Biomedical subjects

G E Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to G E Edwards.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1986

Activity of maize leaf phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in relation to tautomerization and nonenzymatic decarboxylation of oxaloacetate.

The keto form of oxaloacetate (OAA), a product of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activity, can undergo various nonenzymatic conversions which make conventional methods of assaying the enzyme difficult, because the products may either act as inhibitors or go undetected. In studies with PEPC isolated from leaves of maize, an assay coupled with reduction of OAA to malate was compared with product analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography and an assay based on Pi release. The results show that activity of the enzyme in the assay coupled to malate dehydrogenase is underestimated, to varying extents, depending on magnesium concentration, buffer, and pH. In the assay coupled to malate dehydrogenase, inaccuracies occur due to conversion of the keto form of OAA to the enol form, which is not utilized as a substrate, and due to loss of OAA by decarboxylation to pyruvate. The assay based on Pi formation is considered to give the true rate of catalysis. With this assay the pH optimum is 7.8, compared to 8.3-8.5 for the assay coupled to malate dehydrogenase. The metal enol complex of oxaloacetate (M-OAAenol) is an inhibitor of PEPC and conditions which are favorable for forming this tautomer, high pH with divalent metal ions or high concentrations of Tris buffer at a pH below its pKa value, limit catalysis. Glycine stimulates enzyme activity, and it may have its effect by preventing the formation of the hydrated M-OAAenol complex and maintaining more of the OAA in the keto form. This interpretation is consistent with glycine stimulation of malate synthesis in the assay of PEPC coupled to malate dehydrogenase, with glycine stimulation of the decarboxylation of OAA, and with a reduction in the level of the M-OAAenol complex in the presence of glycine.

Buffers↗

PubMed1986

Catalytic activity of maize leaf phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in relation to oligomerization.

The relationship between the state of oligomerization and activity of purified maize leaf phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase using size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography was examined. Maximum activities of 35 to 38 micromoles per minute per milligram protein were found when 100% of the enzyme was in its tetrameric form. The effects of the sulfhydryl group modifiers CuCl(2) and p-chloromercuribenzoate on enzyme inhibition and the state of aggregation of the protein complex were examined. Aggregation of the enzyme is temperature and pH sensitive with low temperature and high pH favoring depolymerization. Stability of the tetrameric form is largely dependent upon histidyl residues, and to some extent this explains the biphasic response of enzyme activity to changes in MgCl(2) concentrations. Modification of the tetramer's histidyl residues by the inhibitor diethylpyrocarbonate (0.125 millimolar) results in its dissociation to the dimeric form and loss of activity. Subsequent treatment with 0.4 molar hydroxylamine results in reassociation to the tetramer and restoration of enzymic activity.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1986

Photosynthetic Induction in a C(4) Dicot, Flaveria trinervia: I. Initial Products of CO(2) Assimilation and Levels of Whole Leaf C(4) Metabolites.

Labeling patterns from (14)CO(2) pulses to leaves and whole leaf metabolite contents were examined during photosynthetic induction in Flaveria trinervia, a C(4) dicot of the NADP-malic enzyme subgroup. During the first one to two minutes of illumination, malate was the primary initial product of (14)CO(2) assimiltion (about 77% of total (14)C incorporated). After about 5 minutes of illumination, the proportion of initial label to aspartate increased from 16 to 66%, and then gradually declined during the following 7 to 10 minutes of illumination. Nutrition experiments showed that the increase in (14)CO(2) partitioning to aspartate was delayed about 2.5 minutes in plants grown with limiting N, and was highly dampened in plants previously treated 10 to 12 days with ammonia as the sole N source. Measurements of C(4) leaf metabolites revealed several transients in metabolite pools during the first few minutes of illumination, and subsequently, more gradual adjustments in pool sizes. These include a large initial decrease in malate (about 1.6 micromoles per milligram chlorophyll) and a small initial decrease in pyruvate. There was a transient increase in alanine levels after 1 minute of illumination, which was followed by a gradual, prolonged decrease during the remainder of the induction period. Total leaf aspartate decreased initially, but temporarily doubled in amount between 5 and 10 minutes of illumination (after its surge as a primary product). These results are discussed in terms of a plausible sequence of metabolic events which lead to the formation of the intercellular metabolite gradients required in C(4) photosynthesis.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1986

Photosynthetic Induction in a C(4) Dicot, Flaveria trinervia: II. Metabolism of Products of CO(2) Fixation after Different Illumination Times.

