A guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) mediated brake on photosynthesis is required for acclimation to nitrogen limitation in Arabidopsis

Elife. 2022 Feb 14:11:e75041. doi: 10.7554/eLife.75041.

Abstract

Guanosine pentaphosphate and tetraphosphate (together referred to as ppGpp) are hyperphosphorylated nucleotides found in bacteria and the chloroplasts of plants and algae. In plants and algae artificial ppGpp accumulation can inhibit chloroplast gene expression, and influence photosynthesis, nutrient remobilization, growth, and immunity. However, it is so far unknown whether ppGpp is required for abiotic stress acclimation in plants. Here, we demonstrate that ppGpp biosynthesis is necessary for acclimation to nitrogen starvation in Arabidopsis. We show that ppGpp is required for remodeling the photosynthetic electron transport chain to downregulate photosynthetic activity and for protection against oxidative stress. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ppGpp is required for coupling chloroplastic and nuclear gene expression during nitrogen starvation. Altogether, our work indicates that ppGpp is a pivotal regulator of chloroplast activity for stress acclimation in plants.

Keywords: A. thaliana; chloroplast; nitrogen; photoprotection; photosynthesis; plant biology; ppGpp.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Chloroplasts / physiology
  • Cyanobacteria / cytology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Guanosine Pentaphosphate / metabolism*
  • Guanosine Tetraphosphate / metabolism*
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*
  • Photosynthesis*
  • Plant Cells
  • Stress, Physiological

Substances

  • Guanosine Tetraphosphate
  • Guanosine Pentaphosphate
  • Nitrogen

Grants and funding

The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.