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DOE OSTI · 1835175

Interdependent iron and phosphorus availability controls photosynthesis through retrograde signaling

Nam, Hye-In·Shahzad, Zaigham·Dorone, Yanniv·Clowez, Sophie·Zhao, Kangmei (ORCID:0000000314724993)·Bouain, Nadia·Lay-Pruitt, Katerina S. (ORCID:0000000340571900)·Cho, Huikyong·Rhee, Seung Y. (ORCID:0000000275724762)·Rouached, Hatem (ORCID:0000000162431488)
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Abstract

Abstract Iron deficiency hampers photosynthesis and is associated with chlorosis. We recently showed that iron deficiency-induced chlorosis depends on phosphorus availability. How plants integrate these cues to control chlorophyll accumulation is unknown. Here, we show that iron limitation downregulates photosynthesis genes in a phosphorus-dependent manner. Using transcriptomics and genome-wide association analysis, we identify two genes, PHT4;4 encoding a chloroplastic ascorbate transporter and bZIP58 , encoding a nuclear transcription factor, which prevent the downregulation of photosynthesis genes leading to the stay-green phenotype under iron-phosphorus deficiency. Joint limitation of these nutrients induces ascorbate accumulation by activating expression of an ascorbate biosynthesis gene, VTC4 , which requires bZIP58. Furthermore, we demonstrate that chloroplastic ascorbate transport prevents the downregulation of photosynthesis genes under iron-phosphorus combined deficiency through modulation of ROS homeostasis. Our study uncovers a ROS-mediated chloroplastic retrograde signaling pathway to adapt photosynthesis to nutrient availability.

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCESabioticchloroplastsplant signaling

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Nam, Hye-In, Shahzad, Zaigham, Dorone, Yanniv, Clowez, Sophie, Zhao, Kangmei (ORCID:0000000314724993), Bouain, Nadia, Lay-Pruitt, Katerina S. (ORCID:0000000340571900), Cho, Huikyong, Rhee, Seung Y. (ORCID:0000000275724762), Rouached, Hatem (ORCID:0000000162431488). 2021-12-10. Interdependent iron and phosphorus availability controls photosynthesis through retrograde signaling. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27548-2

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