Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I P Ting

Publications and source records attributed to I P Ting.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Fluorescence Quenching in the Varied Photosynthetic Modes of Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq.

The kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence were measured in Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. when the plants were functioning in either Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) or C(3)/CAM cycling (called cycling) modes, as determined by fluctuation in titratable acidity and gas exchange properties. Cycling plants showed primarily daytime CO(2) uptake typical of C(3) plants, but with a slight diurnal acid fluctuation, whereas CAM plants showed nocturnal CO(2) uptake, daytime stomatal closure, and a large diurnal acid fluctuation. Results from fluorescence measurements indicated no significant differences in photochemical quenching between cycling and CAM plants; however, sizable differences were detected in nonphoto-chemical quenching (q(n)), with the largest differences being observed during the middle of the day. Cycling plants had lower q(n) than CAM plants, indicating altered photosynthetic regulation processes. This q(n) difference was believed to be related to reduced internal CO(2) concentration in the CAM plants because of daytime stomatal closure and reduced deacidification rates in the late afternoon when most of the malic acid has been utilized. Experimentally, higher external CO(2) given to plants in the CAM mode resulted in a decline in q(n) in comparison to that measured in plants in the cycling mode. No changes were observed in photochemical quenching when CO(2) was added.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Kinetic Properties of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase in Peperomia camptotricha.

Kinetic characteristics of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from the epiphytic C(3) or C(4): CAM intermediate plant, Peperomia camptotricha, were investigated. Few day versus night differences in V(max),K(m(PEP))), or malate inhibition were observed, even in extracts from water-stressed plants which characteristically perform CAM, regardless of efforts to stabilize day/night forms. The PEPC extracted from plants during the light period remained stable, without much of an increase or decrease in activity for at least 22 hours at 0 to 4 degrees C. Extracts from mature, fully developed leaves had slightly greater PEPC activity than from very young, developing leaves. Generally, however, the kinetic properties of PEPC extracted from mature leaves of plants grown under short day (SD), long day (LD), or 1-week water-stress conditions, as well as from young, developing leaves, were similar. The PEPC inhibitor, l-malate, decreased the V(max) and increased the K(m(PEP)) for all treatments. Under specific conditions, malate did not inhibit PEPC rates in the dark extracts as much as the light. The PEPC activator, glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P), lowered the K(m(PEP)) for all treatments. At saturating PEP concentrations, PEPC activity was independent of pH in the range of 7.5 to 9.0. At subsaturating PEP concentrations, the pH optimum was 7.8. The rates of PEPC activity were lower in the light period extracts than the dark, at pH 7.1, but day/night PEPC was equally active at pH 7.8. At pH 7.5 and a subsaturating PEP concentration, G-6-P significantly activated PEPC. At pH 8, however, only slight activation by G-6-P was observed. The lower pH of 7.5 combined with l-malate addition, greatly inhibited PEPC, particularly in extracts from young, developing leaves which were completely inhibited at an l-malate concentration of 1 millimolar. However, malate did not further inhibit PEPC activity in mature leaves when assayed at pH 7.1. The fairly constant day/night kinetic and regulatory properties of PEPC from P. camptotricha are unlike those of PEPC from CAM or C(4) species studied, and are consistent with the photosynthetic metabolism of this plant.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Effects of Various Levels of CO(2) on the Induction of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq.

In response to water stress, Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. (Portulacaceae) shifts its photosynthetic carbon metabolism from the Calvin-Benson cycle for CO(2) fixation (C(3)) photosynthesis or Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)-cycling, during which organic acids fluctuate with a C(3)-type of gas exchange, to CAM. During the CAM induction, various attributes of CAM appear, such as stomatal closure during the day, increase in diurnal fluctuation of organic acids, and an increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity. It was hypothesized that stomatal closure due to water stress may induce changes in internal CO(2) concentration and that these changes in CO(2) could be a factor in CAM induction. Experiments were conducted to test this hypothesis. Well-watered plants and plants from which water was withheld starting at the beginning of the experiment were subjected to low (40 ppm), normal (ca. 330 ppm), and high (950 ppm) CO(2) during the day with normal concentrations of CO(2) during the night for 16 days. In water-stressed and in well-watered plants, CAM induction as ascertained by fluctuation of total titratable acidity, fluctuation of malic acid, stomatal conductance, CO(2) uptake, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity, remained unaffected by low, normal, or high CO(2) treatments. In well-watered plants, however, both low and high ambient concentrations of CO(2) tended to reduce organic acid concentrations, low concentrations of CO(2) reducing the organic acids more than high CO(2). It was concluded that exposing the plants to the CO(2) concentrations mentioned had no effect on inducing or reducing the induction of CAM and that the effect of water stress on CAM induction is probably mediated by its effects on biochemical components of leaf metabolism.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Minor Physiological Response to Elevated CO(2) by the CAM Plant Agave vilmoriniana.

