Simultaneous adjustments of major mitochondrial pathways through redox regulation of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (mtLPD1)

Abstract

Thioredoxins (TRX) are pivotal for the redox regulation of enzyme activities to adjust metabolic fluxes towards environmental changes. Previous reports demonstrated TRX o1 and h2 impact on mitochondrial metabolism including photorespiration and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Here, we aimed to unravel potential specificities between regulation modes of both TRXs, especially under conditions with short-term changes in photorespiration. Therefore, short-term metabolite responses of single TRX mutants were analyzed after exposure to altered CO2/O2 ratios during darkness and illumination. This approach was complemented by comprehensive characterization of multiple Arabidopsis mutants lacking either one or both TRX in the wild-type Arabidopsis or the glycine decarboxylase (GDC) T-protein knock down line (gldt1). The results provided evidence for additive effects of combined TRX o1 and h2 deficiency to suppress growth, photosynthesis and mitochondrial metabolism. Quantification of pyrimidine nucleotides in conjunction with metabolite and 13C-labelling approaches revealed a rather uniform impact on mitochondrial dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (mtLPD1) dependent pathways. Biochemical analysis of recombinant mtLPD1 demonstrated its inhibition by NADH, pointing at an additional measure to fine-tune its in vivo activity. Collectively, we propose that TRX o1 and h2 contribute to the communication of altered subcellular redox-states through direct and indirect regulation of mtLPD1. This regulation module might represent a common intercept for simultaneous adjustments in the operation of photorespiration, the TCA-cycle and the degradation of branched chain amino acids.