The metabolism of fixed (14)CO(2) and the utilization of the C-4 carboxyl of malate and aspartate were examined during photosynthetic induction in Flaveria trinervia, a C(4) dicot of the NADP-malic enzyme subgroup. Pulse/chase experiments indicated that both malate and aspartate appeared to function directly in the C(4) cycle at all times during the induction period (examined after 30 seconds, 5 minutes and 20 minutes illumination). However, the rate of loss of (14)C-label from the C-4 position of malate plus aspartate was relatively slow after 30 seconds of illumination, compared to treatments after 5 or 20 minutes of illumination. Similarly, the appearance of label in other photosynthetic products (e.g. 3-phosphoglycerate, sugar phosphates, alanine) during the chase periods was generally slower after only 30 seconds of leaf illumination, compared to that after 5 of 20 minutes illumination. This may be due to the lower rate of photosynthesis after 30 seconds illumination. The appearance of label in carbons 1-->3 of each C(4) acid during the chase periods was relatively slow after either 30 seconds or 5 minutes illumination, while there was a relatively rapid accumulation of label in carbons 1-->3 of both C(4) acids after 20 minutes illumination. Thus, while the turnover rate of the (14)C-4 label in both C(4) acids increased only during the first 5 minutes of the induction period, only later during induction is there an increased rate of appearance of label in other carbon atoms of the C(4) acids. The implied source of (14)C for labeling of the 1-->3 positions of the C(4) acids is an apparent carbon flux from 3-phosphoglycerate of the reductive pentose phosphate pathway to phosphoenolpyruvate of the C(4) cycle.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1986

Light Activation of Pyruvate,Pi Dikinase and NADP-Malate Dehydrogenase in Mesophyll Protoplasts of Maize : Effect of DCMU, Antimycin A, CCCP, and Phlorizin.

Pyruvate,Pi dikinase (PPDK, EC 2.7.9.1) and NADP-malate dehydrogenase (MDH, EC 1.1.1.82) were activated in the light and inactivated following a dark treatment in mesophyll protoplasts of maize. DCMU (up to 33 micromolar), an inhibitor of noncyclic electron transport, inhibited activation of MDH much more strongly than it did PPDK. Antimycin A (6.6-33 micromolar), an inhibitor of cyclic photophosphorylation, inhibited the activation of PPDK (up to 61%), but had little or no effect on activation of MDH. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (0.2-2 micromolar) and nigericin (0.4 micromolar), uncouplers of photophosphorylation, inhibited activation of PPDK while stimulating the activation of MDH. Phlorizin (0.33-1.7 millimolar), an inhibitor of the coupling factor for ATP synthesis, strongly inhibited activation of PPDK but only slightly effected light activation of MDH. These results suggest that noncyclic electron flow is required for activation of NADP-MDH and that photophosphorylation is required for activation of PPDK.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1985

Characterization of 4,4'-Diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic Acid Stilbene Inhibition of 3-Phosphoglycerate-Dependent O(2) Evolution in Isolated Chloroplasts : Evidence for a Common Binding Site on the C(4) Phosphate Translocator for 3-Phosphoglycerate, Phosphoenolpyruvate, and Inorganic Phosphate.

