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JST Press Release

February 2, 2016
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666

A physiological role of cyclic electron transport around photosystem I
in sustaining photosynthesis under fluctuating light in rice

Cyclic electron transport around photosystem I (PSI) was discovered more than a half-century ago and two pathways have been identified in angiosperms: the main pathway depends on PGR5 (PROTON GRADIENT REGULATION) proteins, whereas the minor pathway is mediated by a chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase-like (NDH) complex. Recently, substantial progress has been made in understanding the structure of the chloroplast NDH complex. However, the physiological significance of the chloroplast NDH complex has remained to be clarified, since the NDH-deficient mutants in tobacco and Arabidopsis were rather resistant to various stress conditions. The present study proposes a significant physiological function of PGR5-dependent cyclic electron transport as well as NDH-dependent cyclic electron transport under the fluctuating-light conditions in rice. This work is the first paper which documents the significant physiological function of chloroplast NDH as well as PGR5 under fluctuating-light conditions in rice.

Researcher Information

JST PRESTO
Research Area “Creation of essential technologies to utilize carbon dioxide as a resource through the enhancement of plant productivity and the exploitation of plant products”
Research Theme “Mechanisms of photosynthetic regulation under fluctuating light conditions”

Journal Information

Wataru Yamori, Amane Makino, and Toshiharu Shikanai. “A physiological role of cyclic electron transport around photosystem I in sustaining photosynthesis under fluctuating light in rice”. Scientific Reports, Published online 2 February 2016, doi: 10.1038/srep20147.

Contact

[About Research]
Wataru Yamori, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University
E-mail:

[About Program]
Tetsu Kawaguchi
Life Innovation Group, Department of Innovation Research, JST
E-mail:

Japanese


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