Light-harvesting regulation from leaf to molecule with the emphasis on rapid changes in antenna size.

In the sunlight-fluctuating environment, plants often encounter both light-deficiency and light-excess cases. Therefore, regulation of light harvesting is absolutely essential for photosynthesis in order to maximize light utilization at low light and avoid photodamage of the photosynthetic apparatus at high light. Plants have developed a series of strategies of light-harvesting regulation during evolution. These strategies include rapid responses such as leaf movement and chloroplast movement, state transitions, and reversible dissociation of some light-harvesting complex of the photosystem II (LHCIIs) from PSII core complexes, and slow acclimation strategies such as changes in the protein abundance of light-harvesting antenna and modifications of leaf morphology, structure, and compositions. This review discusses successively these strategies and focuses on the rapid change in antenna size, namely reversible dissociation of some peripheral light-harvesting antennas (LHCIIs) from PSII core complex. It is involved in protective role and species dependence of the dissociation, differences between the dissociation and state transitions, relationship between the dissociation and thylakoid protein phosphorylation, and possible mechanism for thermal dissipation by the dissociated LHCIIs.

Reversible association of ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase with the thylakoid membrane depends upon the ATP level and pH in rice without heat stress.

Ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activase (RCA) in the thylakoid membrane (TM) has been shown to play a role in protection and regulation of photosynthesis under moderate heat stress. However, the physiological significance of RCA bound to the TM (TM-RCA) without heat stress remains unknown. In this study, it is first shown, using experiments in vivo, that the TM-RCA varies in rice leaves at different development stages, under different environmental conditions, and in a rice mutant. Furthermore, it is shown that the amount of TM-RCA always increased when the Rubisco activation state and the pH gradient across the TM (DeltapH) decreased. It was then demonstrated in vitro that the RCA bound dynamically to TM and the amount of TM-RCA increased during Rubisco activation. A high level of ATP and a high pH value promoted the dissociation of RCA from the TM. Both the RCA association with and dissociation from the TM showed conformational changes related to the ATP level or pH as indicated by the changes in fluorescence intensity of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonic acid (ANS) binding to RCA. These results suggest that the reversible association of RCA with the TM is ATP and pH (or DeltapH) dependent; it might be involved in the RCA activation of Rubisco, in addition to the previously discovered role in the protection and regulation of photosynthesis under heat stress.

Relationship between grain yield and leaf photosynthetic rate in super hybrid rice.

In order to explore the relationship between grain yield and photosynthesis, the yield composition and leaf photosynthetic rate in some super hybrid rices and ordinary hybrid rice 'Shanyou 63' as control were measured in 2000-2005. The results were as follows. (1) The yield levels of the four super hybrid rices, 'Pei'ai 64S/E32', 'P88S/0293', 'Jin23A/611' and 'GD-1S/RB207', were significantly higher, being 108%-120% of 'Shanyou 63'. (2) These super hybrid rices had a better plant type with more erect upper layer leaves and bigger panicles or more spikelets per panicle, being 125%-177% of spikelets Shanyou 63 spikelets. (3) Net photosynthetic rates of these super hybrid rices were significantly higher in the second leaf but not necessarily in the first leaf or flag leaf than those of spikelets Shanyou 63 spikelets. (4) The removal of half flag leaf led to a decline in the seed-setting rate, while the removal of half panicle induced its increase in spikelets GD-1S/RB207 spikelets. Hence, higher yield in these super hybrid rices can be attributed to their bigger panicles, better plant type and higher light use efficiency of their canopies. Raising the photosynthetic capacity of each leaf, especially flag leaf, is the key to overcome the photosynthate-source restriction on grain yield and to make a new breakthrough of yield potential in future breeding of super hybrid rice.

[The mechanisms of plant photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 concentration].