3-Phosphoglycerate (PGA)-dependent O(2) evolution by mesophyll chloroplasts of the C(4) plant, Digitaria sanguinalis L. Scop. (crabgrass), was inhibited by micromolar levels of 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene (DIDS). As little as 1.8 micromolar DIDS added to the assay medium (containing 0.7 millimolar PGA) resulted in 80 to 100% inhibition of O(2) evolution. The extent of inhibition of O(2) evolution observed was dependent on various factors including: pH, concentration of DIDS to relative chlorophyll, concentration of PGA, and the time of addition of DIDS to the chloroplasts relative to addition of PGA.Preincubation of crabgrass chloroplasts with micromolar levels of DIDS, followed by washing to remove any nonirreversibly bound DIDS, inhibited PGA-dependent O(2) evolution. Protection against this inhibition was afforded by preincubating the chloroplasts with various substrates before adding DIDS. For example, if the chloroplasts were first incubated with 8.3 millimolar PGA, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) or inorganic phosphate before adding 42 micromolar DIDS, the percentage of inhibition was decreased from 100% (without any substrate) to 0, 54, and 67%, respectively. 2-Phosphoglycerate caused a slight decrease in the inhibition (about 10%) and glucose-6-phosphate had no protective effect. If the chloroplasts were pretreated with DIDS initially, the inhibition could not be overcome by PGA, suggesting that DIDS acts as an irreversible inhibitor. Micromolar levels of DIDS also inhibited PGA dependent O(2) evolution by isolated chloroplasts of the C(3) plant barley. As with crabgrass, preincubation with PGA or inorganic phosphate resulted in a decrease in the DIDS inhibition, but PEP was very ineffective compared to the C(4) chloroplasts.Oxalacetate-dependent O(2) evolution and its stimulation by the uncoupler, NH(4)Cl, were unaffected by the addition of DIDS to crabgrass mesophyll chloroplasts. Furthermore, preincubation of the chloroplasts with DIDS (up to 65 micromolar) had no inhibitory effect on the extractable activity of NADP glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase and phosphoglycerate kinase. Inhibition by DIDS was interpreted to be at the substrate binding site of the phosphate translocator. The data further suggest that in C(4) crabgrass chloroplasts, PEP is transported on a carrier which also transports PGA.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1984

Influence of glycerate on photosynthesis by wheat chloroplasts.

Glycerate was found to effect photosynthetic O2 evolution in wheat chloroplasts by its conversion to triose phosphate and by influencing the rate of photosynthesis through the reductive pentose phosphate pathway. In the absence of bicarbonate, the photosynthetic O2 evolution with glycerate was low (10 to 25 mumol mg chlorophyll-1 h-1), and only about 15% of the rate of bicarbonate-dependent O2 evolution under optimum conditions. This corresponds to a rate of glycerate conversion to triose phosphate of 20 to 50 mumol mg chlorophyll-1 h-1, which appears sufficient to accommodate flux through the glycolate pathway in vivo. Pi was required for this glycerate-dependent O2 evolution; rates remained relatively constant between 0.1 and 40 mM Pi, and proceeded with little lag upon illumination (less than 0.5 min). Evidence for O2 evolution due to glycerate conversion to triose phosphate could be conclusively demonstrated by addition of glycolaldehyde, an inhibitor of the regenerative phase of photosynthesis, which prevents CO2 fixation. The effect of glycerate on photosynthesis in the presence of bicarbonate was determined by measuring both photosynthetic O2 evolution and 14CO2 fixation at varying Pi concentrations. Low concentrations of glycerate (micro- to millimolar levels) prevented inhibition of photosynthesis by Pi. With 1 mM bicarbonate and pH 8.2, which is favorable for glycolate synthesis, maximum rates of photosynthesis were obtained at low Pi (25 microM), whereas strong inhibition of photosynthesis occurred at only 0.2 mM Pi. Addition of glycerate relieved the inhibition of photosynthesis by Pi, indicating the possible importance of glycerate metabolism in the chloroplast under photorespiratory conditions. The initiation of photosynthesis by glycerate at inhibitory Pi levels occurred with little reduction in the ratio of CO2 fixed/O2 evolved, and the main effect of glycerate was on carbon assimilation. While the basis for the beneficial effect of glycerate on CO2 assimilation under moderate to high Pi levels is uncertain, it may increase the concentration of 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA) in the chloroplast, and thus make conditions more favorable for induction of photosynthesis and reduction of PGA to triose phosphate.

Bicarbonates↗

PubMed1984

Photosynthetic Characteristics of C(3)-C(4) Intermediate Flaveria Species : III. Reduction of Photorespiration by a Limited C(4) Pathway of Photosynthesis in Flaveria ramosissima.

