Energy balance and acclimation to light and cold

• Published in: Trends in plant science 1998-06, Vol.3 (6), p.224-230
• Main Authors: Huner, Norman P.A, Öquist, Gunnar, Sarhan, Fathey
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; cold; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; light; Metabolism; Metabolism. Enzymes; Microbiology; Net assimilation, photosynthesis, carbon metabolism. Photorespiration, respiration, fermentation (anoxia, hypoxia); Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; photosynthesis; Photosynthesis, respiration. Anabolism, catabolism; Plant physiology and development; redox sensing; temperature
• ISSN: 1360-1385; 1878-4372; 1878-4372
• DOI: 10.1016/S1360-1385(98)01248-5

Changes in environmental conditions such as light intensity or temperature result in an imbalance between the light energy absorbed through photochemistry versus the energy utilized through metabolism. Such an energy imbalance is sensed through alterations in photosystem II excitation pressure, which reflects the relative reduction state of the photosystem. Modulation of this novel, chloroplastic redox signal either by excess light or by low temperature initiates a signal transduction pathway. This appears to coordinate photosynthesis-related gene expression and to influence the nuclear expression of a specific cold-acclimation gene, plant morphology and differentiation in cyanobacteria. Thus, in addition to its traditional role in energy transduction, the photosynthetic apparatus might also be an environmental sensor.