Guillaume Tcherkez

Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, Ile-de-France, France

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Publications (37)179.63 Total impact

  • Article: Concerted changes in N and C primary metabolism in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) under water restriction.
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    ABSTRACT: Although the mechanisms of nodule N(2) fixation in legumes are now well documented, some uncertainty remains on the metabolic consequences of water deficit. In most cases, little consideration is given to other organs and, therefore, the coordinated changes in metabolism in leaves, roots, and nodules are not well known. Here, the effect of water restriction on exclusively N(2)-fixing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants was investigated, and proteomic, metabolomic, and physiological analyses were carried out. It is shown that the inhibition of nitrogenase activity caused by water restriction was accompanied by concerted alterations in metabolic pathways in nodules, leaves, and roots. The data suggest that nodule metabolism and metabolic exchange between plant organs nearly reached homeostasis in asparagine synthesis and partitioning, as well as the N demand from leaves. Typically, there was (i) a stimulation of the anaplerotic pathway to sustain the provision of C skeletons for amino acid (e.g. glutamate and proline) synthesis; (ii) re-allocation of glycolytic products to alanine and serine/glycine; and (iii) subtle changes in redox metabolites suggesting the implication of a slight oxidative stress. Furthermore, water restriction caused little change in both photosynthetic efficiency and respiratory cost of N(2) fixation by nodules. In other words, the results suggest that under water stress, nodule metabolism follows a compromise between physiological imperatives (N demand, oxidative stress) and the lower input to sustain catabolism.
    Journal of Experimental Botany 03/2013; 64(4):1-17. · 5.36 Impact Factor
  • Article: NAD: Not just a pawn on the board of plant-pathogen interactions.
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    ABSTRACT: Many metabolic processes that occur in living cells involve oxido-reduction (redox) chemistry underpinned by redox compounds such as glutathione, ascorbate and/or pyridine nucleotides. Among these redox carriers, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is the cornerstone of cellular oxidations along catabolism and is therefore essential for plant growth and development. In addition to its redox role, there is now compelling evidence that NAD is a signal molecule controlling crucial functions like primary and secondary carbon metabolism. Recent studies using integrative -omics approaches combined with molecular pathology have shown that manipulating NAD biosynthesis and recycling lead to an alteration of metabolites pools and developmental processes, and changes in the resistance to various pathogens. NAD levels should now be viewed as a potential target to improve tolerance to biotic stress and crop improvement. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the key role of NAD (and its metabolism) in plant responses to pathogen infections.
    Plant signaling & behavior 10/2012; 8(1).
  • Article: Metabolic origin of δ(15) N values in nitrogenous compounds from Brassica napus L. leaves.
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    ABSTRACT: Nitrogen isotope composition (δ(15) N) in plant organic matter is currently used as a natural tracer of nitrogen acquisition efficiency. However, the δ(15) N value of whole leaf material does not properly reflect the way in which N is assimilated because isotope fractionations along metabolic reactions may cause substantial differences among leaf compounds. In other words, any change in metabolic composition or allocation pattern may cause undesirable variability in leaf δ(15) N. Here, we investigated the δ(15) N in different leaf fractions and individual metabolites from rapeseed (Brassica napus) leaves. We show that there were substantial differences in δ(15) N between nitrogenous compounds (up to 30‰) and the content in ((15) N enriched) nitrate had a clear influence on leaf δ(15) N. Using a simple steady-state model of day metabolism, we suggest that the δ(15) N value in major amino acids was mostly explained by isotope fractionation associated with isotope effects on enzyme-catalysed reactions in primary nitrogen metabolism. δ(15) N values were further influenced by light versus dark conditions and the probable occurrence of alternative biosynthetic pathways. We conclude that both biochemical pathways (that fractionate between isotopes) and nitrogen sources (used for amino acid production) should be considered when interpreting the δ(15) N value of leaf nitrogenous compounds.
