The effect of nitrate assimilation deficiency on the carbon and nitrogen status of Arabidopsis thaliana plants.

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism are integrated processes that modulate many aspects of plant growth, development, and defense. Although plants with deficient N metabolism have been largely used for the elucidation of the complex network that coordinates the C and N status in leaves, studies at the whole-plant level are still lacking. Here, the content of amino acids, organic acids, total soluble sugars, starch, and phenylpropanoids in the leaves, roots, and floral buds of a nitrate reductase (NR) double-deficient mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana (nia1 nia2) were compared to those of wild-type plants. Foliar C and N primary metabolism was affected by NR deficiency, as evidenced by decreased levels of most amino acids and organic acids and total soluble sugars and starch in the nia1 nia2 leaves. However, no difference was detected in the content of the analyzed metabolites in the nia1 nia2 roots and floral buds in comparison to wild type. Similarly, phenylpropanoid metabolism was affected in the nia1 nia2 leaves; however, the high content of flavonol glycosides in the floral buds was not altered in the NR-deficient plants. Altogether, these results suggest that, even under conditions of deficient nitrate assimilation, A. thaliana plants are capable of remobilizing their metabolites from source leaves and maintaining the C-N status in roots and developing flowers.

Modulation of mitochondrial activity by S-nitrosoglutathione reductase in Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic cell lines.

The enzyme S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) has an important role in the metabolism of S-nitrosothiols (SNO) and, consequently, in the modulation of nitric oxide (NO)-mediated processes. Although the mitochondrial electron transport chain is an important target of NO, the role of GSNOR in the functionality of plant mitochondria has not been addressed. Here, we measured SNO content and NO emission in Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension cultures of wild-type (WT) and GSNOR overexpressing (GSNOR(OE)) or antisense (GSNOR(AS)) transgenic lines, grown under optimal conditions and under nutritional stress. Respiratory activity of isolated mitochondria and expression of genes encoding for mitochondrial proteins were also analyzed. Under optimal growth conditions, GSNOR(OE) had the lowest SNO and NO levels and GSNOR(AS) the highest, as expected by the GSNO-consuming activity of GSNOR. Under stress, this pattern was reversed. Analysis of oxygen uptake by isolated mitochondria showed that complex I and external NADH dehydrogenase activities were inhibited in GSNOR(OE) cells grown under nutritional stress. Moreover, GSNOR(OE) could not increase alternative oxidase (AOX) activity under nutritional stress. GSNOR(AS) showed constitutively high activity of external NADH dehydrogenase, and maintained the activity of the uncoupling protein (UCP) under stress. The alterations observed in mitochondrial protein activities were not strictly correlated to changes in gene expression, but instead seemed to be related with the SNO/NO content, suggesting a post-transcriptional regulation. Overall, our results highlight the importance of GSNOR in modulating SNO and NO homeostasis as well mitochondrial functionality, both under normal and adverse conditions in A. thaliana cells.

Nitrite reduction and superoxide-dependent nitric oxide degradation by Arabidopsis mitochondria: influence of external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases and alternative oxidase in the control of nitric oxide levels.

Mitochondria recently have emerged as important sites in controlling NO levels within the cell. In this study, the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) from nitrite and its degradation by mitochondria isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana were examined. Oxygen and NO concentrations in the reaction medium were measured with specific electrodes. Nitrite inhibited the respiration of isolated A. thaliana mitochondria, in competition with oxygen, an effect that was abolished or potentiated when electron flow occurred via alternative oxidase (AOX) or cytochrome c oxidase (COX), respectively. The production of NO from nitrite was detected electrochemically only under anaerobiosis because of a superoxide-dependent process of NO degradation. Electron leakage from external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases contributed the most to NO degradation as higher rates of Amplex Red-detected H(2)O(2) production and NO consumption were observed in NAD(P)H-energized mitochondria. Conversely, the NO-insensitive AOX diminished electron leakage from the respiratory chain, allowing the increase of NO half-life without interrupting oxygen consumption. These results show that the accumulation of nitric oxide derived from nitrite reduction and the superoxide-dependent mechanism of NO degradation in isolated A. thaliana mitochondria are influenced by the external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases and AOX, revealing a role for these alternative proteins of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in the control of NO levels in plant cells.

NAD(P)H- and superoxide-dependent nitric oxide degradation by rat liver mitochondria.

Mitochondria consume nitric oxide (NO) mainly through reaction with superoxide anion (O(2)(-)). Here, we analyzed the O(2)(-) sources for NO degradation by isolated rat liver mitochondria. Electron leakage from complex III and reverse electron transport to complex I accounted for O(2)(-)-dependent NO degradation by mitochondria in the presence of a protonmotive force. Mitochondria incubated with NAD(P)H also presented intense O(2)(-) generation and NO degradation rates that were insensitive to respiratory inhibitors and abolished after proteinase treatment. These results suggest that an outer membrane-localized NAD(P)H oxidase activity, in addition to the electron leakage from the respiratory chain, promotes O(2)(-)-dependent NO degradation in rat liver mitochondria.

Nitric oxide degradation by potato tuber mitochondria: evidence for the involvement of external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases.

The mechanisms of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in plants have been extensively investigated. NO degradation can be just as important as its synthesis in controlling steady-state levels of NO. Here, we examined NO degradation in mitochondria isolated from potato tubers and the contribution of the respiratory chain to this process. NO degradation was faster in mitochondria energized with NAD(P)H than with succinate or malate. Oxygen consumption and the inner membrane potential were transiently inhibited by NO in NAD(P)H-energized mitochondria, in contrast to the persistent inhibition seen with succinate. NO degradation was abolished by anoxia and superoxide dismutase, which suggested that NO was consumed by its reaction with superoxide anion (O2(-)). Antimycin-A stimulated and myxothiazol prevented NO consumption in succinate- and malate-energized mitochondria. Although favored by antimycin-A, NAD(P)H-mediated NO consumption was not abolished by myxothiazol, indicating that an additional site of O2(-) generation, besides complex III, stimulated NO degradation. Larger amounts of O2(-) were generated in NAD(P)H- compared to succinate- or malate-energized mitochondria. NAD(P)H-mediated NO degradation and O2(-) production were stimulated by free Ca2+ concentration. Together, these results indicate that Ca2+-dependent external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases, in addition to complex III, contribute to O2(-) production that favors NO degradation in potato tuber mitochondria.