The mars1 kinase confers photoprotection through signaling in the chloroplast unfolded protein response

Karina Perlaza, Hannah Toutkoushian, Morgane Boone, Mable Lam, Masakazu Iwai, Martin C. Jonikas, Peter Walter, Silvia Ramundo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

In response to proteotoxic stress, chloroplasts communicate with the nuclear gene expression system through a chloroplast unfolded protein response (cpUPR). We isolated Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutants that disrupt cpUPR signaling and identified a gene encoding a previously uncharacterized cytoplasmic protein kinase, termed Mars1—for mutant affected in chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling—as the first known component in cpUPR signal transmission. Lack of cpUPR induction in MARS1 mutant cells impaired their ability to cope with chloroplast stress, including exposure to excessive light. Conversely, transgenic activation of cpUPR signaling conferred an advantage to cells undergoing photooxidative stress. Our results indicate that the cpUPR mitigates chloroplast photodamage and that manipulation of this pathway is a potential avenue for engineering photosynthetic organisms with increased tolerance to chloroplast stress.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere49577
JournaleLife
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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