    Plant Cell and Environment 06/2012; · 5.22 Impact Factor
  • Article: Short-term effects of CO(2) and O(2) on citrate metabolism in illuminated leaves.
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    ABSTRACT: Although there is now a considerable literature on the inhibition of leaf respiration (CO(2) evolution) by light, little is known about the effect of other environmental conditions on day respiratory metabolism. In particular, CO(2) and O(2) mole fractions are assumed to cause changes in the tricarboxylic acid pathway (TCAP) but the amplitude and even the direction of such changes are still a matter of debate. Here, we took advantage of isotopic techniques, new simple equations and instant freeze sampling to follow respiratory metabolism in illuminated cocklebur leaves (Xanthium strumarium L.) under different CO(2) /O(2) conditions. Gas exchange coupled to online isotopic analysis showed that CO(2) evolved by leaves in the light came from 'old' carbon skeletons and there was a slight decrease in (13) C natural abundance when [CO(2) ] increased. This suggested the involvement of enzymatic steps fractionating more strongly against (13) C and thus increasingly limiting for the metabolic respiratory flux as [CO(2) ] increased. Isotopic labelling with (13) C(2) -2,4-citrate lead to (13) C-enriched Glu and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG), clearly demonstrating poor metabolism of citrate by the TCAP. There was a clear relationship between the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate oxygenation-to-carboxylation ratio (v(o) /v(c) ) and the (13) C commitment to 2OG, demonstrating that 2OG and Glu synthesis via the TCAP is positively influenced by photorespiration.
    Plant Cell and Environment 05/2012; · 5.22 Impact Factor
  • Article: Biochemical and physiological determinants of intramolecular isotope patterns in sucrose from C₃, C₄ and CAM plants accessed by isotopic ¹³C NMR spectrometry: a viewpoint.
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    ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the biochemical and physiological factors underlying the site-specific, non-random distribution of ¹³C/¹²C isotope ratios within plant metabolites, which can be determined by isotopic ¹³C NMR spectrometry. It focuses on the key metabolite glucose and on enzyme activities and physiological processes that are responsible for the carbon isotope patterns in glucose from different biological origins. It further considers how intramolecular ¹³C/¹²C isotope ratios in glucose can be exploited to understand fundamental aspects of plant biological chemistry, how these are related to environmental parameters and how these influence metabolites beyond central sugar metabolism. It does not purport to be an extensive overview of intramolecular isotopic patterns. Rather, the aim is to show how a full understanding of ¹³C/¹²C fractionations occurring during plant metabolism can only be possible once the factors that define intramolecular isotope values are better delineated.
    Natural Product Reports 02/2012; 29(4):476-86. · 9.79 Impact Factor
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    Article: Inducible NAD overproduction in Arabidopsis alters metabolic pools and gene expression correlated with increased salicylate content and resistance to Pst-AvrRpm1.
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    ABSTRACT: Plant development and function are underpinned by redox reactions that depend on co-factors such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD has recently been shown to be involved in several signalling pathways that are associated with stress tolerance or defence responses. However, the mechanisms by which NAD influences plant gene regulation, metabolism and physiology still remain unclear. Here, we took advantage of Arabidopsis thaliana lines that overexpressed the nadC gene from E. coli, which encodes the NAD biosynthesis enzyme quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase (QPT). Upon incubation with quinolinate, these lines accumulated NAD and were thus used as inducible systems to determine the consequences of an increased NAD content in leaves. Metabolic profiling showed clear changes in several metabolites such as aspartate-derived amino acids and NAD-derived nicotinic acid. Large-scale transcriptomic analyses indicated that NAD promoted the induction of various pathogen-related genes such as the salicylic acid (SA)-responsive defence marker PR1. Extensive comparison with transcriptomic databases further showed that gene expression under high NAD content was similar to that obtained under biotic stress, eliciting conditions or SA treatment. Upon inoculation with the avirulent strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato Pst-AvrRpm1, the nadC lines showed enhanced resistance to bacteria infection and exhibited an ICS1-dependent build-up of both conjugated and free SA pools. We therefore concluded that higher NAD contents are beneficial for plant immunity by stimulating SA-dependent signalling and pathogen resistance.
