Cross-talk between light acclimation and defence reactions in plants
Contact information
Saijaliisa Kangasjärvi
e-mail: saijaliisa.kangasjarvi [at] utu.fi
Members
Saijaliisa Kangasjärvi, Dr, Docent, Academy Research Fellow, Project Leader
Andrea Trotta, Dr., Postdoctoral Researcher
Grzegorz Konert, MSc, Doctoral Student
Moona Rahikainen, student
- We work in frames of a Finnish Center of Excellence.
Background
Besides photosynthesis, chloroplasts perform essential signalling functions in light acclimation and various stress responses in plants. The final acclimation responses are, however, influenced by cross-talk with other components of the cellular signalling networks. The main objective of this project is to identify novel components in the cross-talk of chloroplast signaling using Arabidopsis thaliana as a tool. You can find more information at the unofficial web pages of the Arabidopsis PP2A signaling group .
Research
We have taken a reverse genetic approach to identify novel components in the cross-talk of chloroplast signaling. Mutants deficient in protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) subunits showed peculiar light-intensity-dependent phenotypes, and were therefore chosen for further analysis.
A specific PP2A regulatory subunit B was identified as a cytoplasmic component in the cross-talk between light acclimation and disease resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Another highly similar mitochondrial PP2A subunit seems to have a distinct function in the regulation of cellular energy metabolism. Intriguingly, however, genetic analysis indicates that these two distinct PP2A regulatory B subunits are functionally interconnected with each other.
Currently, we are working on identification of the specific PP2A-B-dependent target processes of PP2A. A combination of yeast two-hybrid screening, affinity purification assays, proteomic approaches and phenotypic analysis of Arabidopsis mutants is expected to specify the mechanisms of PP2A function in plants.
Significance
It has become well-known that type 2 protein phosphatases carry out crucial signalling functions in the regulation of phosphorelay cascades in both animals and plants. Thus, analysis of PP2A and its signalling interactions in plants may provide novel insights into its functional role in mammalian systems as well. Furthermore, generation of stress-resistant crop plants or production of biopharmaceuticals in plants will become possible when a comprehensive view to defence mechanisms and developmental processes in plants has been achieved. Our work is part of this goal.
Recent publications
Hebbelmann*, I.; Selinski*, J.; Wehmeyer*, C.; Goss*, T.; Voss*, I.; Mulo, P.; Kangasjärvi, S.; Aro, EM.; Oelze*, ML.; Dietz*, KJ.; Nunes-Nesi*, A.; Do*, PT.; Fernie*, AR.; Talla*, SK.; Raghavendra*, AS.; Linke*, V. & Scheibe*, R. 2011: Multiple strategies to prevent oxidative stress in Arabidopsis plants lacking the malate valve enzyme NADP-malate dehydrogenase. - JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 63(3): 1445-1459. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jxb/err386 Free article
Kangasjärvi, S.; Neukerman*, J.; Aro, EM. & Noctor*, G. 2012: Photosynthesis, photorespiration, and light signalling in defence responses. - JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 63(4): 1619-1636. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jxb/err402
Trotta, A.; Konert, G.; Rahikainen, M.; Aro, EM. & Kangasjärvi, S. 2011: Knock-down of protein phosphatase 2A subunit B'γ promotes phosphorylation of CALRETICULIN 1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. - PLANT SIGNALING AND BEHAVIOR 6(11):1665-1668. http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/psb.6.11.17829
Trotta, A.; Wrzaczek*, M.; Scharte*, J.; Tikkanen, M.; Konert, G.; Rahikainen, M.; Holmström, M.; Hiltunen, HM.; Rips*, S.; Sipari*, N.; Mulo, P.; Weis*, E.; von Schaewen*, A.; Aro, EM. & Kangasjarvi, S. 2011: Regulatory subunit B'γ of protein phosphatase 2A prevents unnecessary defense reactions under low light in Arabidopsis thaliana. - Plant Physiol. (in press). [A1] http://dx.doi.org/10.1104/pp.111.178442 Free article
*Wrzaczek, M., *Brosche, M., *Salojärvi, J., Kangasjärvi, S., *Idänheimo, N., *Mersmann, S., *Robatzek, S., *Karpinski, S., *Karpinska, B., *Kangasjärvi, J. 2010: Transcriptional regulation of the CRK/DUF26 group of Receptor-like protein kinases by ozone and plant hormones in Arabidopsis. - BMC Plant Biol. (in press) Free article
Yin, L. Lundin, B. Bertrand, M. Nurmi, M., Solymosi, K., Kangasjärvi, S. Aro, E.-M., Schoefs, B.and Spetea, C. (2010) Role of Thylakoid ATP/ADP Carrier in Photoinhibition and Photoprotection of Photosystem II in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, in press.
Tikkanen, M., Grieco, M., Kangasjärvi, S. and Aro, E.-M. (2010): Thylakoid protein phosphorylation in higher plant chloroplasts optimises electron transfer under fluctuating light. Plant Physiology, 152: 723-735.
Broche, M., Overmyer, K., Wrzaczek, M., Kangasjärvi, J and Kangasjärvi, S. (2010) Stress signaling: reactive oxygen species. In: Bohnert, H., Govindjee, Pareek, A. and Sopory, S. (Eds.): Abiotic Stress Adaptation in Plants: Physiological, Molecular and Genomic Foundation (Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands), pp. 91-102. DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-3112-9_5.
Rintamäki, E., Lepistö, A. and Kangasjärvi, S. (2009) Implication of chlorophyll biosynthesis on chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling. Plant Signaling & Behavior 4: 545-547.
Kangasjärvi, S., Nurmi, M., Tikkanen, M. and Aro, E.-M. (2009) Cell-specific mechanisms and systemic signalling as emerging themes in light acclimation of C3 plants. Plant Cell and Environment 32:1230-1240.
Lepistö A, Kangasjärvi S, Luomala EM, Brader G, Sipari N, Keranen M, Keinänen M, Rintamäki E (2009) Chloroplast NADPH Thioredoxin Reductase Interacts with Photoperiodic Development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiology 149:1261-1276.
Tikkanen, M., Nurmi, M., Kangasjärvi, S. and Aro, E.-M. (2008) Core protein phosphorylation facilitates the repair of photodamaged photosystem II at high light. Biochimical and Biophysical Acta. 1777:1432-1437.
Lintala M, Allahverdiyeva Y, Kangasjärvi S, Lehtimäki N, Keränen M, Rintamäki E, Aro EM, Mulo P. (2009): Comparative analysis of leaf-type ferredoxin-NADP(+)-oxidoreductase isoforms in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J 57:1103-1115.
Overmyer, K., Kollist, H., Tuominen, H., Betz, C., Langebartels, C, Wingsle, G., Kangasjärvi, S., Brader, G., Mullineaux, P., and Kangasjärvi, J (2008) Complex phenotypic profiles leading to ozone sensitivity in Arabidopsis thaliana mutants. Plant Cell and Environment 31: 1237-1249.
Kangasjärvi, S, Lepistö, A, Hännikäinen, K., Luomala, E.-M., Aro, E.-M. and Rintamäki, E. (2008) Dissection of the role of chloroplast stromal and thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidases in plant stress responses. Biochemical Journal 412:275-285.