This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (150) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Galangau, F. Articles by Caboche, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Galangau, F. Articles by Caboche, M. Agricola Articles by Galangau, F. Articles by Caboche, M.

Molecular Biology and Gene Regulation

Expression of Leaf Nitrate Reductase Genes from Tomato and Tobacco in Relation to Light-Dark Regimes and Nitrate Supply

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Route de Saint-Cyr, 78000 Versailles, France, Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire, Route de Saint-Cyr, 78000 Versailles, France

The influence of light-dark cycles and nitrate supply on nitrate reductase (NR) mRNA levels was studied in two plant species, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) using specific NR DNA probes. In the same series of experiments, changes in the levels of NR protein (NRP) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and changes in the level of NADH-nitrate reductase activity (NRA) were also followed. During a light-dark cycle, it was found that in both tomato and tobacco, NR mRNA accumulation increased rapidly during the dark period and reached a maximum at the beginning of the day, while NRP reached a peak 2 and 4 hours after mRNA peaked, for tomato and tobacco, respectively. At the end of the day, the amount of mRNA was decreased by a factor of at least 100 compared to sunrise in both species. These results demonstrate that light is involved, although probably not directly, in the regulation of the NR gene expression at the mRNA level. The peak of NRA in tobacco coincided with the peak in NR mRNA accumulation (i.e. sunrise), whereas in tomato the peak of NRA was approximately 5 to 6 hours after sunrise. There is no obvious correlation between NRP and NRA levels during the day. In nitrogen starvation experiments, a rapid decrease of NRP and NRA was detected, while NR mRNA levels were not significantly altered. Upon nitrate replenishment, nitrogen-starved plants accumulated NR mRNA rapidly. These results suggest that the availability of nitrogen affects the expression of NR activity at the transcriptional as well as at the post-transcriptional levels.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. W. Jin, S. T. Du, Y. S. Zhang, X. Y. Lin, and C. X. Tang Differential regulatory role of nitric oxide in mediating nitrate reductase activity in roots of tomato (Solanum lycocarpum) Ann. Bot., July 1, 2009; 104(1): 9 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kopriva, M. Suter, P. von Ballmoos, H. Hesse, U. Krahenbuhl, H. Rennenberg, and C. Brunold Interaction of Sulfate Assimilation with Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism in Lemna minor Plant Physiology, November 1, 2002; 130(3): 1406 - 1413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. M. Kaiser and S. C. Huber Post-translational regulation of nitrate reductase: mechanism, physiological relevance and environmental triggers J. Exp. Bot., October 1, 2001; 52(363): 1981 - 1989. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Kolosova, N. Gorenstein, C. M. Kish, and N. Dudareva Regulation of Circadian Methyl Benzoate Emission in Diurnally and Nocturnally Emitting Plants PLANT CELL, October 1, 2001; 13(10): 2333 - 2347. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Lillo, C. Meyer, and P. Ruoff The Nitrate Reductase Circadian System. The Central Clock Dogma Contra Multiple Oscillatory Feedback Loops Plant Physiology, April 1, 2001; 125(4): 1554 - 1557. [Full Text]

				N. Druart, P. Goupil, E. Dewaele, J.-P. Boutin, and S. Rambour Nitrate assimilation in chicory roots (Cichorium intybus L.) which acquire radial growth J. Exp. Bot., March 1, 2000; 51(344): 539 - 546. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. H. Foyer, M.-H. Valadier, A. Migge, and T. W. Becker Drought-Induced Effects on Nitrate Reductase Activity and mRNA and on the Coordination of Nitrogen and Carbon Metabolism in Maize Leaves Plant Physiology, May 1, 1998; 117(1): 283 - 292. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. Ferrario-Méry, M.-H. Valadier, and C. H. Foyer Overexpression of Nitrate Reductase in Tobacco Delays Drought-Induced Decreases in Nitrate Reductase Activity and mRNA Plant Physiology, May 1, 1998; 117(1): 293 - 302. [Abstract] [Full Text]