    The Plant Journal 01/2012; 70(4):650-65. · 6.16 Impact Factor
  • Article: In situ proteo-metabolomics reveals metabolite secretion by the acid mine drainage bio-indicator, Euglena mutabilis.
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    ABSTRACT: Euglena mutabilis is a photosynthetic protist found in acidic aquatic environments such as peat bogs, volcanic lakes and acid mine drainages (AMDs). Through its photosynthetic metabolism, this protist is supposed to have an important role in primary production in such oligotrophic ecosystems. Nevertheless, the exact contribution of E. mutabilis in organic matter synthesis remains unclear and no evidence of metabolite secretion by this protist has been established so far. Here we combined in situ proteo-metabolomic approaches to determine the nature of the metabolites accumulated by this protist or potentially secreted into an AMD. Our results revealed that the secreted metabolites are represented by a large number of amino acids, polyamine compounds, urea and some sugars but no fatty acids, suggesting a selective organic matter contribution in this ecosystem. Such a production may have a crucial impact on the bacterial community present on the study site, as it has been suggested previously that prokaryotes transport and recycle in situ most of the metabolites secreted by E. mutabilis. Consequently, this protist may have an indirect but important role in AMD ecosystems but also in other ecological niches often described as nitrogen-limited.
    The ISME Journal 01/2012; 6(7):1391-402. · 7.38 Impact Factor
  • Article: Respiratory carbon fluxes in leaves.
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    ABSTRACT: Leaf respiration is a major metabolic process that drives energy production and growth. Earlier works in this field were focused on the measurement of respiration rates in relation to carbohydrate content, photosynthesis, enzymatic activities or nitrogen content. Recently, several studies have shed light on the mechanisms describing the regulation of respiration in the light and in the dark and on associated metabolic flux patterns. This review will highlight advances made into characterizing respiratory fluxes and provide a discussion of metabolic respiration dynamics in relation to important biological functions.
    Current opinion in plant biology 01/2012; 15(3):308-14. · 10.33 Impact Factor
  • Article: The ZmASR1 protein influences branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis and maintains kernel yield in maize under water-limited conditions.
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    ABSTRACT: Abscisic acid-, stress-, and ripening-induced (ASR) proteins were first described about 15 years ago as accumulating to high levels during plant developmental processes and in response to diverse stresses. Currently, the effects of ASRs on water deficit tolerance and the ways in which their physiological and biochemical functions lead to this stress tolerance remain poorly understood. Here, we characterized the ASR gene family from maize (Zea mays), which contains nine paralogous genes, and showed that maize ASR1 (ZmASR1) was encoded by one of the most highly expressed paralogs. Ectopic expression of ZmASR1 had a large overall impact on maize yield that was maintained under water-limited stress conditions in the field. Comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of wild-type and ZmASR1-overexpressing leaves led to the identification of three transcripts and 16 proteins up- or down-regulated by ZmASR1. The majority of them were involved in primary and/or cellular metabolic processes, including branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) biosynthesis. Metabolomic and transcript analyses further indicated that ZmASR1-overexpressing plants showed a decrease in BCAA compounds and changes in BCAA-related gene expression in comparison with wild-type plants. Interestingly, within-group correlation matrix analysis revealed a close link between 13 decreased metabolites in ZmASR1-overexpressing leaves, including two BCAAs. Among these 13 metabolites, six were previously shown to be negatively correlated to biomass, suggesting that ZmASR1-dependent regulation of these 13 metabolites might contribute to regulate leaf growth, resulting in improvement in kernel yield.
    Plant physiology 08/2011; 157(2):917-36. · 6.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: Experimental evidence of phosphoenolpyruvate resynthesis from pyruvate in illuminated leaves.
