Plastidial transporters KEA1 and KEA2 at the inner envelope membrane adjust stromal pH in the dark (original) (raw)

New Phytologist

Abstract

Photosynthesis and carbon fixation depend critically on the regulation of pH in chloroplast compartments in day light and at night. While it is established that an alkaline stroma is required for carbon fixation, it is not known how alkaline stromal pH is formed, maintained or regulated. We tested whether two envelope transporters, AtKEA1 and AtKEA2, directly affected stromal pH in isolated Arabidopsis chloroplasts using the fluorescent probe BCECF. External K+ induced alkalinization of the stroma was observed in chloroplasts from WT plants but not from kea1kea2 mutants, suggesting KEA1 and KEA2 mediate K+ uptake/H+ loss to modulate stromal pH. While light stimulated alkalinization of the stroma was independent of KEA1 and KEA2, the rate of decay to neutral pH in the dark is delayed in kea1kea2 mutants. However, the dark-induced loss of a pH gradient across the thylakoid membrane was similar in WT and mutant chloroplasts. This indicates that proton influx from the cytosol mediated by envelope K+ /H+ antiporters contributes to adjustment of stromal pH upon light to dark transitions.

Kees Venema hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let Kees know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.