Spliceosomal complex components are critical for adjusting the C:N balance during high-light acclimation

Abstract

Plant acclimation to an ever-changing environment is decisive for growth, reproduction and survival. Light availability limits biomass production on both ends of the intensity spectrum. Therefore, the adjustment of plant metabolism is central to high-light (HL) acclimation, and accumulation of photoprotective anthocyanins is commonly observed. However, mechanisms and factors regulating the HL acclimation response are less clear. Two Arabidopsis mutants of spliceosome components exhibiting a pronounced anthocyanin overaccumulation in HL were isolated from a forward genetic screen for new factors crucial for plant acclimation. Time-resolved physiological, transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed a vital function of the spliceosome components for rapidly adjusting gene expression and metabolism. Deficiency of INCREASED LEVEL OF POLYPLOIDY1 (ILP1), NTC-RELATED PROTEIN1 (NTR1), and PLEIOTROPIC REGULATORY LOCUS1 (PRL1) resulted in a marked overaccumulation of carbohydrates and strongly diminished amino acid biosynthesis in HL. While not generally limited in N-assimilation, ilp1, ntr1, and prl1 mutants showed higher glutamate levels and reduced amino acid biosynthesis in HL. The comprehensive analysis reveals a function of the spliceosome in the conditional regulation of the carbon:nitrogen-balance and the accumulation of anthocyanins during HL acclimation. The importance of gene expression, metabolic regulation, and re-direction of carbon towards anthocyanin biosynthesis for HL acclimation are discussed.