The initial products of photosynthesis by the C(3) species Flaveria cronquistii, the C(4) species F. trinervia, and the C(3)-C(4) intermediate species F. ramosissima were determined using a pulse-chase technique with (14)CO(2)-(12)CO(2). The intermediate species F. ramosissima incorporated at least 42% of the total soluble (14)C fixed into malate and aspartate after 10 seconds of photosynthesis in (14)CO(2), as compared with 90% for the C(4) species F. trinervia and 5% for the C(3) species F. cronquistii. In both F. ramosissima and F. trinervia, turnover of labeled malate and aspartate occurred during a chase period in (12)CO(2), although the rate of turnover was slower in the intermediate species. Relative to F. cronquistii, F. ramosissima showed a reduced incorporation of radioactivity into serine and glycine during the pulse period. These results indicate that a functional C(4) pathway of photosynthesis is operating in F. ramosissima which can account for its reduced level of photorespiration, and that this species is a true biochemical intermediate between C(3) and C(4) plants.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1984

Activation of NADP-Malate Dehydrogenase, Pyruvate,Pi Dikinase, and Fructose 1,6-Bisphosphatase in Relation to Photosynthetic Rate in Maize.

The activity and extent of light activation of three photosynthetic enzymes, pyruvate,Pi dikinase, NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH), and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), were examined in maize (Zea mays var Royal Crest) leaves relative to the rate of photosynthesis during induction and under varying light intensities. There was a strong light activation of NADP-MDH and pyruvate,Pi dikinase, and light also activated FBPase 2- to 4-fold. During the induction period for whole leaf photosynthesis at 30 degrees C under high light, the time required to reach half-maximum activation for all three enzymes was only 1 minute or less. After 2.5 minutes of illumination the enzymes were fully activated, while the photosynthetic rate was only at half-maximum activity, indicating that factors other than enzyme activation limit photosynthesis during the induction period in C(4) plants.Under steady state conditions, the light intensity required to reach half-maximum activation of the three enzymes was similar (300-400 microEinsteins per square meter per second), while the light intensity required for half-maximum rates of photosynthesis was about 550 microEinsteins per square meter per second. The light activated levels of NADP-MDH and FBPase were well in excess of the in vivo activities which would be required during photosynthesis, while maximum activities of pyruvate,Pi dikinase were generally just sufficient to accommodate photosynthesis, suggesting the latter may be a rate limiting enzyme.There was a large (5-fold) light activation of FBPase in isolated bundle sheath strands of maize, whereas there was little light activation of the enzyme in isolated mesophyll protoplasts. In mesophyll protoplasts the enzyme was largely located in the cytoplasm, although there was a low amount of light-activated enzyme in the mesophyll chloroplasts. The results suggest the chloroplastic FBPase in maize is primarily located in the bundle sheath cells.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1984

Inhibition of 3-Phosphoglycerate-Dependent O(2) Evolution by Phosphoenolpyruvate in C(4) Mesophyll Chloroplasts of Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.

The effects of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), inorganic phosphate (Pi), and ATP on 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA)-dependent O(2) evolution by chloroplasts of Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (crabgrass) were evaluated relative to possible mechanisms of PEP transport by the C(4) mesophyll chloroplast. Crude and Percoll purified chloroplast preparations exhibited rates of PGA-dependent O(2) evolution in the range of 90 to 135 micromoles O(2) per milligram chlorophyll per hour, and up to 180 micromoles O(2) per milligram chlorophyll per hour at optimal Pi concentrations (approximately 0.2 millimolar at 9 millimolar PGA). Higher concentrations of Pi were inhibitory. PEP inhibited O(2) evolution (up to 70%) in both chloroplast preparations when the PEP to PGA ratio was high (i.e. 9 millimolar PEP to 0.36 millimolar PGA). Usually no inhibition was seen when the PEP to PGA ratio was less than 2. PEP acted as a competitive inhibitor and, at a concentration of 9 millimolar, increased the apparent K(m) (PGA) from 0.15 to 0.53 millimolar in Percoll purified chloroplasts. A low concentration of PGA and high ratio of PEP to PGA, which are considered unphysiological, were required to detect any inhibition of O(2) evolution by PEP. Similar results were obtained from crude versus Percoll purified preparations. Neither the addition of Pi nor ATP could overcome PEP inhibition. As PEP inhibition was competitive with respect to PGA concentration, and as addition of ATP or Pi could not prevent PEP inhibition of PGA-dependent O(2) evolution, the inhibition was not due to PEP exchange of adenylates or Pi out of the chloroplast. Analysis of the effect of Pi and PEP, separately and in combination, on PGA-dependent O(2) evolution suggests interactions between PEP, Pi, and PGA on the same translocator in the C(4) mesophyll chloroplast. C(3) spinach chloroplasts were also found to be sensitive to PEP, but to a lesser extent than crabgrass chloroplasts. The apparent K(i) values (PEP) were 3 and 21 millimolar for crabgrass and spinach, respectively.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1983

