Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “MALATES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Malate content of picoliter samples of Raphanus sativus cytoplasm.

Malate, which plays many essential roles in plant metabolism, is a potent in vitro inhibitor of the cytosolic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC). Because PEPC activity leads to malate biosynthesis, malate is assumed to attenuate its own synthesis in situ. To test this hypothesis, we measured directly the malate content of picoliter samples of Raphanus root-hair cytoplasm using quantitative histochemical techniques. We also obtained an estimate for malate accumulation in these cells. These values were compared with the PEPC activity of individual root hairs (less than 2 ng). The results indicate that high cytoplasmic malate concentration does not severely inhibit PEPC in situ. We suggest that the focus for studies on the regulation of organic anion accumulation be on the interactive effects of malate and other PEPC effectors.

Cytoplasm↗
PubMed1998

Reduction of cisplatin toxicity and lethality by sodium malate in mice.

The effects of oral treatment with sodium malate, an active ingredient of Juzen-taiho-to, on the nephrotoxicity, bone marrow toxicity, hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity caused by i.p. administration of 9 doses of 3.0 mg/kg/d cisplatin (CDDP) (on days 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12) were examined in ddY mice inoculated with sarcoma 180 (S-180) cells on day 1 of the study. The CDDP-induced increases in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminases and relative stomach weight and the decreases in food intake and body weight were inhibited nearly to the control levels without reducing the antitumor activity of CDDP against S-180 by the oral treatment with sodium malate of 12 doses of more than the equimolar amount of CDDP (on days 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15). However, the CDDP-induced decreases in white blood cell and platelet counts and relative spleen and thymus weight could not be inhibited completely by combination with sodium malate, even at a dose of twice the equimolar amount of CDDP. The sodium malate-induced reduction of CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity was observed after oral administration, as well as with i.p., s.c. and i.v. administration, and the effect was almost the same for each route of administration. Sodium malate also reduced the toxicity induced by high doses of CDDP (4.5, 6.0, 7.5, 9.0 and 12.0 mg/kg/d) at doses of twice the equimolar amount of CDDP. Sodium malate at a dose of 10.68 mg/kg/d (twice as high as carboplatin, CBDCA) did not reduce the nephrotoxicity, bone marrow toxicity, hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity caused by i.p. administration of 9 doses of 15.0 mg/kg/d CBDCA on days 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 in ddY mice inoculated with sarcoma 180 (S-180) cells on day 1 of the study. From this study, it was suggested that sodium malate could become a useful agent for the reduction of CDDP-induced toxicity, particularly nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effect of malate on in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of DL-malate (disodium salt) on the in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation of soluble starch or cracked corn. Ruminal fluid was collected from a steer fed 6.8 kg of forage and 2.3 kg of concentrate supplement once daily, and mixed ruminal microorganisms were incubated in anaerobic media (40 mL) that contained 20% (vol/vol) ruminal fluid in batch culture for 24 h at 39 degrees C. Malate was added to the incubation bottles (n = 4) to achieve final concentrations of 0, 4, 8, and 12 mM. When mixed ruminal microorganisms were incubated with only DL-malate as the substrate, final pH numerically increased, propionate and total VFA concentrations increased (P < .05), and the acetate:propionate ratio decreased (P < .05) as the concentration of DL-malate increased from 0 to 12 mM. Fermentation of cracked corn in the presence of 8 or 12 mM DL-malate resulted in an increase (P < .05) in final pH and propionate concentration. Total VFA tended to increase (P < .21), whereas final concentrations of L-lactate numerically decreased. In the case of soluble starch, 8 and 12 mM DL-malate caused a decrease (P < .05) in methane concentration. When only ruminal fluid (no added anaerobic medium) was used as the inoculum rather than 20% ruminal fluid medium, similar results for final pH, propionate, L-lactate, and total VFA were observed for soluble starch and corn incubations treated with DL-malate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Purification and properties of NADP-specific malate dehydrogenase from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria].

