Role of the Plastid UMP Kinase PUMPKIN in Coupling the Primary Pyrimidine Metabolism with the Stabilization of Intron-Containing RNAs

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Jörg Meurer
• Subject Area: Plant Physiology ; Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 422702898

• Final Report Year: 2025

Final Report Abstract

Nucleotides are fundamental compounds for every living cell, serving not only as building blocks for nucleic acids but also as energy carriers for biochemical processes and substrates for many derivatives that play crucial roles in numerous metabolic pathways. In this project, we investigated whether nucleotides and the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis contribute to functions in the chloroplast beyond the construction of DNA and RNA. We discovered several nucleotidedependent processes affecting RNA splicing, scavenging of reactive carbonyl species in chloroplasts, regulation of translation of photosystem I proteins, CTP- dependent establishment of photosynthesis and far-reaching consequences of chloroplast nucleotide limitation on chloroplast and mitochondrial metabolism and gene expression.

Publications

• PUMPKIN, the Sole Plastid UMP Kinase, Associates with Group II Introns and Alters Their Metabolism. Plant Physiology, 179(1), 248-264.
  Schmid, Lisa-Marie; Ohler, Lisa; Möhlmann, Torsten; Brachmann, Andreas; Muiño, Jose M.; Leister, Dario; Meurer, Jörg & Manavski, Nikolay
  
• Cytosolic CTP Production Limits the Establishment of Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12.
  Bellin, Leo; Scherer, Vanessa; Dörfer, Eva; Lau, Anne; Vicente, Alexandre Magno; Meurer, Jörg; Hickl, Daniel & Möhlmann, Torsten
  
• A Ubiquitin-Based Module Directing Protein–Protein Interactions in Chloroplasts. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(23), 16673.
  Guo, Yinjie; Li, Qiuxin; Ji, Daili; Tian, Lijin; Meurer, Jörg & Chi, Wei
  
• Efficient scavenging of reactive carbonyl species in chloroplasts is required for light acclimation and fitness of plants. New Phytologist, 240(2), 676-693.
  Ji, Daili; Luo, Manfei; Guo, Yinjie; Li, Qiuxin; Kong, Lingxi; Ge, Haitao; Wang, Qi; Song, Qiulai; Zeng, Xiannan; Ma, Jinfang; Wang, Yingchun; Meurer, Jörg & Chi, Wei
  
• Nucleotide Limitation Results in Impaired Photosynthesis, Reduced Growth and Seed Yield Together with Massively Altered Gene Expression. Plant And Cell Physiology, 64(12), 1494-1510.
  Bellin, Leo; Melzer, Michael; Hilo, Alexander; Garza Amaya, Diana Laura; Keller, Isabel; Meurer, Jörg & Möhlmann, Torsten