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Articles

Protein Synthesis and Photosynthetic Recovery in the Resurrection Plant, Selaginella lepidophylla¹

Department of General Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235

The effects of inhibition of protein synthesis on whole-plant CO₂ exchange and on protein synthesis during hydration of the resurrection plant Selaginella lepidophylla (Hook and Grev.) were examined. Both chloramphenicol and cycloheximide inhibited the redevelopment of photosynthetic capacity which normally occurs within 24 hours of hydration in the light. The inhibitory effect of chloramphenicol was greater than that of cycloheximide. The onset of chloramphenicol inhibition of net photosynthesis occurred only after 12 hours of hydration. Cycloheximide stimulated net CO₂ influx early after rehydration and inhibited net CO₂ influx after 14 hours of hydration. Total protein synthesis, as measured by L-[³⁵S]methionine incorporation, increased through 24 hours of hydration. Based upon the results obtained with the protein synthesis inhibitors, most protein synthesis within the first 12 hours of hydration was cytoplasm-directed, whereas the rate of organelle-directed protein synthesis remained low until 12 hours of hydration and increased rapidly thereafter. These data suggest that both organelle- and cytoplasm-directed protein synthesis are necessary for full photosynthetic recovery during rehydration of S. lepidophylla.