When measured at a same CO(2) concentration, net photosynthetic rate is often significantly lower in long-term high CO(2)-grown plants than the ambient CO(2)-grown ones. This phenomenon is termed photosynthetic acclimation or down-regulation. Although there have been many reports and reviews, the mechanism(s) of the photosynthetic acclimation is not very clear. Combining the work of the authors' group, this paper briefly reviews the progress in studies on the mechanism(s) of the photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO(2). It is suggested that besides the possible effects of respiration enhancement and excessive photosynthate accumulation, RuBP carboxylation limitation and RuBP regeneration limitation are probably the main factors leading to the photosynthetic acclimation.

[Species-dependence of the pattern of plant photosynthetic rate response to light intensity transition from saturating to limiting one].

By observing the photosynthetic responses of leaves to changes in light intensity and CO(2) concentration it was found that among the more than 50 plant species examined 32 species and 25 species showed respectively the V pattern and L pattern of the photosynthetic response to light intensity transition from saturating to limiting one (Figs.1 and 2 and Table 1). The pattern of photosynthetic response to light intensity transition is species-dependent but not leaf developmental stage-dependent (Fig.3). The species-dependence was not related to classification in taxonomy because the photosynthetic response might display the two different patterns (V and L) in plants of the same family, for example, rice and wheat (Gramineae), soybean and peanut (Leguminosae). It seemed to be related to the pathway of photosynthetic carbon assimilation because all of the C(4) plants examined (maize, green bristlegrass and thorny amaranth) displayed the L pattern. It might be related to light environment where the plants originated. The V pattern of photosynthetic response to light intensity transition was often observed in some plants grown in shade habitats, for example, sweet viburnum and Japan fatsia, while the L pattern was frequently observed in those plants grown in sunny habitats, for example, ginkgo and cotton. Furthermore, the ratio of electron transport rate to carboxylation rate in vivo measured at limiting light was far higher in the V pattern plants (mostly higher than 10) than in the L pattern plants (mostly lower than 5), but the ratio measured at saturating light had no significant difference between the two kinds of plants (Table 2). These results can be explained in part by that the V pattern plant species have larger light-harvesting complex (LHCII) and at saturating light the reversible dissociation of some LHCIIs from PSII reaction center complex occurs. The pattern of photosynthetic response to light intensity transition and the ratio of electron transport rate to carboxylation rate in vivo measured at limiting light can probably be used as a criterion to distinguish sun plants from shade plants. In the observation of photosynthetic response to light intensity transition the use of saturating light is very important because using non-saturating light can form an artifact, which leads to incorrect conclusion (Fig.4).

[Exploring the observation methods of photosynthetic responses to light and carbon dioxide].

Through observing the responses of photosynthesis in leaves of broad bean grown under natural conditions to light and CO(2) using a portable photosynthetic analyzer LI-6400, the following findings were obtained. (1) Observing the response of photosynthesis to light using a leaf without being induced by light might lead to an artifact that photosynthesis was not saturated even under full sunlight. (2) The calculated saturating light intensity of photosynthesis by some empirical equations was much lower than actual value obtained by observing. (3) During observation of photosynthetic response to CO(2), each step of changing CO(2) concentration should be accompanied by a match step of the photosynthetic analyzer, otherwise, there will be substantial deviations in the results obtained. (4) Observing photosynthetic response to CO(2) at non-saturating light might lead to an underestimation of leaf photosynthetic capacity.

In vitro reassembly of tobacco ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from fully denatured subunits.

It has been generally proved impossible to reassemble ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) from fully denatured subunits in vitro in higher plant, because large subunit of fully denatured Rubisco is liable to precipitate when the denaturant is removed by common methods of direct dilution and one-step dialysis. In our experiment, the problem of precipitation was resolved by an improved gradual dialysis method, which gradually decreased the concentration of denaturant. However, fully denatured Rubisco subunits still could not be reassembled into holoenzyme using gradual dialysis unless chaperonin 60 was added. The restored activity of reassembled Rubisco was approximately 8% of natural enzyme. The quantity of reassembled Rubisco increased greatly when heat shock protein 70 was present in the reassembly process. ATP and Mg2+ were unnecessary for in vitro reassembly of Rubisco, and Mg2+ inhibited the reassembly process. The reassembly was weakened when ATP, Mg2+ and K+ existed together in the reassembly process.

