Abstract
When Lemna is deprived of nitrogen, growth and respiration decrease and the pattern of 14CO2 release from [1-14C]glucose and [6-14C]glucose is consistent with a relatively strong inhibition of glycolysis. Protein degradation is enhanced but the concentration of free amino acid decreases. It is argued that the biological significance of the increased protein degradation does not lie in its contribution to respiration but as a mechanism to replace one set of enzymes adapted to a particular environmental condition (high nitrogen) with another set of enzymes adapted for low nitrogen in the environment. The change in enzyme pattern associated with the change from high to zero nitrogen in the growth medium has been examined for nine enzymes. The changes in activity observed are consistent with the observed apparent inhibition of glycolysis during nitrogen starvation, but do not explain the inhibition of the pentose phosphate pathway.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beechey, R.B., Happold, F.C.: Pyridoxamine phosphate transaminase. Biochem. J. 66, 520–527 (1957)
Bidwell, R.C.S., Barr, R., Steward, F.C.: Protein synthesis and turnover in cultured plant cell tissue: sources of carbon for synthesis and the fate of protein breakdown products. Nature 203, 367–373 (1964)
Borodin, I. (1876) Physiologische Untersuchungen über die Atmung der beblätterten Sprosse. Bot. J. 4, 919 (1876)
Cashel, M., Kalbacker, B.: The Control of ribonucleic acid synthesis in Escherichia coli. J. Biol. Chem. 245, 2309 (1970)
Chibnall, A.C.: Investigations on the nitrogenous metabolism of the higher plants V. Diurnal variation in the protein nitrogen of runner bean leaves. Biochem. J. 18, 387–398 (1924)
Chibnall, A.C.: Protein metabolism in the plant. Yale: University Press, 1939
Davies, D.D.: Metabolic control in higher plants. In: Biosynthesis and its control in plants. Milborrow, B.V. ed. Phytochem. Soc. Symp. No. 9, p1–20, 1973
Davies, D.D., Humphrey, T.J.: Protein turnover in plants In: Perspectives in experiment biology, Vol. 2, pp. 313–324. Sunderland, N., ed. Pergamon Press 1976
Goa, J.: A simplified method and quantitative determination of serum proteins by paper elelctrophoresis. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 3, 236–240 (1951)
Gregory, F.G., Sen, P.K.: Physiological studies in plant nutrition VI. The relation of respiration rate to the carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism of the barley leaf as determined by nitrogen and potassium deficiency. Ann. Bot. NS. 1, 521–561 (1937)
Humphrey, T.J., Davies, D.D.: A new method for the measurement of protein turnover. Biochem. J. 149, 119–127 (1976)
Mothes, K.: Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis des N-Stoffwechsels höherer Pflanzen. Planta 1, 472–484 (1925)
Mothes, K.: Die Vakuuminfiltration im Ernährungsversuch (dargestellt an Untersuchungen über die Assimilation des Ammoniaks. Planta 19, 117–131 (1933)
Schulze, E.: Über Zersetzung und Neubildung von Eiweißstoffen in Lupinenkeimlingen. Landw. Jb. 7, 411–427 (1878)
Syrett, P.J.: The assimilation of ammonia by nitrogen starved cells of Chlorella vulgaris. Ann. Bot. NS 17, 21–36 (1953)
Teixeira, A.R.N., Davies, D.D.: The control of plant glutamate dehydrogenase by pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. Phytochemistry 13, 2071–2080 (1974)
Trewavas, A.: The turnover of nucleic acids in Lemna minor. Plant Physiol. 45, 742–751 (1970)
Vickery, H.B., Pucher, G.W., Schoenheimer, R., Rittenberg, D.: The assimilation of ammonia nitrogen by the tobacco plant: A preliminary study with isopic nitrogen. J. Biol. Chem. 135, 531–539 (1940)
Yemm, E.W., Willis, A.J.: The respiration of barley plant. IX. The metabolism of roots during the assimilation of nitrogen. New Phytol. 55, 229–252 (1956)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Humphrey, T.J., Sarawek, S. & Davies, D.D. The effect of nitrogen deficiency on the growth and metabolism of Lemna minor L.. Planta 137, 259–264 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388160
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388160