Abstract
Addition of ammonia to a suspension of photosynthesizing isolated mesophyll cells from P. somniferum quantitatively alters the pattern of carbon metabolism by increasing rates of certain key ratelimiting steps leading to amino-acid synthesis and by decreasing rates of rate-limiting steps in alternative biosynthetic pathways. Of particular importance is the stimulation of reactions mediated by pyruvate kinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The increased rates of these two reactions, which result in an increased flow of carbon into the tricarboxylic-acid cycle, correlate with a rapid rise in glutamine (via glutamine synthetase) which draws carbon off the tricarboxylic-acid cycle as α-ketoglutarate. Increased flux of carbon in this direction appears to come mainly at the expense of sucrose synthesis. The net effect of addition of ammonia to mesophyll cells is thus a redistribution of newly fixed carbon away from carbohydrates and into amino acids.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnon, D.J.: Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiol. 24, 1–15 (1949)
Bachelard, H.S.: Glucose metabolism and α-ketoacids in rat brain and liver in vivo. Nature 205, 903–904 (1965)
Bassham, J.A., Krause, G.H.: Free energy changes and metabolic regulation in steady-state photosynthetic carbon reduction. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 189, 207–221 (1969)
Burton, K.: Free energy data of biological interest. In: Energy Transformations in Living Matter, pp. 275–298, Krebs, H.A., Kornberg, H.L., eds Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1957
Duggleby, R.G., Dennis, D.T.: The characterization and regulatory properties of pyruvate kinase from cotton seeds. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 155, 270–277 (1973)
Hatch, M.D., Shaio-Lim, M.: Activity, location and role of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine amino transferase isoenzymes in leaves with C4 pathway photosynthesis. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 156, 195–206 (1973)
Jensen, R.G., Bassham, J.A.: Photosynthesis by isolated chloroplasts. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 56, 1095–1101 (1966)
Kanazawa, T., Kirk, M.R., Bassham, J.A.: Regulatory effects of ammonia on carbon metabolism in photosynthesizing chlorella pyrenoidosa. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 205, 401–408 (1970)
Kanazawa, T., Kanazawa, K., Kirk, M.R., Bassham, J.A. Regulatory effects of ammonia on carbon metabolism in Chlorella pyrenoidosa during photosynthesis and respiration. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 256, 656–669 (1972)
Kirkby, E.A., Knight, A.H.: Influence of the level of nitrate nutrition on ion uptake and assimilation, organic acid accumulation, and cationation balance in whole tomato plants. Plant Physiol. 60, 349–353 (1977)
Krogmann, D.W., Jagendorf, A.T., Avron, M.: Uncouplers of spinach chloroplast photosynthetic phosphorylation. Plant Physiol. 34, 272–277 (1959)
Lea, P.J., Miflin, B.J.: Amino acid metabolism. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 28, 299–329 (1977)
Miyachi, S., Kamiya, A., Miyachi, S.: Wavelength-effects of incident light on carbon metabollism in chlorella cells. In: Biological solar energy conversion, pp. 167–182, Mitsui, A., Miyachi, S., San Pietro, A., Tamura, S., eds. New York-San Francisco-London: Academic Press 1977)
Nakayama, H., Fujjii, M., Mura, K.: Partial purification and some regulatory properties of pyruvate kinase from germinating castor bean endosperm. Plant and Cell Physiol. 17, 653–660 (1976)
O'Neal, D., Joy, K.W.: Localization of glutamine of pea leaves. Plant. Physiol. 54, 773–779 (1974)
Paul, J.S., Bassham, J.A.: Maintenance of high photosynthetic rates in mesophyll cells isolated from Papaver somniferum. Plant Physiol. 60, 775–778 (1977)
Pedersen, T.A., Kirk, M., Bassham, J.A.: Light-dark transients in levels of intermediate compounds during photosynthesis in air-adapted Chlorella. Physiol. Plant 19, 219–231 (1966)
Platt, S.G., Plaut, Z., Bassham, J.A: Analysis of steady state photosynthesis in alfalfa leaves. Plant Physiol 57, 69–73 (1976)
Platt, S.G., Plaut, Z., Bassham, J.A.: Ammonia regulation of carbon metabolism in photosynthesizing leaf discs. Plant Physiol. 60, 739–742 (1977)
Scrutton, M.C., Young, M.R.: Pyruvate carboxylase. In: The enzymes, Vol. 6, 3rd edn., pp. 1–35, Boyer, P.D., ed. New York Academic Press 1972
Utter, M.F., Kolenbrander, H.M.: Formation of oxalacetate by CO2 fixation on phosphoenolpyruvate. In: The Enzymes, Vol. 6, 3rd edn., pp. 117–167, Boyer, P.D., ed. New York: Academic Press 1972
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paul, J.S., Cornwell, K.L. & Bassham, J.A. Effects of ammonia on carbon metabolism in photosynthesizing isolated mesophyll cells from Papaver somniferum L.. Planta 142, 49–54 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385119
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385119