ES7 , encoding a ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase, functions in nitrogen metabolism and impacts leaf senescence in rice

Abstract Glutamate synthase (GOGAT) is a key enzyme for nitrogen metabolism and ammonium assimilation in plants. In this study, an early senescence 7 ( es7 ) mutant was identified and characterized. The leaves of the es7 mutant begin to senesce at the tillering stage about 60 day after sowing, and become increasingly senescent as the plants develop at the heading stage. When es7 plants are grown under photorespiration-suppressed conditions (high CO 2 ), the senescence phenotype and chlorophyll content are rescued. qRT-PCR analysis showed that senescence- associated genes were up-regulated significantly in es7 . A map-based cloning strategy was used to identify ES7 , which encodes a ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase (Fd-GOGAT). ES7 was expressed constitutively, and the ES7 protein was localized in chloroplast. qRT-PCR analysis indicated that several genes related to nitrogen metabolism were differentially expressed in es7 . Further, we also demonstrated that chlorophyll synthesis-associated genes were significantly down-regulated in es7 . In addition, when seedlings are grown under increasing nitrogen concentrations (NH 4 NO 3 ) for 15 days, the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were significantly lower in es7 . Our results demonstrated that ES7 is involved in nitrogen metabolism, effects chlorophyll synthesis, and may also associated with photorespiration, impacting leaf senescence in rice.