogen source. Growth with 8 mM NH₄ ⁺ produced a high leaf nitrogen concentration, compared with 8 mM NO₃ ^-, as well as slightly elevated rates of photosynthesis and significantly enhanced rates of isoprene emission and content of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP, a precursor to isoprene biosynthesis), chlorophyll (a+b) and carotenoids. Growth with 8 mM NO₃ ^- resulted in parallel reductions in both leaf isoprene emission rate and DMAPP. The differential effects of growth with NH₄ ⁺ or NO₃ ^- were not observed when plants were grown with 4 mM nitrogen. The effects of reduced DMAPP availability were specific to isoprene emission and were not propagated to higher isoprenoids, as the correlations between nitrogen content and either leaf chlorophyll (a+b) or total carotenoids were unaffected by nitrogen source. Biochemical analysis revealed significantly higher levels of NR and PEPC activity in leaves of 8 mM NO₃ ^--grown plants, consistent with their fundamental roles in nitrate assimilation. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that foliar assimilation of NO₃ ^- reduces isoprene emission rate by competing for carbon skeletons (mediated by PEPC) within the cytosol and possibly reductant within the chloroplast. Cytosolic competition for PEP is a major regulator of chloroplast DMAPP supply, and we offer a new “safety valve” hypothesis to explain why plants emit isoprene.

Key words

VOC - volatile organic compound - photosynthesis - nitrate reductase - ammonium - metabolism - isoprene.

Full Text

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T. N. Rosenstiel

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Colorado

Campus Box 334

Boulder, CO 80309

USA

Email: todd.rosenstiel@colorado.edu

Section Editor: H. Rennenberg