Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect was used to demonstrate ultrasensitive optical detection of nucleic acids. In this work, the SERS spectra of seven genomic DNAs from leaves of Arnica montana (L.), Fam. Compositae, Astragalus peterfii (Jáv.), Fam. Fabaceae, Kalanchoe x hybrida, Fam. Crassulaceae, strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), Fam. Rosaceae, carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.), Fam. Caryophyllaceae, apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), Fam. Rosaceae and Persian violet (Exacum affine Balf.), Fam. Gentianaceae were analyzed in the wavenumber range 200-1800 cm −1 . SERS signatures, spectroscopic band assignments and structural interpretations of these plant genomic DNAs are reported. SERS spectra of nucleic acids are compared here with caution, because these signals are time-dependent. The SERS spectra corresponding to DNA from Arnica, Dianthus, Fragaria and Kalanchoe leaves show well-resolved, accurate bands, providing thus a high molecular structural information content. Based on this work, specific plant DNA-ligand interactions or DNA structural changes induced by plant stress conditions associated with their natural environment might be further investigated using SERS spectroscopy. Besides, this study will generate information that is valuable in the development of label-free DNA-based nanosensors for chemical probing in the living cell.

In bacteria and mitochondria, ABC1 (for Activity of bc1 complex)-like kinases regulate ubiquinone synthesis, mutations causing severe respiration defects, including neurological disorders in humans. Little is known about plant ABC1-like kinases; in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), five are predicted in mitochondria but, surprisingly, six are located at lipid droplets in chloroplasts. These are a known site of prenylquinone (including tocopherol [vitamin E], phylloquinone [vitamin K] and plastoquinone) metabolism and contain a large proportion of the tocopherol cyclase (VTE1) required for vitamin E synthesis and recycling. Therefore, ABC1-like kinases may be involved in the regulation of chloroplast prenylquinone metabolism. Using a nontargeted lipidomics approach, we demonstrate that plants lacking the plastoglobule ABC1-like kinase ABC1K3 are defective both for the production of plastochromanol-8 (a plastoquinone-derived lipid antioxidant) and the redox recycling of a-tocopherol, whereas tocopherol production is not affected. All of these pathways require VTE1 activity. However, in the abc1k3 mutant, VTE1 levels are strongly reduced posttranscriptionally. We provide evidence that the ABC1-like kinase ABC1K3 phosphorylates VTE1, possibly stabilizing it at plastoglobules. However, ABC1K3 may also have other targets and be involved in a wider chloroplast regulatory network.

SUMMARYArabidopsis proton gradient regulation (pgr) mutants have high chlorophyll fluorescence and reduced nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) caused by defects in photosynthetic electron transport. Here, we identify PGR6 as the chloroplast lipid droplet (plastoglobule, PG) kinase ABC1K1 (activity of bc1 complex kinase 1). The members of the ABC1/ADCK/UbiB family of atypical kinases regulate ubiquinone synthesis in bacteria and mitochondria, and impact various metabolic pathways in plant chloroplasts. Here, we demonstrate that abc1k1 has a unique photosynthetic and metabolic phenotype that is distinct from that of the abc1k3 homolog. The abc1k1/pgr6 single mutant is specifically deficient in the electron carrier plastoquinone, as well as in b-carotene and the xanthophyll lutein, and is defective in membrane antioxidant tocopherol metabolism. After 2 days of continuous high light stress, abc1k1/pgr6 plants suffer extensive photosynthetic and metabolic perturbations, strongly affecting carbohydrate metabolism. Remarkably, however, the mutant acclimates to high light after 7 days together with a recovery of carotenoid levels and a drastic alteration in the starch-to-sucrose ratio. Moreover, ABC1K1 behaves as an active kinase and phosphorylates VTE1, a key enzyme of tocopherol (vitamin E) metabolism in vitro. Our results indicate that the ABC1K1 kinase constitutes a new type of regulatory link between photosynthetic activity and chloroplast metabolism.

Ultrasensitive Raman measurements of nucleic acids are possible by exploiting the effect of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). In this work, the vibrational spectra of eight genomic DNAs from in vitro grown apple leaf tissues (Malus domestica Borkh., Fam Rosaceae, cvs. Florina, Idared, Rebra, Goldrush, Romus 3, Romus 4 and the rootstocks M9 and M26) were analyzed using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, in the wavenumber range 200-1800 cm −1 . SERS signatures, spectroscopic band assignments and structural interpretations of these plant genomic DNAs are reported. Strong dependences of the SERS spectra on genomic DNA amount in the measured sample volume and on time were observed. Similarities of the SERS signals of DNAs from Rebra and Romus 3 leaves were detected. To our knowledge, this is the first SERS study on genomic DNA from leaf tissues. The present work provides a basis for future use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to analyze specific plant DNA-ligand interactions or DNA structural changes induced by plants' stress conditions associated with their natural environment. Besides, this study will generate information that is valuable in the development of low-level plant DNA-based analytical sensors.

In this work, the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of seven genomic DNAs from leaves of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Ramat.), common sundew (Drosera rotundifolia L.), edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum Cass), Epilobium hirsutum L., Hypericum richeri ssp. transsilvanicum (Čelak) Ciocârlan, rose (Rosa x hybrida L.) and redwood (Sequoia sempervirens D. Don. Endl.), respectively, have been analyzed in the wavenumber range 200–1800 cm−1. The surface‐enhanced Raman vibrational modes for each of these cases, spectroscopic band assignments and structural interpretations of genomic DNAs are reported. A high molecular structural information content can be found in the SERS spectra of these DNAs from leaf tissues. Based on this work, specific plant DNA–ligand interactions or accurate local structure of DNA might be further investigated using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Besides, this study will generate information which is valuable in the development of label‐free DNA detection for chemical probing in living cell. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.