ATP compartmentation in plastids and cytosol of Arabidopsis thaliana revealed by fluorescent protein sensing

Significance By studying in vivo changes of ATP levels in the plastids and cytosol of Arabidopsis thaliana using a FRET-based ATP sensor, we show that the plastidic ATP concentrations in cotyledon, hypocotyl, and root of 10-day-old seedlings are significantly lower than the cytosolic concentrations. We show that chloroplasts consume ATP rapidly and the import of ATP into mature chloroplasts is impeded by the low density of NTT transporter. Hence, unlike in diatoms, where ATP is imported into chloroplasts to support the Calvin–Benson–Bassham (CBB) cycle, mature chloroplasts of Arabidopsis do not balance the ATP:NADPH ratio by importing ATP from the cytosol. Rather, chloroplasts can export surplus reducing equivalents, which can be used by the mitochondria to supply ATP to the cytosol.