An electrophoretically homogeneous preparation of mitochondrial NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase with a specific activity of 155 u./mg and a 67% yield has been obtained, using ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration through Toyopearl HW-55 F, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M and affinity chromatography on 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B. The molecular mass of native malate dehydrogenase is 260 kD; Mr of the SDS-treated enzyme is 61 kD, which is suggestive of a tetrameric structure of the protein. Malate dehydrogenase is active only in the presence of Mg2+ or Mn2+, but not Ca2+ or Ba2+. The Km' values for Mn2+ and Mg2+ are 50 and 66 microM, respectively. At low malate concentrations and NADP saturation, the enzyme is characterized by a sigmoidal kinetics which changes to hyperbolic at low concentrations of NADP. The Lineweaver--Burk plots for the dependence of the initial reaction rate on the concentration of one substrate at several fixed concentrations of the other substrate intersect to the left of the B-axis. NADPH competes with NADP:pyruvate inhibits malate dehydrogenase ++noncompetitively with respect to the coenzyme. NADPH and pyruvate inhibit the malate dehydrogenase-catalyzed reaction via a mixed type mechanism with respect to malate. The data obtained are consistent with a consecutive mechanism of reaction, whose first substrate is NADP and the last product is NADPH.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1986

[Various kinetic and spectral-fluorescent properties of NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase from bovine adrenal cortex cytoplasm].

Malate dehydrogenase from bovine adrenal cortex has been purified to homogeneity, using affinity chromatography on 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B. The kinetic data do not contradict the consecutive mechanism of the reaction with the ordered addition of substrates: NADP binds first, then malate. The enzyme conformation initiated by NADP and malate binding is less thermostable. Malate dehydrogenase has intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence with the spectrum maximum at 335 +/- 1 nm, half-width of 50 +/- 1 nm and quantum yield of 0.08. The tryptophan residues belonging to class 1 (75%) and class 2 (25%) make the main contribution to the intrinsic fluorescence of malate. The binding of cofactors and substrates results in the quenching of enzyme fluorescence. The values of dissociation constants for malate dehydrogenase complexes with NADP (4 microM), with NADP . H (8 microM) and with pyruvate (2.5 mM) correlate with the corresponding values of Km. The shifts in pH of the medium induce changes in the fluorescence parameters which are probably related to conformational changes in the enzyme molecule. The changes in the fluorescence parameters correlate with the alterations of the malate dehydrogenase enzymatic activity.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1981

[Kinetic properties of plant malate dehydrogenase].

The kinetic behaviour of highly purified malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) from grape vine leaves has been studied. The curves of the dependence of the initial velocity (v) on oxaloacetate and NADH concentrations at low concentration of the enzyme are hyperbolic, while at relatively high concentrations of the enzyme they are S-shaped (nH = 2 and nH = 1.7 for oxaloacetate and NADH, respectively). The dependence of v upon malate concentrations at low enzyme and substrate concentrations obeys the Michaelis--Menten equation (nH = 1.0); at relatively high concentration of the enzyme at any substrate concentrations of the enzyme it is characterized by "negative" kinetic cooperativity. With respect to NAD malate dehydrogenase at low enzyme concentrations reveals "positive" cooperativity (nH = 2.5), but at relatively high concentrations shows a hyperbolic dependence. The specific malate dehydrogenase activity determined in both directions, i. e. reduction of oxaloacetate and oxidation of malate, strongly depends on the enzyme concentration. At low and relatively high concentrations of the enzyme the specific malate dehydrogenase activity sharply decreases. Therefore malate dehydrogenase can be attributed to reversibly associating oligomeric allosteric enzymes.

Kinetics↗
PubMed1995

Feasibility of a mitochondrial pyruvate malate shuttle in pancreatic islets. Further implication of cytosolic NADPH in insulin secretion.

