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Title:   Author  item
                                            Chen, Junpingitem
                                            Burke, Johnitem
                                            Velten, Jeffreyitem
                                            Xin, Zhanguo
  Submitted to: Plant Journal
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2006
                                    Publication  Date: 8/30/2006
                                    Citation: Chen, J., Burke, J.J., Velten, J.P., Xin, Z. 2006. FtsH11 protease plays a critical role in Arabidopsis thermotolerance. The Plant Journal. 48(1):73-84.Interpretive Summary: Plants, as sessile organisms, employ multiple mechanisms to adapt to the seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations associated with their habitats.  Here, we provide evidence that the FtsH11 protease of Arabidopsis contributes to the plants’ overall tolerance to elevated temperatures.  Our study showed that mutations in this gene make the plants more sensitive to high temperature stresses.  This is the first report of this gene functioning in heat protection in higher plants.
                                Technical Abstract: Plants, as sessile organisms, employ multiple mechanisms to adapt to the seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations associated with their habitats.  Here, we provide evidence that the FtsH11 protease of Arabidopsis contributes to the plants’ overall tolerance to elevated temperatures.  To identify the various mechanisms of thermotolerance in plants, we have isolated a series of Arabidopsis thaliana thermo-sensitive mutants (atts) that failed to acquire thermotolerance after a pre-conditioning at 38oC.  Two allelic mutants, atts244/atts405, were not only defective in acquired thermotolerance but also highly susceptible to moderately elevated temperatures.  Growth and development of the mutant plants at all stages examined were arrested after they were exposed to temperatures above 30oC, which were permissive temperatures in wild-type plants.  The gene was identified through map-based cloning to encode a chloroplast targeted FtsH (Filamentous temperature sensitive) protease, AtFtsH11.  The Arabidopsis genome contains 12 predicted FtsH protease genes.  All the previously characterized AtFtsHs play roles in alleviation of light stress through degradation of unassembled thylakoid membrane proteins and photodamaged PSII D1 protein.  Photosynthetic capability, as measured by chlorophyll content, chl a/b ratios and PSII quantum yield, reduced greatly in leaves of AtFtsH11 mutants when they were exposed to a moderately high temperature of 30oC.  Under high light conditions, however, no significant difference in the changes in photosynthesis capacity was observed between AtFtsH11 mutants and wild-type plants.  Our results demonstrate that AtFtsH11 plays a critical role in thermotolerance in Arabidopsis.


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