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Silencing of NbCEP1 encoding a chloroplast envelope protein containing 15 leucine-rich-repeats disrupts chloroplast biogenesis in Nicotiana benthamiana
- Source :
- Molecules and Cells. 29:175-183
- Publication Year :
- 2009
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2009.
-
Abstract
- We characterized the physiological functions of Nicotiana benthamiana Chloroplast Envelope Protein 1 (NbCEP1) in Nicotiana benthamiana. NbCEP1 contains a chloroplast transit peptide and a single transmembrane domain at the N terminus, and most of its protein coding region is comprised of 15 leucine-rich-repeats (LRRs). The NbCEP1 gene is expressed in both aerial and underground plant tissues, and is induced by light. A GFP fusion protein of full length NbCEP1 was targeted to the chloroplast envelope and co-localized with OEP7:RFP, a marker protein for the chloroplast envelope. A fusion protein consisting of GFP and the NbCEP1 transit peptide mainly localized in the chloroplast stroma. Reduction of NbCEP1 expression by virus-induced gene silencing resulted in a leaf yellowing phenotype without much affecting overall plant growth. At the cellular level, depletion of NbCEP1 severely influenced chloroplast development, reducing both the number and size of the chloroplasts. Interestingly, mitochondrial development was also impaired, possibly an indirect effect of chloroplast ablation. A deficiency in NbCEP1 activity decreased the chlorophyll and carotenoid levels. Our results suggest that NbCEP1 plays a critical function, possibly through protein-protein interactions mediated by its LRRs, in chloroplast development in N. benthamiana.
- Subjects :
- Chloroplasts
Molecular Sequence Data
Nicotiana benthamiana
Leucine-Rich Repeat Proteins
Chloroplast membrane
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Transit Peptide
Tobacco
Amino Acid Sequence
Gene Silencing
RNA, Messenger
Molecular Biology
Plant Proteins
biology
fungi
Proteins
food and beverages
Intracellular Membranes
Cell Biology
General Medicine
biology.organism_classification
Fusion protein
Molecular biology
Mitochondria
Cell biology
N-terminus
Chloroplast
Protein Transport
Chloroplast stroma
Phenotype
Chloroplast DNA
Sequence Alignment
Subcellular Fractions
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 02191032 and 10168478
- Volume :
- 29
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Molecules and Cells
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....fa2f8168665ae79c171b8a0146ec1c2e