Hans-Henning Kunz - Using the chloroplast envelope carrier mutant kea1kea2 to probe the impact of abiotic stress on photosynthesis and the plant ion homeostasis

  • Datum: 16.06.2016
  • Uhrzeit: 14:00 - 15:30
  • Vortragende(r): Hans-Henning Kunz
  • Ort: Central Building
  • Raum: Seminar Room
  • Gastgeber: Ute Armbruster
Drought and soil salinity represent two tightly linked abiotic stress factors. Together they by far cause the most damaging effects on annual crop yields. Although evidence for the importance of the chloroplast in surviving these adverse environmental effects have existed for years still the molecular processes are not well understood. Recently, several independent laboratories have started to investigate the plastid ion transport mechanisms. Particularly K+ flux was found to be crucial in maintaining the chloroplast ion and pH homeostasis and to fine-tune photosynthesis. This carefully balanced system can be readily disturbed by abiotic stress. For instance, during salt stress toxic Na ions also accumulate in chloroplasts, where they replace K+ ions and diminish photosynthetic efficiency in plants. This could supposedly be prevented by controlling the ion flux across the envelope membrane via ion carries and channels. The kea1kea2 mutant that lacks two highly active K+/H+ antiporters is strongly growth compromised with poor photosynthesis under normal growth conditions. However, if exposed to soil salinity mutants flourish with highly recovered photosynthetic efficiency. My lab is interested in deciphering the molecular foundation of this phenomenon. By doing so, we anticipate to find the missing ion transport mechanisms in the envelope membrane. In my seminar I will show some early data on how we approach this endeavor and what we plan to do in the next few years.
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