Effects of low CO2 on NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, a mediator of cyclic electron transport around photosystem I in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803

The expression and activity of type-1 NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH-1) was compared between cells of Synechocystis PCC6803 grown in high (H-cells) and low (L-cells) CO2 conditions. Western analysis indicated that L-cells contain higher amounts of the NDH-1 subunits, NdhH, Ndhl and NdhK. An NADPH-specific subcomplex of NDH-1 showed higher NADPH-nitroblue tetrazolium oxidoreductase activity in L-cells. The activities of both NADPH-menadione oxidoreductase and light-dependent NADPH oxidation driven by photosystem I were much higher in L-cells than in H-cells. The initial rate of re-reduction of P700(+) following actinic light illumination in the presence of DCMU under background far-red light was enhanced in L-cells. In addition, rotenone, a specific inhibitor of NDH-1, suppressed the relative rate of post-illumination increase in Chl fluorescence of L-cells more than that of H-cells, suggesting that the involvement of NDH-1 in cyclic electron flow around photosystem I was enhanced by low CO2. Taken together, these results suggest that NDH-1 complex and NDH-1-mediated cyclic electron transport are stimulated by low CO2 and function in the acclimation of cyanobacteria to low CO2.