Purification and Storage of Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase from Rice Leaves

Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase was purified fromrice leaves. By using a buffer containing 12.5% (v/v) glycerolthroughout purification, the enzyme was protected from coldlability and was obtained at a high yield (5.5 mg/g fresh wt).The purified enzyme exhibited different rates of CO₂/Mg²⁺-activationby temperature pretreatment/storage. The purified enzyme was stable for at least one year in phosphatebuffer containing 12.5% (v/v) glycerol at 4°C or 50% (v/v)glycerol at –20°C. (Received March 1, 1983; Accepted June 27, 1983)     

Differences between Wheat Genotypes in Specific Activity of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase and the Relationship to Photosynthesis

The in vitro ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase activity per unit of leaf nitrogen was found to be 30% greater in Triticum aestivum than in T. monococcum. This was due to a higher specific activity of the enzyme from T. aestivum, as the amount of RuBP carboxylase protein per unit of total leaf nitrogen did not differ between the genotypes. The occurrence of higher specific activity of RuBP carboxylase is shown to correlate with possession of the large subunit derived from the B genome of wheat.

Despite the greater RuBP carboxylase activity per unit of leaf nitrogen in T. aestivum, the initial slopes of curves relating rate of CO₂ assimilation to intercellular p(CO₂) are similar in T. aestivum and T. monococcum for the same nitrogen content per unit leaf area. The similarity of the initial slopes is the result of a greater resistance to CO₂ transfer between the intercellular spaces and the site of carboxylation in T. aestivum than in T. monococcum.

     

Hydrolysis of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase by Endoproteinases from Senescing Barley Leaves

The hydrolysis of ¹⁴C-labeled ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) by two partially purified endoproteinases from senescing barley (Hordeum vulgare v. Numar) leaves is described. The major thiol proteinase, EP₁, exhibits biphasic kinetics which appear to be caused by a region of the large subunit of RuBPCase that is highly sensitive to attack by EP₁. This proteinase further hydrolyzes both the large and small subunit to smaller peptides. A second proteinase, EP₂, appears to convert the small subunit of RuBPCase rapidly to a 13.7-kilodalton fragment during initial stages of hydrolysis and then to degrade both this fragment and the large subunit. The presence of a third endoproteinase, EP₃, was discovered when [¹⁴C]RuBPCase, which appeared to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis, seemed to undergo very low but significant rates of “autolysis.” The large molecular weight fragments produced by EP₃ were different from those of EP₁ and EP₂.     

Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Content and Activity in Wheat, Rye and Triticale

Photosynthetic parameters were measured in triticale and its parents wheat and rye. Soluble protein content in leaves, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) content per fresh mass, total chlorophyll content, biomass yield, leaf area, leaf mass and specific leaf mass were higher but Rubisco content expressed as percentage of soluble protein, carboxylase activity, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were significantly lower in rye than in wheat. Native-PAGE of Rubisco revealed that rye carboxylase was different from that of wheat. The difference was not related to either the small or large subunit of Rubisco but, may be, to the ionic and/or other properties of the Rubisco protein moiety. Triticale Rubisco was similar to wheat. For most of the studied physiological parameters, triticale showed much more similarity with wheat than with rye.     

Photosynthesis and Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Concentrations in Intact Leaves of Xanthium strumarium L

The interacting effects of the rate of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration and the rate of RuBP utilization as influenced by the amount and activation of RuBP carboxylase on photosynthesis and RuBP concentrations were resolved in experiments which examined the kinetics of the response of photosynthesis and RuBP concentrations after step changes from a rate-saturating to a rate-limiting light intensity in Xanthium strumarium. Because RuBP carboxylase requires several minutes to deactivate in vivo, it was possible to observe the effect of reducing the rate of RuBP regeneration on the RuBP concentration at constant enzyme activation state by sampling very soon after reducing the light intensity. Samples taken over longer time periods showed the effect of changes in enzyme activation at constant RuBP regeneration rate on RuBP concentration and photosynthetic rate. Within 15 s of lowering the light intensity from 1500 to 600 microEinsteins per square meter per second the RuBP concentration in the leaves dropped below the enzyme active site concentration, indicating that RuBP regeneration rate was limiting for photosynthesis. After longer intervals of time, the RuBP concentration in the leaf increased as the RuBP carboxylase assumed a new steady state activation level. No change in the rate of photosynthesis was observed during the interval that RuBP concentration increased. It is concluded that the rate of photosynthesis at the lower light intensity was limited by the rate of RuBP regeneration and that parallel changes in the activation of RuBP carboxylase occurred such that concentrations of RuBP at steady state were not altered by changes in light intensity.     