Control of the activation/inactivation of pyruvate, Pi dikinase from the C4 plant maize by adenylate energy charge, pyruvate, and analogs of pyruvate.

Pyruvate, Pi dikinase, which is localized in the mesophyll chloroplasts of C4 plants, requires a high adenylate energy charge for conversion of the enzyme from the inactive to the active form. The inactivation process is favored by a low energy charge, being maximal at values below 0.7. Pyruvate and analogs of pyruvate, oxamate and oxalate, strongly inhibit the inactivation process at millimolar levels. The results suggest that light activation of the enzyme in vivo may be mediated by an increased adenylate energy charge in the chloroplast. Pyruvate may allow a higher steady-state level of activation to be achieved in vivo by inhibiting inactivation.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

PubMed1983

Glycerate kinase from leaves of C3 plants.

D-Glycerate-3-kinase (EC 2.7.1.31) in six C3 species, including dicots (Pisum sativum, Spinacea oleracea, Antirrhinum majus) and monocots (Secale cereale, Hordeum vulgare, Avena sativa), ranged in activity from 44 to 353 mumol X mg chl-1 X h-1. Studies with protoplast extracts of these species indicate that the enzyme is localized in the chloroplasts. Glycerate kinase was partially purified from Secale (rye, 288-fold) and Pisum (pea, 252-fold) chloroplasts by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, sucrose gradient centrifugation, and chromatofocusing. The enzymes from both species showed similar physical (Mr = 41,000, pI = 4.6-4.7) and kinetic (Km ATP = 655 to 692 microM, Km D-glycerate = 180-188 microM) properties. Activity of the enzyme was essentially insensitive to variations in assay pH from 6.4 to 9.0 and to energy charge variations from 0.4 to 1.0. Rye glycerate kinase was able to utilize UTP and GTP but less effectively than ATP. Neither ADP nor pyrophosphate served as an energy source. Mn2+, Co2+, Ca2+, and Sr2+ could function as metal cofactors, although to a lesser extent than Mg2+. Millimolar levels of sulfate were found to significantly inhibit the enzyme while similar concentrations of other anions (Cl-, NO-3, NO-2, and acetate) had little or no effect.

Chloroplasts↗

PubMed1983

Isolation of Mitochondria from Leaf Tissue of Panicum miliaceum, a NAD-Malic Enzyme Type C(4) Plant.

A mechanical isolation procedure was developed to study the respiratory properties of mitochondria from the mesophyll and bundle sheath tissue of Panicum miliaceum, a NAD-malic enzyme C(4) plant. A mesophyll fraction and a bundle sheath fraction were obtained from young leaves by differential mechanical treatment. The purity of both fractions was about 80%, based on analysis of the cross-contamination of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity.Mitochondria were isolated from the two fractions by differential centrifugation and Percoll density gradient centrifugation. The enrichment of mitochondria relative to chloroplast material was about 75-fold in both preparations.Both types of mitochondria oxidized NADH and succinate with respiratory control. Malate oxidation in mesophyll mitochondria was sensitive to KCN and showed good respiratory control. In bundle sheath mitochondria, malate oxidation was largely insensitive to KCN and showed no respiratory control. The oxidation was strongly inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid, showing that the alternative oxidase was involved. The bundle sheath mitochondria of this type of C(4) species contribute to C(4) photosynthesis through decarboxylation of malate. Malate oxidation linked to an uncoupled, alternative pathway may allow decarboxylation to proceed without the restraints which might occur via coupled electron flow through the cytochrome chain.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1983

Influence of Oxygen and Temperature on the Dark Inactivation of Pyruvate, Orthophosphate Dikinase and NADP-Malate Dehydrogenase in Maize.