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    ABSTRACT: Day respiration is the cornerstone of nitrogen assimilation since it provides carbon skeletons to primary metabolism for glutamate (Glu) and glutamine synthesis. However, recent studies have suggested that the tricarboxylic acid pathway is rate limiting and mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenation is partly inhibited in the light. Pyruvate may serve as a carbon source for amino acid (e.g. alanine) or fatty acid synthesis, but pyruvate metabolism is not well documented, and neither is the possible resynthesis of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). Here, we examined the capacity of pyruvate to convert back to PEP using (13)C and (2)H labeling in illuminated cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) leaves. We show that the intramolecular labeling pattern in Glu, 2-oxoglutarate, and malate after (13)C-3-pyruvate feeding was consistent with (13)C redistribution from PEP via the PEP-carboxylase reaction. Furthermore, the deuterium loss in Glu after (2)H(3)-(13)C-3-pyruvate feeding suggests that conversion to PEP and back to pyruvate washed out (2)H atoms to the solvent. Our results demonstrate that in cocklebur leaves, PEP resynthesis occurred as a flux from pyruvate, approximately 0.5‰ of the net CO(2) assimilation rate. This is likely to involve pyruvate inorganic phosphate dikinase and the fundamental importance of this flux for PEP and inorganic phosphate homeostasis is discussed.
    Plant physiology 07/2011; 157(1):86-95. · 6.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: (12)C/(13)C fractionations in plant primary metabolism.
    Guillaume Tcherkez, Aline Mahé, Michael Hodges
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    ABSTRACT: Natural (13)C abundance is now an unavoidable tool to study ecosystem and plant carbon economies. A growing number of studies take advantage of isotopic fractionation between carbon pools or (13)C abundance in respiratory CO(2) to examine the carbon source of respiration, plant biomass production or organic matter sequestration in soils. (12)C/(13)C isotope effects associated with plant metabolism are thus essential to understand natural isotopic signals. However, isotope effects of enzymes do not influence metabolites separately, but combine to yield a (12)C/(13)C isotopologue redistribution orchestrated by metabolic flux patterns. In this review, we summarise key metabolic isotope effects and integrate them into the corpus of plant primary carbon metabolism.
    Trends in Plant Science 06/2011; 16(9):499-506. · 11.05 Impact Factor
  • Article: Liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the analysis of plant samples: a method for simultaneous screening of common cofactors or nucleotides and application to an engineered plant line.
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    ABSTRACT: Intense efforts are currently devoted to improve plant metabolomic analyses so as to describe more accurately the whole picture of metabolic pathways. Analyses based on liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF) are now widely distributed among plant science laboratories. However, the use of reliable, sensitive LC-TOF methods to identify and quantify micromolar or inframicromolar key metabolites is often impeded by the sensitivity of the technique to sample preparation or chromatographic conditions. Typically, the sample matrix has a substantial influence on ionization efficiency and therefore, on the detectability of such compounds. Here, we describe a new method to analyze simultaneously 23 nucleotides and cofactors from plant extracts, taking advantage of solid-phase extraction (SPE) prior to injection. The influence of common m/z fragments in several metabolites and adducts is considered. We applied this method to characterise metabolic intermediates of NAD biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana, using a wild-type and an engineered transgenic plant line that produces bacterial quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase (nadc). We show that sample pre-purification with SPE is strictly required not only for compound quantification and identification but also to allow ionization of matrix-sensitive compounds (e.g. nicotinamide) or alleviate fragmentation of others (e.g. NAD). When exogenous substrate quinolinate was infiltrated into Arabidopsis leaves to increase the natural content in downstream metabolites, a clear correlation between intermediates of NAD biosynthesis was seen, showing the accuracy of our method for quantification in biological samples. Nadc plants only showed very modest changes in NAD-related metabolites and furthermore, they were associated with slightly lower photosynthetic performance and ATP production.
    Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 06/2011; 49(10):1117-25. · 2.84 Impact Factor
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    Article: On the 13C/12C isotopic signal of day and night respiration at the mesocosm level.