Photosynthesis and Light Activation of Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase in the Presence of Starch

Limitation of photosynthesis and light activation of ribulose,1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCO) were examined in the 5thleaf of seedlings of red clover (Trifolium pratense L. cv. Renova)for 5 d following an increase in photosynthetic photon fluxdensity (PPFD) from 200 to 550µmol quanta m^–2 s^–1.Net photosynthesis and its stimulation at 2.0 kPa O₂ initialactivity of rapidly extracted RuBPCO, standard activity of RuBPCOafter incubation of the extracts in the presence of CO₂, Mg²⁺,and inorganic phosphate and contents of soluble protein, starch,soluble sugars, and various photosynthetic metabolites weredetermined. Photosynthesis decreased and starch content increased.No decrease in photosynthesis was found if, when PPFD was increased,all leaves except the investigated 5th leaf were removed, suggestingthat the decrease in photosynthesis was due to accumulated carbohydrates.The stimulation of photosynthesis at 2.0 kPa O₂ did not decreaseand the ratio of the total foliar steady-state contents of triosephosphate to 3-phosphoglycerate increased suggesting that thedecrease in photosynthesis was not due to limiting inorganicphosphate in chloroplasts. Intercellular CO₂ partial pressureand RuBP content were not decreased. Nevertheless, the ratioof photosynthesis to initial RuBPCO activity decreased, suggestingthat the catalysis per active RuBPCO site was decreased. Theincrease in PPFD in the growth cabinet and the PPFD at whichleaves were preconditioned for 1 h, affected not only initialactivity but also the standard activity of RuBPCO. The resultssuggest that a varying proportion of RuBPCO was bound to membranesand was contained in the insoluble fraction of the extracts.A comparison of photosynthesis with extracted RuBPCO activitysuggested that membrane bound RuBPCO did not contribute to photosyntheticCO₂ fixation and that the binding and release to and from membranesmodulated actual RuBPCO activity in vivo. Key words: Photosynthesis, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, starch     

Binding of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate to the Non-Catalytic Sites of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase and Its Metabolic Implications

This is the first report showing that ribulose bisphosphatecarboxylase/oxygenase has the non-catalytic sites to bind ribulosebisphosphate (RuBP). A plot of the binding number against theRuBP concentration in the equilibrium binding assay gave a bumpycurve with an intermediate plateau at 0.3 to 0.5 mM RuBP. Thebinding was saturated with 1.5 mM RuBP. The concentrations offree and binding forms of RuBP and the functioning forms ofthe enzyme in chloroplasts could be predicted using the kineticdata of the binding. (Received October 5, 1993; Accepted November 22, 1993)     

Enzymic Properties of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Purified from Rice Leaves

The enzymic properties of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase/oxygenase purified from rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaves were studied. Rice RuBPcarboxylase, activated by preincubation with CO₂ and Mg²⁺ like other higher plant carboxylases, had an activation equilibrium constant (K_cK_Mg) of 1.90 × 10⁵ to 2.41 × 10⁵ micromolar² (pH 8.2 and 25°C). Kinetic parameters of carboxylation and oxygenation catalyzed by the completely activated enzyme were examined at 25°C and the respective optimal pHs. The K_m(CO₂), K_m(RuBP), and V_max values for carboxylation were 8 micromolar, 31 micromolar, and 1.79 units milligram⁻¹, respectively. The K_m(O₂), K_m(RuBP), and V_max values for oxygenation were 370 micromolar, 29 micromolar, and 0.60 units milligram⁻¹, respectively.

Comparison of rice leaf RuBP carboxylase with other C₃ plant carboxylases showed that it had a relatively high affinity for CO₂ but the lowest catalytic turnover number (V_max) among the species examined.