The influence of oxygen and temperature on the inactivation of pyruvate, Pi dikinase and NADP-malate dehydrogenase was studied in Zea mays. O(2) was required for inactivation of both pyruvate, Pi dikinase and NADP-malate dehydrogenase in the dark in vivo. The rate of inactivation under 2% O(2) was only slightly lower than that at 21% O(2). The in vitro inactivation of pyruvate, Pi dikinase, while dependent on adenine nucleotides (ADP + ATP), did not require O(2).The postillumination inactivation of pyruvate, Pi dikinase in leaves was strongly dependent on temperature. As temperature was decreased in the dark, there was a lag period of increasing length (e.g. at 17 degrees C there was a lag of about 25 minutes) before inactivation proceeded. Following the lag period, the rate of inactivation decreased with decreasing temperature. The half-time for dark inactivation was about 7 minutes at 32 degrees C and 45 minutes at 17 degrees C. The inactivation of pyruvate, Pi dikinase in vitro following extraction from illuminated leaves was also strongly dependent on temperature, but occurred without a lag period. In contrast, NADP-malate dehydrogenase was rapidly inactivated in leaves (half-time of approximately 3 minutes) during the postillumination period without a lag, and there was little effect of temperature between 10 and 32 degrees C. The results are discussed in relation to known differences in the mechanism of activation/inactivation of the two enzymes.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1983

Photosynthetic Characteristics of C(3)-C(4) Intermediate Flaveria Species : I. Leaf Anatomy, Photosynthetic Responses to O(2) and CO(2), and Activities of Key Enzymes in the C(3) and C(4) Pathways.

Four species of the genus Flaveria, namely F. anomala, F. linearis, F. pubescens, and F. ramosissima, were identified as intermediate C(3)-C(4) plants based on leaf anatomy, photosynthetic CO(2) compensation point, O(2) inhibition of photosynthesis, and activities of C(4) enzymes. F. anomala and F. ramosissima exhibit a distinct Kranz-like leaf anatomy, similar to that of the C(4) species F. trinervia, while the other C(3)-C(4) intermediate Flaveria species possess a less differentiated Kranz-like leaf anatomy. Photosynthetic CO(2) compensation points of these intermediates at 30 degrees C were very low relative to those of C(3) plants, ranging from 7 to 14 microliters per liter. In contrast to C(3) plants, net photosynthesis by the intermediates was not sensitive to O(2) concentrations below 5% and decreased relatively slowly with increasing O(2) concentration. Under similar conditions, the percentage inhibition of photosynthesis by 21% O(2) varied from 20% to 25% in the intermediates compared with 28% in Lycopersicon esculentum, a typical C(3) species. The inhibition of carboxylation efficiency by 21% O(2) varied from 17% for F. ramosissima to 46% for F. anomala and were intermediate between the C(4) (2% for F. trinervia) and C(3) (53% for L. esculentum) values. The intermediate Flaveria species, especially F. ramosissima, have substantial activities of the C(4) enzymes, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase, NADP-malic enzyme, and NADP-malate dehydrogenase, indicating potential for C(4) photosynthesis. It appears that these Flaveria species may be true biochemical C(3)-C(4) intermediates.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1983

Provisions of reductant for the hydroxypyruvate to glycerate conversion in leaf peroxisomes : a critical evaluation of the proposed malate/aspartate shuttle.

A series of experiments, with Secale cereale and Triticum aestivum var Argee, to evaluate critically the ability of a malate/aspartate shuttle to provide reducing equivalents to drive hydroxypyruvate reduction to glycerate led to the conclusion that the shuttle, as previously envisioned, does not supply NADH to the peroxisomal matrix. First, analysis of coupled malate dehydrogenase and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase activities in the directions required for intraperoxisomal NADH generation indicated that the peroxisomal enzyme activities were insufficient to account for necessary rates of photorespiratory carbon flux. Second, although the peroxisomal isozyme of malate dehydrogenase comprised a substantial portion (40%) of total cellular activity, less than 7% of the cellular glutamate-oxaloacetate transmaminase activity was associated with the peroxisomes. Third, a peroxisomal extract was able to reduce added NAD only slowly upon addition of malate and glutamate. The rate of NAD reduction was greatly enhanced in the presence of exogenously added glutamateoxaloacetate transaminase. Finally, intact peroxisomes were unable to reduce hydroxypyruvate to glycerate when supplied with malate and glutamate in the absence of exogenously added pyridine nucleotides, although they readily reduced hydroxypyruvate when exogenous pyridine nucleotides were supplied. Three alternative mechanisms, which are in agreement with observed data and which could serve to supply the reducing power to the peroxisomal matrix, are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1983

