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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Plant Physiology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182448
Title: EXAMINING THE ROLE OF RUBISCO ACTIVASE REGULATION IN COTTON PLANT PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE STRESS

Author
item Deridder, Benjamin
item Crafts-Brandner, Steven

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2005
Publication Date: 6/1/2005
Citation: Deridder, B.P., Crafts-Brandner, S.J. 2005. Examining the role of rubisco activase regulation in cotton plant photosynthesis in response to temperature stress. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference 2078-2085.

Interpretive Summary: Photosynthesis and growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) are inhibited by temperature extremes. The activity of Rubisco, the key enzyme responsible for CO2 fixation in photosynthesis, is maintained by rubisco activase. Activase activity declines at higher temperatures, thereby limiting photosynthetic capacity during heat stress. In order to complement biochemical studies examining activase in cotton, the current study examined the mRNA expression of cotton activase under both heat and chilling stress using quantitative PCR. To evaluate activase protein regulation and turnover, transgenic Arabidopsis plants were produced that express activase in a tightly regulated inducible system. To understand the basis for chilling inhibition of growth in cotton seedlings, we examined photosynthesis, activity of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant levels of young plants exposed to chilling stress.

Technical Abstract: Photosynthesis and growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) are inhibited by temperature extremes. The activity of Rubisco, the key enzyme responsible for CO2 fixation in photosynthesis, is maintained by rubisco activase. Activase activity declines at higher temperatures, thereby limiting photosynthetic capacity during heat stress. In order to complement biochemical studies examining activase in cotton, the current study examined the mRNA expression of cotton activase under both heat and chilling stress using quantitative PCR. To evaluate activase protein regulation and turnover, transgenic Arabidopsis plants were produced that express activase in a tightly regulated inducible system. To understand the basis for chilling inhibition of growth in cotton seedlings, we examined photosynthesis, activity of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant levels of young plants exposed to chilling stress.