     

SO42- Deprivation Has an Early Effect on the Content of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase and Photosynthesis in Young Leaves of Wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum cv Chinese Spring) supplied with 0.45 mM SO42- for 14 d with relative growth rates (RGR) of 0.22 to 0.24 d-1 was deprived of S for 7 to 8 d. There was no significant effect on RGR or leaf development (leaf 2 length was constant; leaf 3 expanded for 2-4 d; leaf 4 emerged and elongated throughout the experiment) during the S deprivation. In controls the net assimilation rate (A) closely reflected leaf ontogeny. S deprivation affected A in all leaves, particularly leaf 4, in which A remained at 8 to 10 [mu]mol CO2 m-2 s-1, whereas in controls A rose steadily to >20 [mu]mol CO2 m-2 s-1. In leaf 2, with a fully assembled photosynthetic system, A decreased in S-deprived plants relative to controls only at the end of the experiment. Effects on A were not due to altered stomatal conductance or leaf internal [CO2] ([C]i); decreases in the initial slope of A/[C]i curves indicated an effect of S deprivation on the carboxylase efficiency. Measurement of Rubisco activity and large subunit protein abundance paralleled effects on A and A/[C]i in S-deprived leaves. Negative effects on photosynthesis in S-deprived plants are discussed in relation to mobilization of S reserves, including Rubisco, emphasizing the need for continuous S supply during vegetative growth.     

Photosynthesis and Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase in Rice Leaves: Changes in Photosynthesis and Enzymes Involved in Carbon Assimilation from Leaf Development through Senescence

Changes in photosynthesis and the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase level were examined in the 12th leaf blades of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown under different N levels. Photosynthesis was determined using an open infrared gas analysis system. The level of RuBP carboxylase was measured by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. These changes were followed with respect to changes in the activities of RuBP carboxylase, ribulose 5-phosphate kinase, NADP-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and 3-phosphoglyceric acid kinase.

RuBP carboxylase activity was highly correlated with the net rate of photosynthesis (r = 0.968). Although high correlations between the activities of other enzymes and photosynthesis were also found, the activity per leaf of RuBP carboxylase was much lower than those of other enzymes throughout the leaf life. The specific activity of RuBP carboxylase on a milligram of the enzyme protein basis remained fairly constant (1.16 ± 0.07 micromoles of CO₂ per minute per milligram at 25°C) throughout the experimental period.

Kinetic parameters related to CO₂ fixation were examined using the purified carboxylase. The K_m(CO₂) and V_max values were 12 micromolar and 1.45 micromoles of CO₂ per minute per milligram, respectively (pH 8.2 and 25°C). The in vitro specific activity calculated at the atomospheric CO₂ level from the parameters was comparable to the in situ true photosynthetic rate per milligram of the carboxylase throughout the leaf life.

The results indicated that the level of RuBP carboxylase protein can be a limiting factor in photosynthesis throughout the life span of the leaf.

     

The Activation State of Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase in Maize Leaves in Dark and Light

A spectrophotometric procedure for assay of initial and totalactivity of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in maize leaveswas established. The extraction of the crude enzyme from maizeleaf tissue, which was prefrozen in liquid nitrogen, desaltingof the extract, and assay of the enzyme was completed within3 min. From experiments adding deactivated ribulose 1,5-bisphosphatecarboxylase to the leaf tissue prior to extraction it was estimatedthat the maximum extent of activation during extraction, desaltingand assay was 8%. In predarkened leaves the enzyme showed 67to 84% of maximal activation while in preilluminated leavesthe enzyme showed 89 to 98% of maximal activation. These resultsindicate that deactivation of the enzyme in the dark is nota reason for the previous finding of a transient peak of ribulose1,5-bisphosphate in maize leaves during induction of photosynthesis[Usuda (1985) Plant Physiol. 78: 859–864]. This transientincrease in the substrate level upon illumination might be explainedby the presence of an unknown negative effector for ribulose1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in vivo in leaf tissue in the dark,or limiting CO₂ supply to the enzyme during the induction period. (Received May 30, 1985; Accepted August 16, 1985)     

Salinity and Nitrogen Effects on Photosynthesis, Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase and Metabolite Pool Sizes in Phaseolus vulgaris L