A pathway for photosynthetic carbon flow to mannitol in celery leaves : activity and localization of key enzymes.

In the polyol producing plant, celery (Apium graveolens L.), mannitol is a major photosynthetic product and a form in which carbohydrate is translocated. Measurements of whole leaf extracts of celery indicated substantial activity of the following enzymes: mannose-6-P reductase, mannose-6-P isomerase, mannitol-1-P phosphatase, and nonreversible glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase. The activities of these enzymes were either undetectable or very low in the nonpolyol producing plants, Secale cereale L. (rye) and Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper (black gram).Mesophyll protoplasts were enzymically isolated from celery leaves, broken with a Yeda press and the intracellular localization of the above enzymes for mannitol synthesis studied following differential and/or sucrose density gradient centrifugation of the protoplast extract. These data suggested the enzymes involved in mannitol synthesis are exclusively localized in the cytoplasm. Ninety-five to 100% of the activity of these enzymes, along with the cytoplasmic marker enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, was found in the cytosolic fraction.We propose the pathway of photosynthetic carbon flow from triose-P to mannitol in celery occurs via fructose-6-P, mannose-6-P, and mannitol-1-P; these final reactions being catalyzed by the cytoplasmic enzymes, mannose-6-P isomerase, NADPH-dependent mannose-6-P reductase, and mannitol-1-P phosphatase, respectively. The requirement for NADPH may be met via the cytoplasmically located NADP-linked nonreversible glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1982

Intracellular Localization of Enzymes of Carbon Metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Exhibiting C(3) Photosynthetic Characteristics or Performing Crassulacean Acid Metabolism.

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, a halophilic, inducible Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species, was grown at NaCl concentrations of 20 and 400 millimolar in the rooting medium. Plants from the low salinity treatment showed exclusively C(3)-photosynthetic net CO(2) fixation, whereas plants exposed to the high salinity level exhibited net CO(2) dark fixation involving CAM. Mesophyll protoplasts, isolated from both tissues, were gently ruptured, and the intracellular localization of enzymes was studied following differential centrifugation and Percoll density gradient centrifugation of protoplast extracts. Both centrifugation techniques resulted in the separation of intact chloroplasts, with up to 90% yield, from other organelles and the nonparticulate fraction of cells. Enzymes were identified by determination of activity and by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of enzyme protein.Experiments established the extraorganellar (cytoplasmic) location of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, enolase, phosphoglyceromutase, and NADP-malic enzyme; the mitochondrial location of NAD-malic enzyme; and the chloroplastic location of pyruvate, Pi dikinase. NAD-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphohexose isomerase, and phosphoglycerate kinase were associated with both cytoplasm and chloroplasts. NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase activity was found in both the chloroplastic and extrachloroplastic fractions; the activity in the chloroplast showed an optimum at pH 8.0 and was dependent upon preincubation of enzyme with dithiothreitol. The extrachloroplastic activity showed an optimum at pH 6.5 and was independent of pretreatment with dithiothreitol. Protoplast extracts of M. crystallinum performing CAM exhibited higher activities (expressed per mg chlorophyll per min) of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, pyruvate, Pi dikinase, NADP-malic enzyme, NAD-malic enzyme, NADP-malate dehydrogenase, enolase, phosphoglyceromutase, NAD-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, and phosphohexose isomerase than protoplast extracts from M. crystallinum not exhibiting CAM. The increase in total activity of the latter three enzymes following exposure of plants to 400 millimolar NaCl and the development of CAM was due to specific increases in the levels of activity in the cytoplasm.

Journal Article↗