Introgression of UfCyt c (6), a thylakoid lumen protein from a green seaweed Ulva fasciata Delile enhanced photosynthesis and growth in tobacco

Cytochromes are important components of photosynthetic electron transport chain. Here we report on genetic transformation of Cytochrome c (6) (UfCyt c (6)) gene from Ulva fasciata Delile in tobacco for enhanced photosynthesis and growth. UfCyt c (6) cDNA had an open reading frame of 330 bp encoding a polypeptide of 109 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 11.65 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.21. UfCyt c (6) gene along with a tobacco petE transit peptide sequence under control of CaMV35S promoter was transformed in tobacco through Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation. Transgenic tobacco grew normal and exhibited enhanced growth as compared to wild type (WT) and vector control (VC) tobacco. Transgenic tobacco had higher contents of photosynthetic pigments and better ratios of photosynthetic pigments. The tobacco expressing UfCyt c (6) gene exhibited higher photosynthetic rate and improved water use efficiency. Further activity of the water-splitting complex, photosystem II quantum yield, photochemical quenching, electron transfer rate, and photosynthetic yield were found comparatively higher in transgenic tobacco as compared to WT and VC tobacco. Alternatively basal quantum yield of non-photochemical processes in PSII and non-photochemical quenching were estimated lower in tobacco expressing UfCyt c (6) gene. As a result of improved photosynthetic performance the transgenic tobacco had higher contents of sugar and starch, and exhibited comparatively better growth. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on expression of UfCyt c (6) gene from U. fasciata for improved photosynthesis and growth in tobacco.