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    ABSTRACT: While there is currently intense effort to examine the (13)C signal of CO(2) evolved in the dark, less is known on the isotope composition of day-respired CO(2). This lack of knowledge stems from technical difficulties to measure the pure respiratory isotopic signal: day respiration is mixed up with photorespiration, and there is no obvious way to separate photosynthetic fractionation (pure c(i)/c(a) effect) from respiratory effect (production of CO(2) with a different delta(13)C value from that of net-fixed CO(2)) at the ecosystem level. Here, we took advantage of new simple equations, and applied them to sunflower canopies grown under low and high [CO(2)]. We show that whole mesocosm-respired CO(2) is slightly (13)C depleted in the light at the mesocosm level (by 0.2-0.8 per thousand), while it is slightly (13)C enriched in darkness (by 1.5-3.2 per thousand). The turnover of the respiratory carbon pool after labelling appears similar in the light and in the dark, and accordingly, a hierarchical clustering analysis shows a close correlation between the (13)C abundance in day- and night-evolved CO(2). We conclude that the carbon source for respiration is similar in the dark and in the light, but the metabolic pathways associated with CO(2) production may change, thereby explaining the different (12)C/(13)C respiratory fractionations in the light and in the dark.
    Plant Cell and Environment 06/2010; 33(6):900-13. · 5.22 Impact Factor
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    Article: Is there any 12C/13C fractionation during starch remobilisation and sucrose export in potato tubers?
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    ABSTRACT: The delta(13)C (carbon isotope composition) variations in respired CO(2), total organic matter, proteins, sucrose and starch have been measured during tuber sprouting of potato (Solanum tuberosum) in darkness. Measurements were carried out both on tubers and on their growing sprouts for 23 days after the start of sprout development. Sucrose was slightly (13)C-depleted compared with starch in tubers, suggesting that starch breakdown was associated with a small isotope fractionation. In sprouts, all biochemical fractions including sucrose were (13)C-enriched compared with source tuber-sucrose, suggesting that sucrose translocation from tuber to sprouts fractionated against (12)C. However, both apparent fractionations were explained by the consumption of (13)C-depleted carbon for respiration or growth that enriched in the (13)C sucrose molecules left behind. In addition, whole tuber sucrose is constantly composed of recent sucrose from starch breakdown and old sucrose associated with an inherited, slightly (13)C-depleted pool. We therefore conclude that any fractionation at either the starch breakdown or the sucrose translocation level is unlikely under our conditions.
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 09/2009; 23(16):2527-33. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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    Article: Kinetic 12C/13C isotope fractionation by invertase: evidence for a small in vitro isotope effect and comparison of two techniques for the isotopic analysis of carbohydrates.
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    ABSTRACT: The natural (13)C/(12)C isotope composition (delta(13)C) of plants and organic compounds within plant organs is a powerful tool to understand carbon allocation patterns and the regulation of photosynthetic or respiratory metabolism. However, many enzymatic fractionations are currently unknown, thus impeding our understanding of carbon trafficking pathways within plant cells. One of them is the (12)C/(13)C isotope effect associated with invertases (EC 3.2.1.26) that are cornerstone enzymes for Suc metabolism and translocation in plants. Another conundrum of isotopic plant biology is the need to measure accurately the specific delta(13)C of individual carbohydrates. Here, we examined two complementary methods for measuring the delta(13)C value of sucrose, glucose and fructose, that is, off-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification followed by elemental analysis and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS) analysis, and gas chromatography-combustion (GC-C)-IRMS. We also used these methods to determine the in vitro (12)C/(13)C isotope effect associated with the yeast invertase. Our results show that, although providing more variable values than HPLC approximately EA-IRMS, and being sensitive to derivatization conditions, the GC-C-IRMS method gives reliable results. When applied to the invertase reaction, both methods indicate that the (12)C/(13)C isotope effect is rather small and it is not affected by the use of heavy water (D(2)O).