Previous studies indicated that in pancreatic islets the amount of glucose-derived pyruvate that enters mitochondrial metabolism via carboxylation is approximately equal to that entering via decarboxylation and that both carboxylation and decarboxylation are correlated with capacitation of glucose metabolism and insulin release. The relatively high rate of carboxylation is consistent with the current study's finding that pyruvate carboxylase is as abundant in pancreatic islets as it is in liver and kidney. Since islets do not contain phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and, therefore, cannot carry out glyconeogenesis from pyruvate, the carboxylase might be present in the islet to participate in novel anaplerotic reactions. This idea was first explored by incubating mitochondria from various tissues with pyruvate. Mitochondria from tissues, such as pancreatic islets, liver, and kidney, in which pyruvate carboxylase is abundant, exported a large amount of malate and little or no citrate, isocitrate, and aspartate to the medium. The amount of malate within the mitochondria was < 1% that in the medium. When pancreatic islet mitochondria were incubated with [1-14C]pyruvate, radioactive carbon appeared in the medium primarily in malate. Very little radioactivity appeared in amino acids, and little or no radioactivity appeared in citrate and isocitrate. Carbon 1 of pyruvate can be incorporated into malate and other citric acid cycle intermediates only via carboxylation, as this carbon would be lost via decarboxylation when pyruvate enters the citric acid cycle as acetyl-CoA via the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction. The amount of malate formed equaled the 14CO2 formed and the radioactivity from C-1 of pyruvate recovered in malate slightly exceeded the formation of 14CO2 in agreement with our previous studies that reported a high rate of carboxylation of pyruvate in intact islets. When intact pancreatic islets were incubated with methyl [U-14C]succinate as a mitochondrial source of four-carbon dicarboxylic acids, radioactivity appeared in pyruvate and lactate. Taken together with previous studies, the current results suggest that during glucose-induced insulin secretion there is a shuttle operating across the mitochondrial membrane in which glucose-derived pyruvate is taken up by mitochondria and carboxylated to oxaloacetate by pyruvate carboxylase. The oxaloacetate is converted to malate which exits the mitochondrion, where, in the cytosol, it is decarboxylated to pyruvate in the reaction catalyzed by malic enzyme. This pyruvate re-enters mitochondrial pools. Such a cycle produces NADPH in the cytosol. Since it is a cycle, this shuttle can produce far more NADPH than the pentose phosphate pathway, which is known to be a very minor route of glucose metabolism in the islet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Participation of SH-groups in regulating oxidative phosphorylation by malate and palmitate-uncoupled respiration in liver mitochondria].

The effect of malate on respiration in liver mitochondria has been studied during oxidation of succinate in the presence of rotenone both in state 3 and after palmitate addition. Malate was shown to stimulate the rate of mitochondrial respiration in the both respiratory states, its effect being increased in the presence of the NAD-dependent substrates of oxidation-glutamate and pyruvate or thiols (cysteine and thiourea) Preincubation of mitochondria for 5 min in the absence of respiratory substrates eliminated the stimulating effect of malate. However, this effect was manifested in the conditions when the NAD-dependent respiratory substrates or thiols were added after preincubation of mitochondria. p-Chloromercuribenzoate eliminated the stimulating effect of malate. Carboxyatractyloside and ATP inhibited mitochondrial respiration in the presence of palmitate. Malate did not influence the action of the first effector but eliminated that of the second effector. It is concluded that malate can regulate oxidative phosphorylation and palmitate-uncoupled respiration by affecting the adenine nucleotide transported. The SH-groups localized outside the mitochondria in the hydrophilic region play an important role in the realization of malate effects.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1996

Nuclear accumulation and homeostasis of the unusual polymer beta-poly (L-malate) in plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum.

The plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum specifically contains an unusual polyester, beta-poly(L-malate), which is not found in any of the mononucleate forms of its life cycle. Plasmodia growing on D-glucose have been analyzed for beta-poly(L-malate) in nuclei, cytosol and culture medium after cell fractionation, purification by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and digestion of proteins/nucleic acids. Nuclei contained 400 micrograms polymer per 1 g of plasmodia, corresponding to a nuclear concentration of 230 mM L-malyl residues, not depending on growth rates, lengths of growth periods, and the growth form as micro- or macroplasmodia. The synthetic rate increased during the phase of rapid enlargement of the nuclei after mitosis. Beta-Poly(L-malate) was polydisperse in molecular mass, these tending to be higher in nuclear than in cytosolic extracts and being lowest in the culture medium. Beta-Poly(L-malate) was not degraded when contained in plasmodia, in contrast to degradation and the occurrence of low molecular mass polymer in the culture medium. During pulse-chase feeding with D-[14C]glucose (0.8 micrometerCi/mol), beta-[14C]poly(L-malate) appearance followed kinetics indicating a release of polymer from nuclei into the culture medium when it was in excess of a threshold. Injection experiments with purified beta-[14C]poly(L-malate) revealed a re-entry from the cytoplasm into the nuclei and thus the possibility of commutation between the cytoplasm and the nuclei. The observed homeostasis in nuclei supports the assumption that beta-poly(L-malate) plays an essential role in growing plasmodia.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Counteractive Effects of ABA and GA3 on Extracellular and Intracellular pH and Malate in Barley Aleurone.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) aleurone layers are known to constitutively acidify their surroundings, primarily by L-malic acid release (J. Mikola, M. Virtanen [1980] Plant Physiol 66: S-142). Here we demonstrate the antagonistic effects of the plant hormones gibberellic acid (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA) on the regulation of extracellular pH (pHe) of barley aleurone layers. We observed a strong correlation between ABA-induced enhancement of extracellular acidification and an ABA-induced increase in L-malic acid release. In addition, ABA caused an increase in intracellular L-malate level. GA3 caused a slight decrease in intracellular L-malate level and was able to inhibit the ABA-induced increase in L-malate intracellular concentration and release. In addition, this ABA-induced L-malate release could be completely inhibited by GA3. The ABA-induced release of L-malic acid could not account for the total ABA-induced pHe decrease, suggesting the existence of an additional mechanism involved in the regulation of pHe. It has been reported that ABA induces an intracellular pH (pHi) increase, possibly due to the activation of plasma membrane proton pumps (R. Van der Veen, S. Heimovaara-Dijkstra, M. Wang [1992] Plant Physiol 100: 699-705). A pHi increase, such as that caused by ABA, might be correlated with the intracellular L-malate increase as suggested by the pH stat model of D.D. Davies ([1986] Physiol Plant 67: 702-706). We studied if the effects of GA3 on L-malate concentration were correlated with changes in pHi and found that GA3 caused a pHi decrease and that GA3 and ABA could interfere in the regulation of pHi. In addition, we were able to mimic the effect of both hormones on L-malate release by bringing about artifical pHi changes with the weak acid 5,5-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione and the weak base methylamine. The physiological meaning of the effects of GA3 and ABA on the regulation of both pHe and pHi during grain germination are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1966

Compartmentation of organic acids in corn roots I. Differential labeling of 2 malate pools.

Bicarbonate-(14)C and acetate-(3)H were simultaneously provided to corn roots to give 2 isotopic forms of malate in the tissue, malate-(14)C produced by dark fixation reactions and malate-(3)H produced by reactions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Following a short pulse of exposure to the isotopes, the dissimilation of both isotopic forms of malic acid was followed. The rate of utilization of malate-(3)H was much faster than that of malate-(14)C.These results are interpreted as showing that the malate produced from (14)CO(2) is in a pool physically separated from that in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The introduction of the 2 isotopes through distinct metabolic pathways produced the differential labeling of 2 distinct pools of malate.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1971

Bicarbonate Fixation and Malate Compartmentation in Relation to Salt-induced Stoichiometric Synthesis of Organic Acid.

The relationship of malate synthesis to K(+) absorption from solutions of K(2)SO(4) and KHCO(3) was compared in nonvacuolate barley (Hordeum vulgare) root tips and whole excised roots. The comparison has permitted separation of the process which evokes organic acid synthesis from that which leads to stoichiometry between net acid equivalents formed and excess K(+) absorbed from K(2)SO(4), on the one hand, and total K(+) absorbed from KHCO(3), on the other. Both in tips and in roots K(+) uptake from 20 mN salt solution exceeds malate synthesis in the first hour. In vacuolate roots the expected stoichiometry is achieved with time. When root tips are transferred to dilute CaSO(4), malate is rapidly metabolized, and K(+) is lost to the solution. By contrast, in excised whole roots the malate level remains unchanged, the salt-induced organic acid presumably being retained in the vacuole. In excised roots malonate leads to a marked drop in malate levels in untreated roots as well as in roots which have experienced salt-induced net malate synthesis. In consequence, it is contended that malonate makes available normally sequestered vacuolar malate.The general hypothesis is offered that the bicarbonate level of the cytoplasm controls organic acid synthesis by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and that the cytoplasmic bicarbonate level is raised either by exchange of cytoplasmic H(+) for external cation, or by bicarbonate absorption directly. Stoichiometry, in turn, is achieved by the accumulation in the vacuole of the double salt of malate.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1973

Malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in division synchronized cultures of euglena.

Sucrose density gradient centrifugation of broken cell suspensions of autotrophically grown Euglena gracilis Klebs. has allowed the separation of chloroplasts, mitochondria, and peroxisomes. Chlorophyll was taken as a marker for chloroplasts, fumarase and succinate dehydrogenase for mitochondria, and glycolate oxidoreductase for peroxisomes. Peaks of malate dehydrogenase (l-malate-NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37) activity were found in the mitochondrial and peroxisomal fractions. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis showed specific isoenzymes in the mitochondrial and peroxisomal fractions and a third isoenzyme in the supernatant. The mitochondrial isoenzyme which had a Km (oxaloacetate) of 30mum was inhibited by oxaloacetate concentrations above 0.17 mm, an inhibition of 50% being given by 0.9 mm oxaloacetate. The peroxisomal isoenzyme had a Km (oxaloacetate) of 24 mum, was inhibited by oxaloacetate concentrations above 0.13 mm, 50% inhibition being given by 0.25 mm oxaloacetate. Malate dehydrogenase activity in the supernatant did not show inhibition by increasing oxaloacetate concentration, the Km (oxaloacetate) being 91 mum.In division synchronized cultures of Euglena, all three isoenzymes of malate dehydrogenase were synthesized over the light phase of the cycle. Darkening light phase cultures did not affect malate dehydrogenase activity. The addition to cultures of cycloheximide at a concentration previously shown to inhibit protein synthesis on Euglena cytoplasmic ribosomes completely inhibited increase in malate dehydrogenase activity over the cell cycle. Malate dehydrogenase activity was unaffected by the addition of chloramphenicol in amounts known to inhibit preferentially protein synthesis on 70S ribosomes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1976

Equilibration of Label in Malate during Dark Fixation of CO(2) in Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi.

In vitro studies of dark (14)CO(2) fixation with isolated cell aggregates of Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi showed that malate synthesized after 20 sec is predominantly (85 to 92%) labeled at carbon 4, while after 20 min only 65 to 69% of the radioactivity was located in this position. The intramolecular labeling pattern of malate could not be changed by supplementing the cells with carboxylation reaction substrates such as ribulose diphosphate or phosphoenolpyruvate. The kinetic decline of label at carbon 4 of malate occurs independently of CO(2) fixation, since 4-(14)C-labeled aspartate fed to the cells gave rise to malate labeled 62% at carbon 4 after 20 min. Furthermore, the cells were capable of converting fed malate to fumarate. It is concluded that synthesis of malate during dark CO(2) fixation is accomplished by a single carboxylation step via phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and labeling patterns observed in malate are a consequence of the action of fumarase.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Pyruvate and malate transport and oxidation in corn mitochondria.

Pyruvate oxidation and swelling in pyruvate solutions by corn (Zea mays) mitochondria were inhibited by alpha-cyano-4-hydroxy-cinnamic acid, an inhibitor of pyruvate transport in animal mitochondria; however, there was no inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, and malate and NADH oxidation were not affected. These results suggest the presence of a pyruvate(-)-OH(-) exchange transporter which supplies the mitochondrion with oxidizable substrate. Lactate appears to be transported also, but not dicarboxylate anions or inorganic phosphate. The rate of pyruvate transport was much slower than that of malate, however, and valinomycin was required to elicit appreciable swelling in potassium pyruvate.Malate oxidation contributed significantly to respiration supported by pyruvate plus malate, and malate did not act solely as a "sparker" for pyruvate oxidation. NAD(+)-malic enzyme activity was found in sonicated preparations, and comparison of O(2) consumption with CO(2) released from 1-(14)C-pyruvate indicated that transported malate was being converted to pyruvate, particularly as the malate to pyruvate ratio increased. The results suggest that pyruvate transport becomes limiting under conditions of high energy demand, but that rapid malate transport makes up the difference, supplying pyruvate via malic enzyme and replenishing losses of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1979

l-Malate as an Essential Component of the Xylem Fluid of Corn Seedling Roots.

