A mutation in the purine biosynthetic enzyme ATASE2 impacts high light signalling and acclimation responses in green and chlorotic sectors of Arabidopsis leaves

In this report, we investigate the altered APX2 expression 13 (alx13) mutation of Arabidopsis thaliana, a mutation in glutamine phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase 2 (ATASE2), the primary isoform of the enzyme mediating the first committed step of purine biosynthesis. Light-dependent leaf variegation was exhibited by alx13 plants, with partial shading of alx13 rosettes revealing that the development of chlorosis in emerging leaves is influenced by the growth irradiance of established leaves. Chlorotic sectors arose from emerging green alx13 leaves during a phase of rapid cell division and expansion, which shows that each new cell's fate is independent of its progenitor. In conjunction with the variegated phenotype, alx13 plants showed altered high light stress responses, including changed expression of genes encoding proteins with antioxidative functions, impaired anthocyanin production and over-accumulation of reactive oxygen species. These characteristics were observed in both photosynthetically-normal green tissues and chlorotic tissues. Chlorotic tissues of alx13 leaves accumulated mRNAs of nuclear-encoded photosynthesis genes that are repressed in other variegated mutants of Arabidopsis. Thus, defective purine biosynthesis impairs chloroplast biogenesis in a light-dependent manner and alters the induction of high light stress pathways and nuclear-encoded photosynthesis genes.