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 09/2009; 23(16):2499-506. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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    Article: On the resilience of nitrogen assimilation by intact roots under starvation, as revealed by isotopic and metabolomic techniques.
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    ABSTRACT: The response of root metabolism to variations in carbon source availability is critical for whole-plant nitrogen (N) assimilation and growth. However, the effect of changes in the carbohydrate input to intact roots is currently not well understood and, for example, both smaller and larger values of root:shoot ratios or root N uptake have been observed so far under elevated CO(2). In addition, previous studies on sugar starvation mainly focused on senescent or excised organs while an increasing body of data suggests that intact roots may behave differently with, for example, little protein remobilization. Here, we investigated the carbon and nitrogen primary metabolism in intact roots of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants maintained under continuous darkness for 4 days. We combined natural isotopic (15)N/(14)N measurements, metabolomic and (13)C-labeling data and show that intact roots continued nitrate assimilation to glutamate for at least 3 days while the respiration rate decreased. The activity of the tricarboxylic acid cycle diminished so that glutamate synthesis was sustained by the anaplerotic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase fixation. Presumably, the pentose phosphate pathway contributed to provide reducing power for nitrate reduction. All the biosynthetic metabolic fluxes were nevertheless down-regulated and, consequently, the concentration of all amino acids decreased. This is the case of asparagine, strongly suggesting that, as opposed to excised root tips, protein remobilization in intact roots remained very low for 3 days in spite of the restriction of respiratory substrates.
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 09/2009; 23(18):2847-56. · 2.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: In folio respiratory fluxomics revealed by 13C isotopic labeling and H/D isotope effects highlight the noncyclic nature of the tricarboxylic acid "cycle" in illuminated leaves.
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    ABSTRACT: While the possible importance of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle reactions for leaf photosynthesis operation has been recognized, many uncertainties remain on whether TCA cycle biochemistry is similar in the light compared with the dark. It is widely accepted that leaf day respiration and the metabolic commitment to TCA decarboxylation are down-regulated in illuminated leaves. However, the metabolic basis (i.e. the limiting steps involved in such a down-regulation) is not well known. Here, we investigated the in vivo metabolic fluxes of individual reactions of the TCA cycle by developing two isotopic methods, (13)C tracing and fluxomics and the use of H/D isotope effects, with Xanthium strumarium leaves. We provide evidence that the TCA "cycle" does not work in the forward direction like a proper cycle but, rather, operates in both the reverse and forward directions to produce fumarate and glutamate, respectively. Such a functional division of the cycle plausibly reflects the compromise between two contrasted forces: (1) the feedback inhibition by NADH and ATP on TCA enzymes in the light, and (2) the need to provide pH-buffering organic acids and carbon skeletons for nitrate absorption and assimilation.
    Plant physiology 09/2009; 151(2):620-30. · 6.53 Impact Factor
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    Article: 13C and 15N allocations of two alpine species from early and late snowmelt locations reflect their different growth strategies.
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    ABSTRACT: Intense efforts are currently devoted to disentangling the relationships between plant carbon (C) allocation patterns and soil nitrogen (N) availability because of their consequences for growth and more generally for C sequestration. In cold ecosystems, only a few studies have addressed whole-plant C and/or N allocation along natural elevational or topographical gradients. (12)C/(13)C and (14)N/(15)N isotope techniques have been used to elucidate C and N partitioning in two alpine graminoids characterized by contrasted nutrient economies: a slow-growing species, Kobresia myosuroides (KM), and a fast-growing species, Carex foetida (CF), located in early and late snowmelt habitats, respectively, within the alpine tundra (French Alps). CF allocated higher labelling-related (13)C content belowground and produced more root biomass. Furthermore, assimilates transferred to the roots were preferentially used for growth rather than respiration and tended to favour N reduction in this compartment. Accordingly, this species had higher (15)N uptake efficiency than KM and a higher translocation of reduced (15)N to aboveground organs. These results suggest that at the whole-plant level, there is a compromise between N acquisition/reduction and C allocation patterns for optimized growth.
