Characterization and role of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in the Mediterranean species Cistus incanus L. under different temperature conditions

In plants, the decline of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation activity is involved in energy homeostasis and stress tolerance. By reducing stress-induced poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation activity, NAD+ breakdown is inhibited preventing high energy consumption. Under these conditions, plants preserve their energy homeostasis without an overactivation of mitochondrial respiration, thus avoiding the production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, plants with lowered poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation activity appear tolerant to multiple stresses. In this study, the evergreen species Cistus incanus L. was used as a model because of its capacity to overcome successfully the environmental constraints of the Mediterranean climate. The aim of the present work was to characterize and assess the role of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in C. incanus plants kept under different temperature in greenhouse (GH), outdoor during winter (WO) and outdoor during spring (SO). Data showed that in C. incanus polyADPribose metabolism occurs. The enzyme responsible for poly(ADP-ribose) chains synthesis is a poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase of about 80 kDa, lacking “zinc finger” N-terminal domain and able to automodify. The lowest PARP activity, as well as the lowest quantum yield of PSII linear electron transport (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP), was found in WO plants. Instead, in SO plants the recovery of photochemical activity associated to a poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity increase of about 50%, as compared to GH plants, was observed. Taking into account both biochemical and eco-physiological responses, a possible explanation for the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation deficiency in WO plants has been hypothesized.