The photosynthesis apparatus of European mistletoe (Viscum album)

authored by
Lucie Schröder, Jan Hegermann, Patrick Pille, Hans-Peter Braun
Abstract

European mistletoe (Viscum album) is known for its special mode of cellular respiration. It lacks the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase complex (Complex I of the respiratory chain) and has restricted capacities to generate mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Here, we present an investigation of the V. album energy metabolism taking place in chloroplasts. Thylakoids were purified from young V. album leaves, and membrane-bound protein complexes were characterized by Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as well as by the complexome profiling approach. Proteins were systematically identified by label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics. We identified >1,800 distinct proteins (accessible at complexomemap.de/va_leaves), including nearly 100 proteins forming part of the protein complexes involved in the light-dependent part of photosynthesis. The photosynthesis apparatus of V. album has distinct features: (1) comparatively low amounts of Photosystem I; (2) absence of the NDH complex (the chloroplast pendant of mitochondrial Complex I involved in cyclic electron transport (CET) around Photosystem I); (3) reduced levels of the proton gradient regulation 5 (PGR5) and proton gradient regulation 5-like 1 (PGRL1) proteins, which offer an alternative route for CET around Photosystem I; (4) comparable amounts of Photosystem II and the chloroplast ATP synthase complex to other seed plants. Our data suggest a restricted capacity for chloroplast ATP biosynthesis by the photophosphorylation process. This is in addition to the limited ATP supply by the mitochondria. We propose a view on mistletoe's mode of life, according to which its metabolism relies to a greater extent on energy-rich compounds provided by the host trees.

Organisation(s)
Section Plant Molecular Biology and Plant Proteomics
External Organisation(s)
Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Type
Article
Journal
Plant physiology
Volume
190
Pages
1896-1914
No. of pages
19
ISSN
0032-0889
Publication date
02.09.2022
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Genetics, Physiology, Plant Science
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac377 (Access: Open)