The relationship between the gas-exchange characteristics of attached leaves of Zea mays L. and t... more The relationship between the gas-exchange characteristics of attached leaves of Zea mays L. and the contents of photosynthetic intermediates was examined at different intercellular partial pressure of CO2 and at different irradiances at a constant intercellular partial pressure of CO2. (i) The behaviour of the pools of the C4-cycle intermediates, phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate, provides evidence for light regulation of their
ABSTRACT Light-induced changes in circular dichroism (CD) were studied in thylakoids isolated fro... more ABSTRACT Light-induced changes in circular dichroism (CD) were studied in thylakoids isolated from spinach. The following features of CD responses occurring in the time range of 10 s to 1-3 min were noted: (i) The kinetics and relative amplitudes of the responses are similar over broad spectral ranges surrounding the major CD bands, i.e., between 670 and 760 nm and between 480 and 550 nm. This applies not only to randomly oriented samples but also to magnetically aligned membranes having markedly different CD spectra in the dark. (ii) Photosystem I is much more effective than photosystem II and can drive a 40-80% decrease in CD signal relative to the dark control level. (iii) Photosystem I driven changes are fully inhibited by nigericin or NHâCl but are largely insensitive to gramicidin. CD changes driven by photosystem II, on the other hand, are sensitive to all of these reagents. (iv) The CD responses can be shown to originate in circular differential scattering rather than in circular differential absorbance. They can also be distinguished from light-induced, nonpolarized scattering changes. The data are qualitatively evaluated with respect to the theory of circular differential scattering of large helically organized macroaggregates, the size of which is commensurate with the wavelength of the measuring beam. The observed decrease of the large CD signal is ascribed to a partial loss of macrohelicity in the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complex, in response to a proton gradient and/or surface electrical field generated most effectively by photosystem I.
Changes in host primary metabolism associated with the compatible interaction between cucumber mo... more Changes in host primary metabolism associated with the compatible interaction between cucumber mosaic virus and cotyledons of the marrow plant (Cucurbita pepo L.) have been localized, first by measuring activities of key enzymes in infected and uninfected regions of the cotyledon, and second by histochemical techniques applied to tissue prints of the infected region. A series of progressive metabolic changes occurs within the expanding infected lesion. Virus replication and the synthesis of viral protein at the periphery creates a strong sink demand associated with increased activities of anaplerotic enzymes, increased photosynthesis, and starch accumulation. Inside the lesion, when the synthesis of virus has declined, photosynthesis is reduced, starch is mobilized, and the emphasis of metabolism is shifted toward glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. These changes are associated spatially with the onset of chlorosis. A decrease in total protein synthesis in this inner zone coul...
Intact protoplasts and chloroplasts have been isolated from mature flag leaves of wheat (Triticum... more Intact protoplasts and chloroplasts have been isolated from mature flag leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Both showed high rates of photosynthesis, the best of which equaled those observed in the parent tissue (greater than 150 micromoles O(2) per milligram chlorophyll per hour). The presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate and an alkaline medium (pH 8.4) were required in the isolation and assay for the achievement of maximum rates of photosynthesis by chloroplasts. Photosynthesis by isolated chloroplasts was inhibited at very low concentrations of external orthophosphate.
Mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Maris Mink) with 47 or 66% of the glutamine synthetase (... more Mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Maris Mink) with 47 or 66% of the glutamine synthetase (GS) activity of the wild type were used for studies of NH3 exchange with the atmosphere. Under normal light and temperature conditions, tissue NH4+ concentrations were higher in the two mutants compared with wild-type plants, and this was accompanied by higher NH3 emission from the leaves. The emission of NH3 increased with increasing leaf temperatures in both wild-type and mutant plants, but the increase was much more pronounced in the mutants. Similar results were found when the light intensity (photosynthetic photon flux density) was increased. Compensation points for NH3 were estimated by exposing intact shoots to 10 nmol NH3 mol-1 air under conditions with increasing temperatures until the plants started to emit NH3. Referenced to 25[deg]C, the compensation points were 5.0 nmol mol-1 for wild-type plants, 8.3 nmol mol-1 for 47% GS mutants, and 11.8 nmol mol-1 for 66% GS mutants. Com...
The aim of this study was to investigate whether gluconeogenesis catalysed by phosphoenolpyruvate... more The aim of this study was to investigate whether gluconeogenesis catalysed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) occurs during leaf senescence. This was addressed by determining changes in the abundance and intercellular location of enzymes necessary for gluconeogenesis during the senescence of barley leaves and cucumber cotyledons. PEPCK was never present in barley leaves, despite the presence of large amounts of isocitrate lyase (ICL), a key enzyme of the glyoxylate cycle, and of its product, glyoxylate. Although PEPCK was present in non-senescent cucumber cotyledons, its abundance declined during senescence. Throughout senescence, PEPCK was only present in the trichomes and vasculature, whereas ICL was located in mesophyll cells. Pyruvate,Pi dikinase (PPDK) which, in concert with NAD(P)-malic enzyme, is also capable of catalysing gluconeogenesis, was present in non-senescent barley leaves and cucumber cotyledons, but in both plants its abundance decreased greatly during se...
