Chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development in etiolated seedlings of Ginkgo biloba L

0352587 - BC 2011 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Pavlovič, A. - Slováková, L. - Demko, V. - Durchan, Milan - Mikulová, K. - Hudák, J.
Chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development in etiolated seedlings of Ginkgo biloba L.
Photosynthetica. Roč. 47, č. 4 (2009), s. 510-516. ISSN 0300-3604. E-ISSN 1573-9058
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50510513
Keywords : Aminolevulinic acid * Ginkgo biloba * light-independent chlorophyll biosynthesis
Subject RIV: CE - Biochemistry
Impact factor: 1.072, year: 2009

Ginkgo biloba is a large tree native in China with evolutionary affinities to the conifers and cycads. However unlike conifers, the gymnosperm G.biloba is not able to synthesize chlorophyll (Chl) in the dark, in spite of the presence of genes encoding subunits of light-independent protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (DPOR) in the plastid genome. The principal aims of the present study were to investigate the presence of DPOR protein subunits as well as the key regulatory step in Chl formation: aminolevulinic acid synthesis and abundance of the key regulatory enzyme in its synthesis: glutamyl-tRNA reductase. In addition, functional stage of photosynthetic apparatus and assembly of pigment-protein complexes were investigated. Dark-grown, illuminated and circadian-grown seedlings were used. Our results clearly showed that no protein subunits of DPOR were detected irrespective of light conditions, what is consistent with the absence of Chl and Chl-binding proteins in the dark.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0192066