Salinity (100 millimolar NaCl) was found to reduce photosynthetic capacity independent of stomatal closure in Phaseolus vulgaris. This reduction was shown to be a consequence of a reduction in the efficiency of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase (RuBPCase) rather than a reduction in the leaf content of photosynthetic machinery. In control plants, photosynthesis became RuBP-limited at approximately 1.75 moles RuBP per mole 2-carboxyarabinitol bisphosphate binding sites. Salinization caused the RuBP pool size to reach this limiting value for CO₂ fixation at much lower values of intercellular CO₂. Plants grown at low nitrogen and ± NaCl became RuBP limited at similar RuBP pool sizes as the high nitrogen-grown plants. At limiting RuBP pool sizes and equal values of intercellular CO₂ photosynthetic capacity of salt-stressed plants was less than control plants. This effect of salinity on RuBPCase activity could not be explained by deactivation of the enzyme or inhibitor synthesis. Thus, salinity reduced photosynthetic capacity by reducing both the RuBP pool size by an effect on RuBP regeneration capacity and RuBPCase activity by an unknown mechanism when RuBP was limiting.     

RubisCO的研究进展

1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶/加氧酶(RubisCO)是调节光合和光呼吸,决定净光合作用的一个关键酶;也是植物可溶性蛋白质中含量最高的蛋白质.该酶广泛存在于植物及一些微生物体内.综述了近年来有关RubisCO的一些研究进展. 包括RubisCO的基本性质、结构与功能、酶基因工程、酶活性调节及其活化酶等.     

Relation between Nitrogen and Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase in Rice Leaves from Emergence through Senescence

The relation between N content and ribulose-l,5-bisphosphate(RuBP) carboxylase protein was examined in the 12th leaf bladeof rice. Plants were grown under different amounts of N afterthe emergence of the 12th leaf blade. RuBP carboxylase proteinincreased with leaf N during leaf expansion. The synthesis ofRuBP carboxylase predominated during this period, and changesin the amounts of carboxylase synthesized until leaf death paralleledchanges in the N influx to the leaves. When the carboxylasereached its maximum content, the proportion of RuBP carboxylaseto leaf N was 27 to 28% irrespective of N treatment. As theleaf senesced, however, this proportion differed significantlywith the treatment. It was higher in the N-deficient leaf thanin the N-sufficient leaf. This was due to different patternsof RuBP carboxylase degradation for the treatments during senescence.RuBP carboxylase was degraded actively during the early stageof senescence in the N-sufficient leaf, whereas its degradationproceeded almost constantly in the N-deficient leaf during senescence. (Received October 17, 1983; Accepted January 27, 1984)     

Degradation of Ribulose-1, 5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase in Wheat Leaves During Dark-induced Senescence

The degradation of Ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco, EC 4.1.1.39) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yangmai 158) leaves during dark-induced senescence was studied. An in vivo degradation product of Rubisco large subunit (LSU) with molecular weight of 50 kD was detected by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with antibody against tobacco Rubisco. This fragment could also be detected in natural senescence. The result also suggested that the Rubisco holoenzyme had not dissociated when LSU hydrolyzed from 53 kD to 50 kD. And LSU could be fragmented to 50 kD at 30-35 ℃ and at pH 7.5 in crude enzyme extracts of wheat leaves dark-induced for 48 h, which suggested that maybe LSU was degraded to 50 kD by an unknown protease in chloroplast.     

Responses of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase,Cytochrome f,and Sucrose Synthesis Enzymes in Rice Leaves to Leaf Nitrogen and Their Relationships to Photosynthesis

The photosynthetic gas-exchange rates and various biochemical components of photosynthesis, including ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) content, cytochrome (Cyt) f content, and the activities of two sucrose synthesis enzymes, were examined in young, fully expanded leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown hydroponically in different nitrogen concentrations. The light-saturated rate of photosynthesis at an intercellular CO2 pressure of 20 Pa (CO2-limited photosynthesis) was linearly dependent on leaf nitrogen content, but curvilinearly correlated with Rubisco content. This difference was due to a greater than proportional increase in Rubisco content relative to leaf nitrogen content and the presence of a CO2 transfer resistance between the intercellular air spaces and the carboxylation sites. CO2-limited photosynthesis was proportional to Cyt f content, one of the key components of electron transport, but was not proportional to the activities of cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and sucrose phosphate synthase, the two regulatory enzymes of sucrose synthesis. Light-saturated photosynthesis above an intercellular CO2 pressure of 60 Pa (CO2-saturated photosynthesis) was curvilinearly dependent on leaf nitrogen content. This CO2-saturated photosynthesis was proportional to Cyt f content in the low- and normal-nitrogen leaves, and correlated better with the activities of cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and sucrose phosphate synthase in the high-nitrogen leaves. The increase in the activities of these two enzymes with increasing leaf nitrogen was not as great as the increase in Cyt f content. Thus, as leaf nitrogen increased, the limitation caused by the activities of sucrose synthesis enzymes came into play, which resulted in the curvilinear relationship. However, this limitation by sucrose synthesis enzymes did not affect photosynthesis under normal ambient air.     