One-year-old plants of the CAM leaf succulent Agave vilmoriniana Berger were grown outdoors at Riverside, California. Potted plants were acclimated to CO(2)-enrichment (about 750 microliters per liter) by growth for 2 weeks in an open-top polyethylene chamber. Control plants were grown nearby where the ambient CO(2) concentration was about 370 microliters per liter. When the plants were well watered, CO(2)-induced differences in stomatal conductances and CO(2) assimilation rates over the entire 24-hour period were not large. There was a large nocturnal acidification in both CO(2) treatments and insignificant differences in leaf chlorophyll content. Well watered plants maintained water potentials of -0.3 to -0.4 megapascals. When other plants were allowed to dry to water potentials of -1.2 to -1.7 megapascals, stomatal conductances and CO(2) uptake rates were reduced in magnitude, with the biggest difference in Phase IV photosynthesis. The minor nocturnal response to CO(2) by this species is interpreted to indicate saturated, or nearly saturated, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity at current atmospheric CO(2) concentrations. CO(2)-enhanced diurnal activity of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity remains a possibility.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Carbon Flow and Metabolic Specialization in the Tissue Layers of the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Plant, Peperomia camptotricha.

Leaves of Peperomia camptotricha contain three distinct upper tissue layers and a one-cell thick lower epidermis. Light and dark CO(2) fixation rates and the activity of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and several C(4) enzymes were determined in the three distinct tissue layers. The majority of the C(4) enzyme activity and dark CO(2) fixation was associated with the spongy mesophyll, including the lower epidermis; and the least activity was found in the median palisade mesophyll. In contrast, the majority of the C(3) activity, that is ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and light CO(2) fixation, was located in the palisade mesophyll. In addition, the diurnal flux in titratable acidity was greatest in the spongy mesophyll and lowest in the palisade mesophyll. The spatial separation of the C(3) and C(4) phases of carbon fixation in P. camptotricha suggests that this Crassulacean acid metabolism plant may have low photorespiratory rates when it exhibits daytime gas exchange (that is, when it is well watered). The results also indicate that this plant may be on an evolutionary path between a true Crassulacean acid metabolism plant and a true C(4) plant.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Relationship between Respiration and CAM-Cycling in Peperomia camptotricha.

Mature leaves of well-watered Peperomia camptotricha show Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Young leaves show CAM-cycling in which CO(2) uptake occurs during the day concomitant with a marked diurnal fluctuation of organic acids as in CAM. Evidence is presented suggesting that respiration is the source of CO(2) for nocturnal acid synthesis in leaves exhibiting CAM-cycling. Respiratory quotients for these leaves were consistently much less than unity despite the fact that the leaves metabolize starch. The conservation of CO(2) by refixation into acids at night represents about 17% of the total photosynthetically fixed CO(2) and about 50% of the total respiratory CO(2).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Developmental Control of CAM in Peperomia scandens.

Experiments were conducted to examine the development of photosynthetic carbon metabolism in Peperomia scandens, a tropical epiphyte. Leaves were sampled during a 10-day period when they were between 30 to 165 days old. P. scandens exhibits a C(3) to CAM-cycling to CAM shift during maturation with the magnitude of CAM increasing with age. Initially, during both day and night, no significant CO(2) uptake or diurnal acid flux was evident. C(3) gas exchange was detected at 41 days of age with a gradual shift towards CAM gas exchange maximized thereafter. An acidity flux of 130 to 150 microequivalents per gram fresh weight was evident by 41 days. Between 40 and 90 days, the leaves shifted their CO(2) uptake pattern from a daytime to a nighttime peak. After 90 days, the leaves remained in CAM. The delta(13)C values became progressively less negative as the leaves matured. In the 30-day-old leaves, the delta(13)C value was -21.1% while in the 165-day-old leaves the delta(13)C value was -18.3%. The time-dependent shift from C(3) to CAM-cycling to CAM in P. scandens does not appear to result from changes in water, light, or temperature regimes since these variables were constant for all leaves sampled.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Physiological Changes in Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. during a Summer Drought and Rewatering.