    Journal of Experimental Botany 05/2009; 60(9):2725-35. · 5.36 Impact Factor
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    Article: On the metabolic origin of the carbon isotope composition of CO2 evolved from darkened light-acclimated leaves in Ricinus communis.
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    ABSTRACT: The (13)C isotopic signature (delta(13)C) of CO(2) respired from plants is widely used to assess carbon fluxes and ecosystem functioning. There is, however, a lack of knowledge of the metabolic basis of the delta(13)C value of respired CO(2). To elucidate the physiological mechanisms driving (12)C/(13)C fractionation during respiration, the delta(13)C of respired CO(2) from dark-acclimated leaves during the night, from darkened leaves during the light period, and from stems and roots of Ricinus communis was analysed. The delta(13)C of potential respiratory substrates, the respiratory quotient and the activities of phosphoenolpyruvatecarboxylase (PEPc) and key respiratory enzymes were also measured. It is shown here that the CO(2) evolved from darkened light-acclimated leaves during the light period is (13)C-enriched, and that this correlates with malate accumulation in the light and rapid malate decarboxylation just after the onset of darkness. Whilst CO(2) evolved from leaves was generally (13)C-enriched (but to a lesser extent during the night), CO(2) evolved from stems and roots was depleted compared with the putative respiratory substrates; the difference was mainly caused by intensive PEPc-catalysed CO(2) refixation in stems and roots. These results provide a physiological explanation for short-term variations of delta(13)C in CO(2), illustrating the effects of variations of metabolic fluxes through different biochemical pathways.
    New Phytologist 02/2009; 181(2):374-86. · 6.64 Impact Factor
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    Article: Crosstalks between myo-inositol metabolism, programmed cell death and basal immunity in Arabidopsis.
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    ABSTRACT: Although it is a crucial cellular process required for both normal development and to face stress conditions, the control of programmed cell death in plants is not fully understood. We previously reported the isolation of ATXR5 and ATXR6, two PCNA-binding proteins that could be involved in the regulation of cell cycle or cell death. A yeast two-hybrid screen using ATXR5 as bait captured AtIPS1, an enzyme which catalyses the committed step of myo-inositol (MI) biosynthesis. atips1 mutants form spontaneous lesions on leaves, raising the possibility that MI metabolism may play a role in the control of PCD in plants. In this work, we have characterised atips1 mutants to gain insight regarding the role of MI in PCD regulation. - lesion formation in atips1 mutants depends of light intensity, is due to PCD as evidenced by TUNEL labelling of nuclei, and is regulated by phytohormones such as salicylic acid - MI and galactinol are the only metabolites whose accumulation is significantly reduced in the mutant, and supplementation of the mutant with these compounds is sufficient to prevent PCD - the transcriptome profile of the mutant is extremely similar to that of lesion mimic mutants such as cpr5, or wild-type plants infected with pathogens. Taken together, our results provide strong evidence for the role of MI or MI derivatives in the regulation of PCD. Interestingly, there are three isoforms of IPS in Arabidopsis, but AtIPS1 is the only one harbouring a nuclear localisation sequence, suggesting that nuclear pools of MI may play a specific role in PCD regulation and opening new research prospects regarding the role of MI in the prevention of tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, the significance of the interaction between AtIPS1 and ATXR5 remains to be established.
    PLoS ONE 01/2009; 4(10):e7364. · 4.09 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2012
    • Institut Universitaire de France
      Paris, Ile-de-France, France
    • Université de Nantes
      Nantes, Pays de la Loire, France
  • 2011
    • French National Centre for Scientific Research
      Lyon, Rhone-Alpes, France
  • 2003–2010
    • Université Paris-Sud 11
      • Institut de Biologie des Plantes
      Paris, Ile-de-France, France
  • 2008–2009
    • Australian National University
      Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  • 2005
    • Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung
      Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany