Photoperiod stress alters the cellular redox status and is associated with an increased peroxidase and decreased catalase activity

Abstract

Periodic changes of light and dark regulate numerous processes in plants. Recently, a novel type of stress caused by an extended light period has been discovered in Arabidopsis and was named photoperiod stress. Photoperiod stress causes the induction of numerous stress response genes during the night following the extended light period of which many are indicators of oxidative stress. The next day, stress-sensitive genotypes display reduced photosynthetic efficiency and programmed cell death in leaves. Here, we have analysed further the consequences of photoperiod stress and report that it causes changes of the cellular redox status. A prolonged light period caused a strong reduction of the AsA redox during the following night indicating that it induces an oxidizing cellular environment. Further, photoperiod stress was associated with an increased activity of peroxidases and a decreased activity of catalases. Increased peroxidase activity was localized to the apoplast and might be causal for the oxidative stress induced by photoperiod stress.

Recent Developments in Enzymatic Antioxidant Defence Mechanism in Plants with Special Reference to Abiotic Stress

“…The O. sativa mutant HTT-121 is identified as heat-tolerant and exhibited increased CAT activity, in comparison to the heat-sensitive mutant [ 72 ]. Interestingly, a recent report suggested decreased CAT activity due to photoperiod stress in A. thaliana [ 73 ]. Moreover, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) was found to boost CAT activity in root under drought in two contrasting genotypes of Brassica napus , Qinyou8 (drought-sensitive) and Q2 (drought-tolerant), indicating regulation of CAT by melatonin [ 74 ].…”

Light acts as a stressor and influences abiotic and biotic stress responses in plants

“…The next day, a significant reduction of PSII maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) and eventually programmed cell death in the leaves ensues. Photoperiod stress induces an oxidative burst‐like response and is associated with increased apoplastic peroxidase and decreased catalase activities (Abuelsoud, Cortleven, & Schmülling, 2020). Arabidopsis mutants with a reduced cytokinin content or signalling are more sensitive to the stress than wild‐type plants indicating a protective function of the hormone, especially of the root‐derived trans ‐zeatin forms (Frank, Cortleven, Novak, & Schmülling, 2020; Nitschke et al, 2016).…”

The transcriptomic landscape of the photoperiodic stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana resembles the response to pathogen infection

“…A weaker molecular response during the night following the extended light period was also detected in wild type (WT) (Abuelsoud, Cortleven, & Schmülling, 2020;Nitschke et al, 2016). The nightly increase in oxidative stress coincides with a strong decrease in ascorbic acid (ASC) redox state and the formation of peroxides (including H2O2), which is associated with a strong increase of PEROXIDASE (PRX) gene expression, enhanced PRX activity and reduced catalase activity (Abuelsoud et al, 2020). CK, especially root-derived trans-zeatin forms (Frank et al, 2020), have a protective function acting through the ARABIDOPSIS HISTIDINE KINASE 3 (AHK3) receptor and the transcriptional regulators ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS ARR2, ARR10 and ARR12.…”

“…The next day, photosynthetic efficiency is strongly reduced and eventually programmed cell death follows. A weaker molecular response during the night following the extended light period was also detected in wild type (WT) (Abuelsoud, Cortleven, & Schmülling, 2020;Nitschke et al, 2016). The nightly increase in oxidative stress coincides with a strong decrease in ascorbic acid (ASC) redox state and the formation of peroxides (including H2O2), which is associated with a strong increase of PEROXIDASE (PRX) gene expression, enhanced PRX activity and reduced catalase activity (Abuelsoud et al, 2020).…”

“…Increased cellular SA levels activate several signaling cascades in which NON-EXPRESSOR OF PATHOGEN-RELATED GENE1 (NPR1) has a central role as master regulator. NPR1 interacts with transcription factors to induce the production of antimicrobial peptides such as pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins (Backer, Naidoo, & van den Berg, 2019;Pajerowska-Mukhtar, Emerine, & Mukhtar, 2013;Qi et al, 2018). SA accumulation induces biosynthesis of camalexin, which is the major phytoalexin formed during biotic stress responses (Glawischnig, 2007).…”