Leiden University Scholarly Publications

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Tol, N. van; Flores, Andaluz G.; Leeggangers, H.A.C.F.; Roushan, M.R.; Hooykaas, P.J.J.; Zaal, B.J. van der (2019)

Zinc Finger Artificial Transcription Factor-Mediated Chloroplast Genome Interrogation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Article / Letter to editor
The large majority of core photosynthesis proteins in plants are encoded by nuclear genes, but a small portion have been retained in the plastid genome. These plastid-encoded chloroplast proteins fulfill essential roles in the process of photochemistry. Here, we report the use of nuclear-encoded, chloroplast-targeted zinc finger artificial transcription factors (ZF-ATFs) with effector domains of prokaryotic origin to modulate the expression of chloroplast genes, and to enhance the photochemical activity and growth characteristics of Arabidopsis thaliana plants. This technique was named chloroplast genome interrogation. Using this novel approach, we obtained evidence that ZF-ATFs can indeed be translocated to chloroplasts of Arabidopsis plants, can modulate their growth and operating light use efficiency of PSII, and finally can induce statistically significant changes in the expression levels of several chloroplast genes. Our data suggest that the distortion of chloroplast gene...Show moreThe large majority of core photosynthesis proteins in plants are encoded by nuclear genes, but a small portion have been retained in the plastid genome. These plastid-encoded chloroplast proteins fulfill essential roles in the process of photochemistry. Here, we report the use of nuclear-encoded, chloroplast-targeted zinc finger artificial transcription factors (ZF-ATFs) with effector domains of prokaryotic origin to modulate the expression of chloroplast genes, and to enhance the photochemical activity and growth characteristics of Arabidopsis thaliana plants. This technique was named chloroplast genome interrogation. Using this novel approach, we obtained evidence that ZF-ATFs can indeed be translocated to chloroplasts of Arabidopsis plants, can modulate their growth and operating light use efficiency of PSII, and finally can induce statistically significant changes in the expression levels of several chloroplast genes. Our data suggest that the distortion of chloroplast gene expression might be a feasible approach to manipulate the efficiency of photosynthesis in plants.Show less
All authors
Tol, N. van; Flores, Andaluz G.; Leeggangers, H.A.C.F.; Roushan, M.R.; Hooykaas, P.J.J.; Zaal, B.J. van der
Date
2019
Journal
Plant and Cell Physiology
Volume
60
Issue
2
Pages
393 - 406
Link
https://academic.oup.com/pcp/article/60/2/393/5162582