Co-activation of Nutrient Assimilations and Substance Production in The Dof1 Transgenic Plants under High Light Condition

Abstract

We previously reported the enhancement of nitrogen assimilation in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the Dof1 transcriptional activator for expression of the genes encoding enzymes involved in carbon skeleton production. The major part of assimilated nitrogen is utilized for the biosynthesis of components involved in photosynthesis. Here, we show the effects of strengthened nitrogen assimilation on carbon metabolism under the high light condition (HL) in the transgenic plants. The amounts of carbon metabolites were enlarged in the transgenic plants under HL. The chlorophyll contents and carbon fixation rates were also increased in the transgenic plants under HL. Furthermore, the contents of protein and starch were increased in the transgenic plants under HL. These results indicate that genetic co-activation of nitrogen and carbon assimilations in the Dof1 transgenic Arabidopsis leads to the increase in substance production under HL.