Ultrasound examination and localization of the sciatic nerve: a volunteer study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the use of ultrasound for sciatic nerve localization. The authors evaluated the usefulness of low-frequency ultrasound in identifying the sciatic nerve at three locations in the lower extremity and in guiding needle advancement to target before nerve stimulation. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 15 volunteers underwent sciatic nerve examination using a curved ultrasound probe in the range of 2-5 MHz and a Philips-ATL 5000 unit (ATL Ultrasound, Bothell, WA) in the gluteal, infragluteal, and proximal thigh regions. Thereafter, an insulated block needle was advanced inline with the ultrasound beam to reach the nerve target, which was further confirmed by electrical stimulation. The quality of sciatic nerve images, ease of needle to nerve contact, threshold stimulating current, and resultant motor response were recorded. RESULTS: The sciatic nerve was successfully identified in the transverse view as a solitary predominantly hyperechoic structure on ultrasound in all of the three regions examined. The target nerve was visualized easily in 87% and localized within two needle attempts in all patients. Nerve stimulation was successful in 100% after two attempts with a threshold current of 0.42 +/- 0.12 (mean +/- SD) eliciting foot plantarflexion or dorsiflexion. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data show that a curved 2- to 5-MHz ultrasound probe provides good quality sciatic nerve imaging in the gluteal, infragluteal, and proximal thigh locations. Ultrasound-assisted sciatic nerve localization is potentially valuable for clinical sciatic nerve blocks.

Two patterns of leaf photosynthetic response to irradiance transition from saturating to limiting one in some plant species.

Plants often regulate the amount and size of light-harvesting antenna (LHCII) to maximize photosynthesis at low light and avoid photodamage at high light. Gas exchange, 77 K chlorophyll fluorescence, photosystem II (PSII) electron transport as well as LHCII protein were measured in leaves irradiated at different light intensities. After irradiance transition from saturating to limiting one leaf photosynthetic rate in some species such as soybean and rice declined first to a low level, then increased slowly to a stable value (V pattern), while in other species such as wheat and pumpkin it dropped immediately to a stable value (L pattern). Saturating pre-irradiation led to significant declines of both 77 K fluorescence parameter F685/F735 and light-limited PSII electron transport rate in soybean but not in wheat leaves, indicating that some LHCIIs dissociate from PSII in soybean but not in wheat leaves. The L pattern of LHCII-decreased rice mutant and the V pattern of its wild type demonstrate that the V pattern is linked to dissociation/reassociation of some LHCIIs from/to PSII.

Photosynthetic acclimation in rice leaves to free-air CO2 enrichment related to both ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylation limitation and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate regeneration limitation.

Net photosynthetic rates (Pns) in leaves were compared between rice plants grown in ambient air control and free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE, about 200 micromol mol(-1) above ambient) treatment rings. When measured at the same CO2 concentration, the Pn of FACE leaves decreased significantly, indicating that photosynthetic acclimation to high CO2 occurs. Although stomatal conductance (Gs) in FACE leaves was markedly decreased, intercellular CO2 concentrations (Ci) were almost the same in FACE and ambient leaves, indicating that the photosynthetic acclimation is not caused by the decreased Gs. Furthermore, carboxylation efficiency and maximal Pn, both light and CO2-saturated Pn, were decreased in FACE leaves, as shown by the Pn-Ci curves. In addition, the soluble protein, Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate caboxylase/oxygenase), and its activase contents as well as the sucrose-phosphate synthase activity decreased significantly, while some soluble sugar, inorganic phosphate, chlorophyll and light-harvesting complex II (LHC II) contents increased in FACE leaves. It appears that the photosynthetic acclimation in rice leaves is related to both ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylation limitation and RuBP regeneration limitation.