Photosynthesis is sensitive to nitric oxide and respiration sensitive to hydrogen peroxide: Studies with pea mesophyll protoplasts

Reports on the effect of nitric oxide (NO) or reactive oxygen species (ROS) on photosynthesis and respiration in leaf tissues are intriguing; therefore, the effects of exogenous addition of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, releases NO) or H2O2 on the photosynthetic O-2 evolution and respiratory O-2 uptake by mesophyll protoplasts in pea (Pisum sativum) were evaluated in the present study. Low concentrations of SNP or H2O2 were used to minimize nonspecific effects. The effects of NO or H2O2 on respiration and photosynthesis were different. The presence of NO decreased the rate of photosynthesis but caused a marginal stimulation of dark respiration. Conversely, externally administered H2O2 drastically decreased the rate of respiration but only slightly decreased photosynthesis. The PS I activity was more sensitive to NO than PS II. On the other hand, 100 mu M H2O2 had no effect on the photochemical reactions of either PS I or PS II. The sensitivity of photosynthesis to antimycin A or SHAM (reflecting the interplay between chloroplasts and mitochondria) was not affected by NO. By contrast, H2O2 markedly decreased the sensitivity of photosynthesis to antimycin A and SHAM. It can be concluded that chloroplasts are the primary targets of NO, while mitochondria are the primary targets of ROS in plant cells. We propose that H2O2 can be an important signal to modulate the crosstalk between chloroplasts and mitochondria.