Biomedical subjects

T D Sharkey

Publications and source records attributed to T D Sharkey.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Inheritance of the Reversal of O(2) Response of Photosynthesis in a Flaveria linearis Mutant.

A mutant plant of Flaveria linearis Lag. expresses reversed O(2) response of photosynthesis (i.e. its apparent photosynthesis is stimulated at atmospheric O(2) levels). The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic inheritance of this trait and to investigate the biochemical mechanism for its expression. The mutant plant was crossed reciprocally with a plant of the closely related species Flaveria oppositifolia (DC.) Rydb. and also with another plant of F. linearis. Data on O(2) inhibition of apparent photosynthesis were analyzed on F(2) and F(3) progeny from these F(1) hybrids. In addition, test crosses (mutant x F(1) hybrid) and S(1) progeny from the mutant plant were also analyzed. All F(1) hybrids expressed inhibition of apparent photosynthesis and their progeny segregated in acceptable 3:1 and 13:3 (normal:reversed) ratios. There was little effect of environment on expression of the reversed O(2) response. Selected F(2) plants and the original mutant plant produced progeny in normal:reversed ratios which indicated the trait is controlled by two major genes which show dominant and recessive epistasis. Plants with greater than 20 nanomoles per gram fresh weight per minute of fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase activity in the cytosol had normal O(2) response of photosynthesis. However, when plants had less than 20 nanomoles per gram fresh weight per minute of this enzyme activity in the cytosol, the O(2) was normal in some and reversed in others. It is proposed that low fructose bisphosphatase activity in the cytosol is controlled by a recessive gene (fbp). A second dominant gene is speculated to be hypostatic to the normal fructose bisphosphatase gene and controls the expression of an unknown factor that determines whether O(2) response of AP is reversed in the presence of fbp (i.e. when fructose bisphosphatase activity is low).

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PubMed1990

Mechanism of Photosynthesis Decrease by Verticillium dahliae in Potato.

Young, visually symptomless leaves from potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants infected with Verticillium dahliae exhibited reduced carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO(2), but no increase in dark respiration, no change in the relationship between carbon assimilation rate versus intercellular CO(2), and no change in light use efficiency when intercellular CO(2) was held constant. Therefore, the initial decrease in photosynthesis caused by V. dahliae was caused by stomatal closure. Errors in the intercellular CO(2) calculation caused by uneven distribution of carbon assimilation rate across the leaf were tested by (14)CO(2) autoradiography. Patchiness was found at a low frequency. Low stomatal conductance was correlated with low leaf water potentials. Infection did not affect leaf osmotic potentials.

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PubMed1990

Regulation of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase Activity in Response to Light Intensity and CO(2) in the C(3) Annuals Chenopodium album L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The light and CO(2) response of (a) photosynthesis, (b) the activation state and total catalytic efficiency (k(cat)) of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rubisco), and (c) the pool sizes of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, (RuBP), ATP, and ADP were studied in the C(3) annuals Chenopodium album and Phaseolus vulgaris at 25 degrees C. The initial slope of the photosynthetic CO(2) response curve was dependent on light intensity at reduced light levels only (less than 450 micromoles per square meter per second in C. album and below 200 micromoles per square meter per second in P. vulgaris). Modeled simulations indicated that the initial slope of the CO(2) response of photosynthesis exhibited light dependency when the rate of RuBP regeneration limited photosynthesis, but not when rubisco capacity limited photosynthesis. Measured observations closely matched modeled simulations. The activation state of rubisco was measured at three light intensities in C. album (1750, 550, and 150 micromoles per square meter per second) and at intercellular CO(2) partial pressures (C(1)) between the CO(2) compensation point and 500 microbars. Above a C(1) of 120 microbars, the activation state of rubisco was light dependent. At light intensities of 550 and 1750 micromoles per square meter per second, it was also dependent on C(1), decreasing as the C(1) was elevated above 120 microbars at 550 micromoles per square meter per second and above 300 microbars at 1750 micromoles per square meter per second. The pool size of RuBP was independent of C(1) only under conditions when the activation state of rubisco was dependent on C(1). Otherwise, RuBP pool sizes increased as C(1) was reduced. ATP pools in C. album tended to increase as C(1) was reduced. In P. vulgaris, decreasing C(1) at a subsaturating light intensity of 190 micromoles per square meter per second increased the activation state of rubisco but had little effect on the k(cat). These results support modelled simulations of the rubisco response to light and CO(2), where rubisco is assumed to be down-regulated when photosynthesis is limited by the rate of RuBP regeneration.

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PubMed1989

Acclimation of Photosynthesis to Elevated CO(2) in Five C(3) Species.

The effect of long-term (weeks to months) CO(2) enhancement on (a) the gas-exchange characteristics, (b) the content and activation state of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rubisco), and (c) leaf nitrogen, chlorophyll, and dry weight per area were studied in five C(3) species (Chenopodium album, Phaseolus vulgaris, Solanum tuberosum, Solanum melongena, and Brassica oleracea) grown at CO(2) partial pressures of 300 or 900 to 1000 microbars. Long-term exposure to elevated CO(2) affected the CO(2) response of photosynthesis in one of three ways: (a) the initial slope of the CO(2) response was unaffected, but the photosynthetic rate at high CO(2) increased (S. tuberosum); (b) the initial slope decreased but the CO(2)-saturated rate of photosynthesis was little affected (C. album, P. vulgaris); (c) both the initial slope and the CO(2)-saturated rate of photosynthesis decreased (B. oleracea, S. melongena). In all five species, growth at high CO(2) increased the extent to which photosynthesis was stimulated following a decrease in the partial pressure of O(2) or an increase in measurement CO(2) above 600 microbars. This stimulation indicates that a limitation on photosynthesis by the capacity to regenerate orthophosphate was reduced or absent after acclimation to high CO(2). Leaf nitrogen per area either increased (S. tuberosum, S. melongena) or was little changed by CO(2) enhancement. The content of rubisco was lower in only two of the five species, yet its activation state was 19% to 48% lower in all five species following long-term exposure to high CO(2). These results indicate that during growth in CO(2)-enriched air, leaf rubisco content remains in excess of that required to support the observed photosynthetic rates.

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PubMed1989

Activity ratios of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase accurately reflect carbamylation ratios.

Activity ratios and carbamylation ratios of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) were determined for leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris and Spinacia oleracea exposed to a variety of partial pressures of CO(2) and O(2) and photon flux densities (PFD). It was found that activity ratios accurately predicted carbamylation ratios except in extracts from leaves held in low PFD. In particular, it was confirmed that the loss of RuBPCase activity in low partial pressure of O(2) and high PFD results from reduced carbamylation. Activity ratios of RuBPCase were lower than carbamylation ratios for Phaseolus leaves sampled in low PFD, presumably because of the presence of 2-carboxyarabinitol 1-phosphate. Spinacia leaves sampled in darkness also exhibited lower activity ratios than carbamylation ratios indicating that this species may also have an RuBPCase inhibitor even though carboxyarabinitol 1-phosphate has not been detected in this species in the past.

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PubMed1989

Mild water stress effects on carbon-reduction-cycle intermediates, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity, and spatial homogeneity of photosynthesis in intact leaves.

We have examined the effect of mild water stress on photosynthetic chloroplast reactions of intact Phaseolus vulgaris leaves by measuring two parameters of ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase activity and the pool sizes of RuBP, 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA), triose phosphates, hexose monophosphates, and ATP. We also tested for patchy stomatal closure by feeding (14)CO(2). The k(cat) of RuBP carboxylase (moles CO(2) fixed per mole enzyme per second) which could be measured after incubating the enzyme with CO(2) and Mg(2+) was unchanged by water stress. The ratio of activity before and after incubation with CO(2) and Mg(2+) (the carbamylation state) was slightly reduced by severe stress but not by mild stress. Likewise, the concentration of RuBP was slightly reduced by severe stress but not by mild stress. The concentration of PGA was markedly reduced by both mild and severe water stress. The concentration of triose phosphates did not decline as much as PGA. We found that photosynthesis in water stressed leaves occurred in patches. The patchiness of photosynthesis during water stress may lead to an underestimation of the effect of stomatal closure. We conclude that reductions in whole leaf photosynthesis caused by mild water stress are primarily the result of stomatal closure and that there is no indication of damage to chloroplast reactions.

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PubMed1989

Mild Water Stress of Phaseolus vulgaris Plants Leads to Reduced Starch Synthesis and Extractable Sucrose Phosphate Synthase Activity.

Mild water stress, on the order of -1.0 megapascals xylem water potential, can reduce the rate of photosynthesis and eliminate the inhibition of photosynthesis caused by O(2) in water-stress-sensitive plants such as Phaseolus vulgaris. To investigate the lack of O(2) inhibition of photosynthesis, we measured stromal and cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, sucrose phosphate synthase, and partitioning of newly fixed carbon between starch and sucrose before, during, and after mild water stress. The extractable activity of the fructose bisphosphatases was unaffected by mild water stress. The extractable activity of SPS was inhibited by more than 60% in plants stressed to water potentials of -0.9 megapascals. Water stress caused a decline in the starch/sucrose partitioning ratio indicating that starch synthesis was inhibited more than sucrose synthesis. We conclude that the reduced rate of photosynthesis during water stress is caused by stomatal closure, and that the restriction of CO(2) supply caused by stomatal closure leads to a reduction in the capacity for both starch and sucrose synthesis. This causes the reduced O(2) inhibition and abrupt CO(2) saturation of photosynthesis.

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PubMed1989

Low oxygen inhibition of photosynthesis is caused by inhibition of starch synthesis.

Photosynthesis of C(3) plants is occasionally inhibited upon switching from normal to low partial pressure of O(2). Leaves of Solanum tuberosum exhibited this effect reproducibly under saturating light and 700 microbars of CO(2). We determined the partitioning of recent photosynthate between starch and sucrose and measured the concentration of hexose monophosphates in the stroma and cytosol after nonaqueous fractionation. The reduction in the rate of photosynthesis upon switching to low partial pressure of O(2) was caused by reduced starch synthesis. The concentration of hexose monophosphates in the stroma fell and the glucose 6-phosphate to fructose 6-phosphate to fructose 6-phosphate ratio fell from 2.7 to 1.3, indicating an inhibition of phosphoglucoisomerase as described by K-J Dietz ([1985] Biochim Biophys Acta 839: 240-248). The concentration of hexose monophosphates in the cytosol increased, ruling out a sucrose synthesis limitation by reduced transport from the chloroplast as the explanation for low O(2) inhibition of photosynthesis.

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PubMed1989

Stromal Phosphate Concentration Is Low during Feedback Limited Photosynthesis.

It has been hypothesized that photosynthesis can be feedback limited when the phosphate concentration cannot be both low enough to allow starch and sucrose synthesis at the required rate and high enough for ATP synthesis at the required rate. We have measured the concentration of phosphate in the stroma and cytosol of leaves held under feedback conditions. We used non-aqueous fractionation techniques with freeze-clamped leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris plants grown on reduced phosphate nutrition. Feedback was induced by holding leaves in low O(2) or high CO(2) partial pressure. We found 7 millimolar phosphate in the stroma of leaves in normal oxygen but just 2.7 millimolar phosphate in leaves held in low oxygen. Because 1 to 2 millimolar phosphate in the stroma may be metabolically inactive, we estimate that in low oxygen, the metabolically active pool of phosphate is between negligible and 1.7 millimolar. We conclude that halfway between these extremes, 0.85 millimolar is a good estimate of the phosphate concentration in the stroma of feedback-limited leaves and that the true concentration could be even lower. The stromal phosphate concentration was also low when leaves were held in high CO(2), which also induces feedback-limited photosynthesis, indicating that the effect is related to feedback limitation, not to low oxygen per se. We conclude that the concentration of phosphate in the stroma is usually in excess and that it is sequestered to regulate photosynthesis, especially starch synthesis. The capacity for this regulation is limited by the coupling factor requirement for phosphate.

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PubMed1988

Reduced Cytosolic Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase Activity Leads to Loss of O(2) Sensitivity in a Flaveria linearis Mutant.

The mutant plant of Flaveria linearis characterized by Brown et al. (Plant Physiol. 81: 212-215) was studied to determine the cause of the reduced sensitivity to O(2). Analysis of CO(2) assimilation metabolites of freeze clamped leaves revealed that both 3-phosphoglycerate and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate were high in the mutant plant relative to F. linearis with normal O(2) sensitivity. The k(cat) of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) was equal in all plant material tested (range 18-22 s(-1)) indicating that no tight binding inhibitor was present. The degree of RuBPCase carbamylation was reduced in the mutant plant relative to the wild-type plant. Since 3-phosphoglycerate was high in the mutant plant and photosynthesis did not exhibit properties associated with RuBPCase limitations, we believe that the decarbamylation of RuBPCase was a consequence of another lesion in photosynthesis. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and its precursors, such as the triose phosphates, were in high concentration in the mutant plant relative to the wild type. The concentrations of the product of the fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase reaction, fructose 6-phosphate, and its isomer, glucose 6-phosphate, were the same in both plants. We found that the mutant plant had up to 75% less cytosolic fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase activity than the wild type but comparable levels of stromal fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. We conclude that the reduced fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity restricts the mutant plant's capacity for sucrose synthesis and this leads to reduced or reversed O(2) sensitivity.

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PubMed1988

Regulation of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase Activity in Alocasia macrorrhiza in Response to Step Changes in Irradiance.

The regulation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase (Rubisco) activity and pool sizes of RuBP and P-glycerate were examined in the tropical understory species Alocasia macrorrhiza following step changes in photon flux density (PFD). Previous gas exchange analysis of this species following a step increase in PFD from 10 to 500 micromoles quanta per square meter per second suggested that the increase in photosynthetic rate was limited by the rate of increase of Rubisco activity for the first 5 to 10 minutes. We demonstrate here that the increase in photosynthetic rate was correlated with an increase in both the activation state of Rubisco and the total k(cat) (fully activated specific activity) of the enzyme. Evidence presented here suggests that a change in the pool size of the naturally occurring tight binding inhibitor of Rubisco activity, 2-carboxyarabinitol 1-phosphate, was responsible for the PFD-dependent change in the total k(cat) of the enzyme. RuBP pool size transiently increased after the increase in PFD, indicating that photosynthesis was limited by the capacity for carboxylation. After 5 to 10 minutes, RuBP pool size was again similar to the pool size at low PFD, presumably because of the increased activity of Rubisco. Following a step decrease in PFD from 500 to 10 micromoles quanta per square meter per second, Rubisco activity declined but at a much slower rate than it had increased in response to a step increase in PFD. This slower rate of activity decline than increase was apparently due to the slower rate of 2-carboxyarabinitol 1-phosphate synthesis than degradation and, to a lesser degree, to slower deactivation than activation. RuBP pool size initially declined following the decrease in PFD, indicating that RuBP regeneration was limiting photosynthesis. As Rubisco activity decreased, RuBP slowly increased to its original level at high PFD. The slow rate of activity loss by Rubisco in this species suggests a biochemical basis for the increased efficiency for CO(2) assimilation of successive lightfleck use by species such as A. macrorrhiza.

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PubMed1988

Effects of Irradiance and Methyl Viologen Treatment on ATP, ADP, and Activation of Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase in Spinach Leaves.

Since activation of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (rubisco) by rubisco activase is sensitive to ATP and ADP in vitro, we aimed to test the correlation between ATP level and rubisco activation state in intact leaves of Spinacia oleracea L. in response to changes in irradiance and after feeding the electron acceptor methyl viologen. Leaves were exposed to various irradiances for 45 minutes at atmospheric partial pressures of CO(2) and O(2). After measuring the rate of CO(2) assimilation, leaves were freeze-clamped in situ and the punched discs assayed for rubisco activity, and amounts of ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP), ATP, and ADP. The photosynthetic rate and the activation state of rubisco increased with increasing irradiance but the levels of RuBP, ATP, and ADP were not greatly affected. Methyl viologen fed leaves under low irradiance had rubisco activation states of 93% compared to 51% in control leaves. The ATP content of the leaves was also significantly higher and the ratio of ATP to ADP was 4.1 in methyl viologen fed leaves compared to 2.2 in control leaves. From these results and other published results we conclude that a correlation between ATP level and rubisco activation can be observed in intact leaves, but that during changes in irradiance some additional factors are involved in regulating rubisco activation.

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PubMed1987

Responses of Two CAM Species to Different Irradiances during Growth and Susceptibility to Photoinhibition by High Light.

Two CAM species, Kalanchoë daigremontiana Hamet et Perrier and Hoya carnosa (L.) R. Br., were grown under a range of five photon flux area densitites (PFD) and then characterized. Significant acclimation to shade was indicated by progressive decreases in leaf thickness, rates of respiratory O(2) uptake, light compensation point, maximum rates of photosynthetic O(2) evolution, nocturnal acid accumulation, and delta(13)C values, and increases in chlorophyll concentration and absolute levels of room temperature (25 degrees C) and 77K fluorescence. Quantum yields (as measured by O(2) exchange) and the ratio of variable 77K fluorescence over the maximum yield (F(v)/F(m)) were relatively constant across the treatments. The only significant deviation from the above characteristics was in H. carnosa grown under full glasshouse PFD, where it apparently experienced photoinhibition. Following a photoinhibitory treatment, K. daigremontiana exhibited increases in the light compensation point and progressively greater reductions in the quantum yield, maximum photosynthetic rate, F(v)/F(m), and the variable component of room temperature fluorescence with increasing shade during growth. Thus although Crassulacean acid metabolism plants can adjust to shaded conditions, they are susceptible to photoinhibition when exposed to higher PFD than that experienced during growth.

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PubMed1987

Comparisons of Photosynthetic Responses of Xanthium strumarium and Helianthus annuus to Chronic and Acute Water Stress in Sun and Shade.

We have examined the effects of mild, chronic water stress and acute water stress on two water stress sensitive plants, Xanthium strumarium and Helianthus annuus. Using a combination of the leaf disc O(2) electrode to measure the light responses of photosynthesis and 77 K fluorescence to monitor damage to the primary photochemistry, we have found the following: (a) The CO(2) saturated rate of photosynthesis at high light is the most water stress sensitive parameter measured. (b) The apparent quantum yield (moles O(2) per mole photons) was slightly, if at all, affected by mild water stress (>-1.5 megapascals). (c) Severe water stress (<-1.5 megapascals) reduced the quantum yield of photosynthesis regardless of whether the stress was applied in sun or shade. The light independent reduction of quantum yield was not associated with a reduction in 77 K fluorescence (F(v)/F(m)) indicating that the quantum yield reduction was not the result of damage to primary photochemistry. (d) The diel fluctuation in 77 K fluorescence seen in sun-exposed control leaves was greatly exaggerated in water stressed leaves because of enhanced decline in 77 K fluorescence in the morning. The rate of recovery was similar in both control and water stressed leaves. Shaded leaves showed no change in 77 K fluorescence regardless of whether water stress was imposed or not. (e) The water stress sensitive plants used in these experiments did not recover from acute water stress severe enough to reduce the quantum yield or chronic water stress which lasted long enough that light dependent damage to primary photochemistry occurred.

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PubMed1987

The Effect of Temperature on the Occurrence of O(2) and CO(2) Insensitive Photosynthesis in Field Grown Plants.

The sensitivity of photosynthesis to O(2) and CO(2) was measured in leaves from field grown plants of six species (Phaseolus vulgaris, Capsicum annuum, Lycopersicon esculentum, Scrophularia desertorum, Cardaria draba, and Populus fremontii) from 5 degrees C to 35 degrees C using gas-exchange techniques. In all species but Phaseolus, photosynthesis was insensitive to O(2) in normal air below a species dependent temperature. CO(2) insensitivity occurred under the same conditions that resulted in O(2) insensitivity. A complete loss of O(2) sensitivity occurred up to 22 degrees C in Lycopersicon but only up to 6 degrees C in Scrophularia. In Lycopersicon and Populus, O(2) and CO(2) insensitivity occurred under conditions regularly encountered during the cooler portions of the day. Because O(2) insensitivity is an indicator of feedback limited photosynthesis, these results indicate that feedback limitations can play a role in determining the diurnal carbon gain in the field. At higher partial pressures of CO(2) the temperature at which O(2) insensitivity occurred was higher, indicating that feedback limitations in the field will become more important as the CO(2) concentration in the atmosphere increases.

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PubMed1987

The Effect of Abscisic Acid and Other Inhibitors on Photosynthetic Capacity and the Biochemistry of CO(2) Assimilation.