The relationship between the gas-exchange characteristics of attached leaves of Zea mays L. and t... more The relationship between the gas-exchange characteristics of attached leaves of Zea mays L. and the contents of photosynthetic intermediates was examined at different intercellular partial pressure of CO2 and at different irradiances at a constant intercellular partial pressure of CO2. (i) The behaviour of the pools of the C4-cycle intermediates, phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate, provides evidence for light regulation of their
ABSTRACT Light-induced changes in circular dichroism (CD) were studied in thylakoids isolated fro... more ABSTRACT Light-induced changes in circular dichroism (CD) were studied in thylakoids isolated from spinach. The following features of CD responses occurring in the time range of 10 s to 1-3 min were noted: (i) The kinetics and relative amplitudes of the responses are similar over broad spectral ranges surrounding the major CD bands, i.e., between 670 and 760 nm and between 480 and 550 nm. This applies not only to randomly oriented samples but also to magnetically aligned membranes having markedly different CD spectra in the dark. (ii) Photosystem I is much more effective than photosystem II and can drive a 40-80% decrease in CD signal relative to the dark control level. (iii) Photosystem I driven changes are fully inhibited by nigericin or NHâCl but are largely insensitive to gramicidin. CD changes driven by photosystem II, on the other hand, are sensitive to all of these reagents. (iv) The CD responses can be shown to originate in circular differential scattering rather than in circular differential absorbance. They can also be distinguished from light-induced, nonpolarized scattering changes. The data are qualitatively evaluated with respect to the theory of circular differential scattering of large helically organized macroaggregates, the size of which is commensurate with the wavelength of the measuring beam. The observed decrease of the large CD signal is ascribed to a partial loss of macrohelicity in the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complex, in response to a proton gradient and/or surface electrical field generated most effectively by photosystem I.
Changes in host primary metabolism associated with the compatible interaction between cucumber mo... more Changes in host primary metabolism associated with the compatible interaction between cucumber mosaic virus and cotyledons of the marrow plant (Cucurbita pepo L.) have been localized, first by measuring activities of key enzymes in infected and uninfected regions of the cotyledon, and second by histochemical techniques applied to tissue prints of the infected region. A series of progressive metabolic changes occurs within the expanding infected lesion. Virus replication and the synthesis of viral protein at the periphery creates a strong sink demand associated with increased activities of anaplerotic enzymes, increased photosynthesis, and starch accumulation. Inside the lesion, when the synthesis of virus has declined, photosynthesis is reduced, starch is mobilized, and the emphasis of metabolism is shifted toward glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. These changes are associated spatially with the onset of chlorosis. A decrease in total protein synthesis in this inner zone coul...
Intact protoplasts and chloroplasts have been isolated from mature flag leaves of wheat (Triticum... more Intact protoplasts and chloroplasts have been isolated from mature flag leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Both showed high rates of photosynthesis, the best of which equaled those observed in the parent tissue (greater than 150 micromoles O(2) per milligram chlorophyll per hour). The presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate and an alkaline medium (pH 8.4) were required in the isolation and assay for the achievement of maximum rates of photosynthesis by chloroplasts. Photosynthesis by isolated chloroplasts was inhibited at very low concentrations of external orthophosphate.
Mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Maris Mink) with 47 or 66% of the glutamine synthetase (... more Mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Maris Mink) with 47 or 66% of the glutamine synthetase (GS) activity of the wild type were used for studies of NH3 exchange with the atmosphere. Under normal light and temperature conditions, tissue NH4+ concentrations were higher in the two mutants compared with wild-type plants, and this was accompanied by higher NH3 emission from the leaves. The emission of NH3 increased with increasing leaf temperatures in both wild-type and mutant plants, but the increase was much more pronounced in the mutants. Similar results were found when the light intensity (photosynthetic photon flux density) was increased. Compensation points for NH3 were estimated by exposing intact shoots to 10 nmol NH3 mol-1 air under conditions with increasing temperatures until the plants started to emit NH3. Referenced to 25[deg]C, the compensation points were 5.0 nmol mol-1 for wild-type plants, 8.3 nmol mol-1 for 47% GS mutants, and 11.8 nmol mol-1 for 66% GS mutants. Com...
The aim of this study was to investigate whether gluconeogenesis catalysed by phosphoenolpyruvate... more The aim of this study was to investigate whether gluconeogenesis catalysed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) occurs during leaf senescence. This was addressed by determining changes in the abundance and intercellular location of enzymes necessary for gluconeogenesis during the senescence of barley leaves and cucumber cotyledons. PEPCK was never present in barley leaves, despite the presence of large amounts of isocitrate lyase (ICL), a key enzyme of the glyoxylate cycle, and of its product, glyoxylate. Although PEPCK was present in non-senescent cucumber cotyledons, its abundance declined during senescence. Throughout senescence, PEPCK was only present in the trichomes and vasculature, whereas ICL was located in mesophyll cells. Pyruvate,Pi dikinase (PPDK) which, in concert with NAD(P)-malic enzyme, is also capable of catalysing gluconeogenesis, was present in non-senescent barley leaves and cucumber cotyledons, but in both plants its abundance decreased greatly during se...
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