Excitation Pressure Regulates Variegation in the immutans Mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana

Mutations in GERANYLGERANYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 1 affect chloroplast development in Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae)

“…Because carotenoids are photoprotective pigments in the light harvesting complexes, reduced levels may lead to increased photobleaching (Yamamoto et al, 2000), which is thought to play a role in the formation of white sectors of other variegated mutants of A. thaliana . For example, the IM terminal oxidase and VARIEGATED 3 (VAR3) proteins have roles in carotenoid biosynthesis, and mutations result in reduced photoprotection associated with albino variegation phenotypes (Wetzel et al, 1994; Carol et al, 1999; Wu et al, 1999; Chen et al, 2000; Aluru and Rodermel, 2004; Næsted et al, 2004; Rosso et al, 2007). Similarly, YELLOW VARIEGATED1 and YELLOW VARIEGATED2 encode for metallopreoteases that aid in the repair of photosystem II (Sakamoto et al, 2002, 2003).…”