The changes of titratable acidity, enzyme activity, water status, and pigment composition were studied in Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. during a normal summer drought and rewatering. Two groups of plants were grown outside under a clear plastic canopy with water stress initiated at 2-week intervals in May 1986. Drought resulted in a linear decrease of fresh weight for 80 days and there was no further fresh weight change for the next 65 days. Nocturnal CO(2) uptake remained measurable for 83 days. Cessation of exogenous CO(2) uptake corresponded to the point where the pressure potential (Psi(p)) became zero. Ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate (RuBP) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase were reduced to 50% of this activity by the end of the drought period. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity was undetectable after 120 to 140 days of drought. Chlorophyll (Chl) levels decreased with a preferential loss of Chl a over Chl b. Carotenoid content was relatively constant over the course of the drought period. After 145 days of drought, plants responded to rewatering within 24 hours; Psi(p) became positive and daytime CO(2) uptake resumed after 24 hours. After 3 days, RuBP carboxylase activity reached control levels. Activity of the CAM pathway recovered after 5 days, as noted by increased diurnal acid fluctuations. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity fully recovered within 6 days. Chl levels were greater than control levels within 5 days. Chl a/b ratios took 27 days to return to control levels. The results indicated that P. afra can withstand a normal summer drought by utilizing the CAM and CAM-idling pathway for 130 to 140 days. The plants respond rapidly to rewatering because of the conservation of enzyme activity and the quick recovery of Psi(p).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Crassulacean Acid Metabolism and Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Modifications in Peperomia camptotricha.

Peperomia camptotricha, a tropical epiphyte from Mexico, shows variable forms of Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Young leaves exhibit CAM-cycling, while mature leaves show an intermediate type of metabolism, between CAM and CAM-cycling, having approximately the same amount of nighttime gas exchange as daytime. Metabolism of young leaves appears independent of daylength, but mature leaves have a tendency toward more CAM-like metabolism under short days (8 hours). Large differences in the physical appearance of plants were found between those grown under short daylengths and those grown under long daylengths (14 hours). Some anatomical differences were also detected in the leaves. Water stress caused a switch to CAM in young and mature leaves, and as water stress increased, they shifted to CAM-idling.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Physiological and isotopic aspects of photosynthesis in peperomia.

Physiological and isotopic aspects of several Peperomia species were investigated. All but one species had C(3)-like stomatal behavior, in that stomata were open during the day and closed during the night. In these species, most atmospheric CO(2) uptake occurred during the day. Concurrent with this stomatal behavior, there were Crassulacean acid metabolism-like acid fluctuations in most species. Carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios of cellulose nitrate from Peperomia reflect their physiological behavior. The delta(13)C values of cellulose nitrate from Peperomia species were similar to values observed in C(3) plants and consistent with the daytime uptake of exogeneous CO(2) via the C(3) photosynthetic pathway. The deltaD values of cellulose nitrate from Peperomia species approach those of Crassulacean acid metabolism plants. These elevated deltaD values are caused by fractionations occurring during biochemical reactions and not as a consequence of water relations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen isotope ratios of cellulose from plants having intermediary photosynthetic modes.

Carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios of cellulose nitrate and oxygen isotope ratios of cellulose from species of greenhouse plants having different photosynthetic modes were determined. When hydrogen isotope ratios are plotted against carbon isotope ratios, four clusters of points are discernible, each representing different photosynthetic modes: C(3) plants, C(4) plants, CAM plants, and C(3) plants that can shift to CAM or show the phenomenon referred to as CAM-cycling. The combination of oxygen and carbon isotope ratios does not distinguish among the different photosynthetic modes. Analysis of the carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios of cellulose nitrate should prove useful for screening different photosynthetic modes in field specimens that grew near one another. This method will be particularly useful for detection of plants which show CAM-cycling.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Variable Photosynthetic Metabolism in Leaves and Stems of Cissus quadrangularis L.

By measuring titratable acidity, gas exchange parameters, mesophyll succulence, and (13)C/(12)C ratios, we have shown that Cissus quadrangularis L. has C(3)-like leaves and stems with Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). In addition, the nonsucculent leaves show the diurnal fluctuations in organic acids termed recycling despite the fact that all CO(2) uptake and stomatal opening occurs during the day. Young succulent stems have more C(3) photosynthesis than older stems, but both have characteristics of CAM. The genus Cissus will be a fruitful group to study the physiology, ecology, and evolution of C(3) and CAM since species occur that exhibit characteristics of both photosynthetic pathways.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Shifts in the Carbon Metabolism of Xerosicyos danguyi H. Humb. (Cucurbitaceae) Brought About by Water Stress : I. General Characteristics.