Corn seedling xylem exudate has a pH of 5.30 +/- 0.05 due to the presence of 10 millimolar malate which has a pK(a) of 5.13. This concentration of malate tends to buffer the xylem fluid at this pH. Exogenous treatment of corn seedling roots with CaCl(2) caused a concentration-dependent decrease in the pH of the xylem fluid as well as a decrease in the volume of fluid secreted into the xylem. Exogenous 50 millimolar CaCl(2) decreased exudate volume to 8% of control within 0.5 hour. Nitrate and malate deposition into the xylem was prevented by pretreatment in 5 millimolar CaCl(2); nitrate deposition was resumed shortly after resumption of malate deposition. Fifty millimolar l-tartrate, an inhibitor of the Cl(-), malate-activated ATPase (in vitro) of the tonoplast, also decreased exudate volume as well as slightly lowering exudate pH. The osmolality of the exudate was found to be constant at 70 +/- 11 milliosmomoles per kilogram in all treatments. Dixon plots (log of exudation rate versus pH of exudate) indicated a pK(a) of 5.11 for the exudation process which is very close to the pK(a) of l-malate (5.13). In addition, a Dixon plot of the l-glutamine deposition (l-glutamine being the major form of reduced nitrogen in the exudate) versus pH also indicated a pK(a) near 5.15.The pH optimum for glutamine transport into the xylem was 5.5. Deposition of glutamine into the xylem may be regulated by the xylem pH (5.30 +/- 0.05) which in turn may be regulated by the presence of 10 millimolar malate. It is proposed that the transport of glutamine into the xylem may provide the driving force for the exudation process.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

Day/Night Changes in the Sensitivity of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase to Malate during Crassulacean Acid Metabolism.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) was extracted from Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. performing Crassulacean acid metabolism, at frequent intervals during a 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle. Inhibition of PEPC by malate was followed at pH 8.0 and 7.5, 1 minute after homogenization of leaves. PEPC was more sensitive to malate during the light than during the dark periods and inhibition by malate was more pronounced at pH 7.5 than 8.0. For example, PEPC was not or only slightly inhibited by 0.5 millimolar malate during the dark period at both pH values and the rates per milligram chlorophyll were about the same. During the light period, 0.5 millimolar malate resulted in a 20 to 30% reduction of PEPC activity at pH 8.0 and a 80 to 90% reduction at pH 7.5. These and other experiments, in which plants were kept in prolonged dark periods, indicate that the increase in sensitivity of PEPC to malate is correlated with the change from acidification to deacidification in the tissue. These interactions account for apparent changes in pH response of PEPC in crude extracts assayed at different times of the day/night cycle.The experiments suggest the existence of two distinct states of PEPC in vivo, which differ in their susceptibility to malate inhibition during a day/night cycle. The change in properties is discussed in relation to the regulation of PEPC during Crassulacean acid metabolism.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1981

Role of malate synthase in citric Acid synthesis by maturing cotton embryos: a proposal.

Cotton embryos from 34 to 54 days after anthesis were analyzed for organic acids, and enzymes associated with organic acid metabolism. During this developmental period, embryos accumulated citrate. Malate synthase activity appeared at 46 days after anthesis and increased rapidly to 54 days. Of other enzymes examined, only citrate synthase activity increased during this period. As isocitrate lyase activity was absent from cotton embryos during maturation, an alternative source of glyoxylate would be required for in vivo malate synthase activity. Of several metabolic sources tested, glycine was converted to glyoxylate via a transamination reaction.Halves of 50-day (mature) cotton embryos incorporated radioactivity from [1-(14)C]acetate, [1-(14)C]glyoxylate, and [1-(14)C]glycine into organic acids. Embryo halves incubated with [(14)C]glyoxylate plus [(3)H]acetate synthesized double-labeled malate and citrate. Radioactive citrate isolated from 50-day cotton embryos incubated with [1-(14)C]acetate was degraded; label was distributed as follows: 55% in C(1), 33% in C(5), and 12% in C(6). Taken together, these data strongly suggest participation of malate synthase in citrate production in vivo.Separation of organelles by sucrose density gradient sedimentation revealed that malate synthase, malate dehydrogenase, and citrate synthase were compartmentalized together only in the peroxisome fraction (1.24 grams per milliliter). Peroxisomes isolated from 50-day embryos, when incubated with glyoxylate and [(3)H]acetyl-CoA, synthesized labeled malate and citrate, but only radioactive citrate accumulated. Incubations with glycine plus alpha-ketoglutarate, in place of glyoxylate, also resulted in synthesis of radioactive citrate.A metabolic scheme illustrating the participation of cotton embryo peroxisomes in citrate synthesis is proposed. This scheme suggests a function for plant peroxisomes not previously elucidated. The ontogenetic and metabolic relationship between these organelles and glyoxysomes active in gluconeogenesis during postgerminative growth remains to be examined.

Journal Article↗