Abscisic acid (ABA) was shown to reduce the photosynthetic capacity of a leaf through an apparent inhibition of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase (RuBPCase) activity, in addition to promoting stomatal closure. By comparison with the effects of other inhibitors of photosynthesis (cyanazine, methyl viologen, sodium azide, nigericin, sodium cyanide) on whole leaf photosynthesis, RuBPCase activity and metabolite pool sizes, it was demonstrated that the biochemical basis for the apparent effect of ABA on RuBPCase activity was not the result of reduced substrate availability, decarbamylation of the enzyme, or synthesis of carboxyarabinitol 1-phosphate, the naturally occurring tight-binding inhibitor of the enzyme. An inhibition of photosynthetic capacity showing the same biochemical characteristics as ABA-fed leaves was observed in plants grown under saline conditions. We suggest that the common link between environmental stress and reductions in photosynthetic capacity may be ABA. We hypothesize that ABA may affect plasma membrane function and thus indirectly RuBPCase activity through altered ion fluxes. The results of feeding cyanazine, methyl viologen, and nigericin provide additional evidence that regulation of RuBPCase activity by carbamylation/decarbamylation is related to the extent to which the capacity for ATP formation limits photosynthesis.

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PubMed1987

Environmental effects on photosynthesis, nitrogen-use efficiency, and metabolite pools in leaves of sun and shade plants.

Effects of varying light intensity and nitrogen nutrition on photosynthetic physiology and biochemistry were examined in the sun plant Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) and in the shade plant Alocasia macrorrhiza (Australian rainforest floor species). In both Phaseolus and Alocasia, the differing growth regimes produced large changes in photosynthetic capacity and composition of the photosynthetic apparatus. CO(2)-saturated rates of photosynthesis were linearly related to leaf nitrogen (N) content in both species but photosynthesis per unit leaf N was markedly higher for Phaseolus than for Alocasia. Photosynthetic capacity was also higher in Phaseolus per unit ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase (RuBPCase) protein. The leaf content of RuBPCase was linearly dependent on leaf N content in the two species. However, the proportion of leaf N which was RuBPCase was greater in Phaseolus than in Alocasia and was more sensitive to growth conditions, ranging from 6% of leaf N at low light to 20% at high light. In Alocasia, this range was much less, 6 to 11%. However, chlorophyll content was much more sensitive to light intensity in Alocasia. Thus, the RuBPCase/chlorophyll ratio was quite responsive to N availability and light intensity in both species (but for different reasons), ranging from 6 grams per gram for Phaseolus and 2 grams per gram for Alocasia at high leaf N and 1.5 gram per gram for Phaseolus and 0.5 gram per gram for Alocasia at low leaf N. These large changes in the proportions of components of the photosynthetic apparatus had marked effects on the sensitivity of these species to photoinhibition. These environmental effects also caused changes in the absolute levels of metabolites of the photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle. Concentrations of RuBP and P-glycerate were approximately 2-fold higher in high light-grown than low light-grown Phaseolus and Alocasia when expressed on a leaf area basis. However, if metabolite pool sizes are expressed on the basis of the RuBPCase catalytic site concentration, then they were little affected by the marked changes in leaf makeup. There appears to be fundamental differences between these species in the mechanism of sun-shade adaptation and N partitioning in the photosynthetic apparatus that result in significant differences in the N-use efficiency of photosynthesis between Phaseolus and Alocasia but similar RuBPCase:substrate:product ratios despite these differences.

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PubMed1986

Regulation of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase Activity in Response to Changing Partial Pressure of O(2) and Light in Phaseolus vulgaris.

The regulation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase (rubisco) activity in Phaseolus vulgaris was studied under moderate CO(2) and high light, conditions in which photosynthesis in C(3) plants can be insensitive to changes in O(2) partial pressure. Steady state RuBP concentrations were higher, the calculated rate of RuBP use was lower and the activation state of rubisco was lower in low O(2) relative to values observed in normal O(2). It is suggested that the reduced activity of rubisco observed here is related to feedback effects which occur when the rate of net CO(2) assimilation approaches the maximum capacity for starch and sucrose synthesis (triose phosphate utilization). The activation state of rubisco was independent of O(2) partial pressure when light or CO(2) was limiting for photosynthesis. Reduced activity of rubisco was also observed at limiting light. However, in this species light dependent changes in the concentration of an inhibitor of rubisco controlled the apparent V(max) of rubisco in low light while changes in the CO(2)-Mg(2+) dependent activation of rubisco controlled the apparent V(max) in high light.

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