Xerosicyos danguyi H. Humb. (Cucurbitaceae) is an unusual leaf succulent endemic to Madagascar. Under well-watered conditions the plant exhibited Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), as characterized by large diurnal changes in titratable acidity, predominantly nighttime stomatal opening and CO(2) uptake, and high delta(13)C values. When plants were exposed to water stress for a minimum of a month, they shifted to a mode of carbon metabolism previously labeled CAM-idling. Under this mode of metabolism, the plants exhibited reduced stomatal opening, reduced CO(2) uptake, dampened diurnal fluctuations in titratable acidity, and no apparent changes in the delta(13)C values. Additionally, investigations showed that the stress hormones 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (an ethylene precursor) and abscisic acid increased as much as 6-fold in the water-stressed plants. The results are discussed in relation to physiological significance and evolution of the CAM-idling mode of metabolism.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Shifts in the Carbon Metabolism of Xerosicyos danguyi H. Humb. (Cucurbitaceae) Brought About by Water Stress : II. Enzymology.

Xerosicyos danguyi Humbert (Cucurbitaceae) is a leaf succulent endemic to Madagascar. Under well-watered conditions, the plant exhibited Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) but shifted to a dampened form of CAM, CAM-idling, when subjected to water stress. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of a shift in carbon metabolism on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and on NADP-malic enzyme in X. danguyi. Experiments were conducted to determine the diurnal patterns of enzyme activity and pH optima of both enzymes, as well as the approximate molecular mass, kinetic patterns, malate inhibition, and glucose-6-phosphate stimulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The two enzymes extracted from well-watered and water-stressed plants were similar in most parameters investigated; thus, CAM-idling appeared to be only a dampened form of CAM photosynthesis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1981

Carbon metabolism in two species of pereskia (cactaceae).

The Pereskia are morphologically primitive, leafed members of the Cactaceae. Gas exchange characteristics using a dual isotope porometer to monitor (14)CO(2) and tritiated water uptake, diurnal malic acid fluctuations, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and malate dehydrogenase activities were examined in two species of the genus Pereskia, Pereskia grandifolia and Pereskia aculeata. Investigations were done on well watered (control) and water-stressed plants. Nonstressed plants showed a CO(2) uptake pattern indicating C(3) carbon metabolism. However, diurnal fluctuations in titratable acidity were observed similar to Crassulacean acid metabolism. Plants exposed to 10 days of water stress exhibited stomatal opening only during an early morning period. Titratable acidity, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity, and malate dehydrogenase activity fluctuations were magnified in the stressed plants, but showed the same diurnal pattern as controls. Water stress causes these cacti to shift to an internal CO(2) recycling ("idling") that has all attributes of Crassulacean acid metabolism except nocturnal stomata opening and CO(2) uptake. The consequences of this shift, which has been observed in other succulents, are unknown, and some possibilities are suggested.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1978

Responses of succulents to plant water stress.

Experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that succulents "shift" their method of photosynthetic metabolism in response to environmental change. Our data showed that there were at least three different responses of succulents to plant water status. When plant water status of Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. was lowered either by withholding water or by irrigating with 2% NaCl, a change from C(3)-photosynthesis to Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) occurred. Fluctuation of titratable acidity and nocturnal CO(2) uptake was induced in the stressed plants. Stressed Peperomia obtusifolia A. Dietr. plants showed a change from C(3)-photosynthesis to internal cycling of CO(2). Acid fluctuation commenced in response to stress but exogenous CO(2) uptake did not occur. Zygocactus truncatus Haworth plants showed a pattern of acid fluctuation and nocturnal CO(2) uptake typical of CAM even when well irrigated. The cacti converted from CAM to an internal CO(2) cycle similar to Peperomia when plants were water-stressed. Reverse phase gas exchange in succulents results in low water loss to carbon gain. Water is conserved and low levels of metabolic activity are maintained during drought periods by complete stomatal closure and continual fluctuation of organic acids.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Polymorphism of Microbody Malate Dehydrogenase in Opuntia basilaris.

Electrophoretic survey of malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) in Opuntia basilaris showed intraspecific polymorphism. Further experiments with microbody malate dehydrogenase-specific antiserum suggest that the polymorphism occurs in microbody malate dehydrogenase independent of the soluble and mitochondrial forms. The pattern of polymorphism is one expected from a two-allele Mendelian system.

Journal Article↗