Degradation of the Large Subunit of Ribulose-1, 5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase／Oxygenase in Wheat Leaves

The degradation of the large subunit (LSU) of ribulose- 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco; EC 4.1.1.39) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yangmai 158) leaves was investigated. A 50 kDa fragment, a portion of the LSU of Rubisco, was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with antibody against tobacco Rubisco in crude enzyme extract of young wheat leaves. The appearance of the 50 kDa fragment was most obvious at 30-35 ℃ and pH 5.5. The LSU and its 50 kDa fragment both existed when the crude enzyme extract was incubated for 60 min. The amount of LSU decreased with incubation time from 0 to 3 h in crude enzyme extract. However, the 50 kDa fragment could not be found any pH from 4.5 to 8.5 in chloroplast lysates of young wheat leaves. In addition,through treatment with various inhibitors, reactions were inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64 or leupeptin.     

Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Content, Assimilatory Charge, and Mesophyll Conductance in Leaves

The content of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) (E_t; EC 4.1.1.39) measured in different-aged leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and other plants grown under different light intensities, varied from 2 to 75 μmol active sites m⁻². Mesophyll conductance (μ) was measured under 1.5% O₂, as well as postillumination CO₂ uptake (assimilatory charge, a gas-exchange measure of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate pool). The dependence of μ on E_t saturated at E_t = 30 μmol active sites m⁻² and μ = 11 mm s⁻¹ in high-light-grown leaves. In low-light-grown leaves the dependence tended toward saturation at similar E_t but reached a μ of only 6 to 8 mm s⁻¹. μ was proportional to the assimilatory charge, with the proportionality constant (specific carboxylation efficiency) between 0.04 and 0.075 μm⁻¹ s⁻¹. Our data show that the saturation of the relationship between E_t and μ is caused by three limiting components: (a) the physical diffusion resistance (a minor limitation), (b) less than full activation of Rubisco (related to Rubisco activase and the slower diffusibility of Rubisco at high protein concentrations in the stroma), and (c) chloroplast metabolites, especially 3-phosphoglyceric acid and free inorganic phosphate, which control the reaction kinetics of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylation by competitive binding to active sites.Rubisco (EC 4.1.1.39) catalyzes the irreversible carboxylation of RuBP to form two PGA molecules (in this work the oxygenase reaction was not active since a low O₂ concentration was used). RuBP carboxylation is the major rate-determining reaction in photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation. All factors that influence the photosynthetic rate do so by influencing the activity of Rubisco and the concentration of its substrates, CO₂ and RuBP. E_t in leaves may be as high as 75 μmol m⁻², and for the extracted enzyme K_m(CO₂) = 9.4 μm (Makino et al., 1985a) and K_m(RuBP) = 30 to 40 μm (Yeoh et al., 1981). In leaves photosynthesizing under atmospheric conditions, the concentration of RuBP may increase to 10 to 15 mm (Badger et al., 1984; Sharkey et al., 1986), but the concentration of CO₂ is usually about 4 to 8 μm in leaf intercellular spaces, depending on stomatal conductance. This CO₂ concentration is well below the K_m(CO₂) of the enzyme, and it is the initial slope of the kinetic curve V_M/K_m(CO₂), termed carboxylation conductance, that becomes important.r_c limits the CO₂-fixation rate in series with the other resistances, r_g and r_md. The carboxylation rates are usually expressed in relation to C_i or C_w. C_c is usually about 20% to 30% lower than C_w because of concentration decrease generated by the carboxylation flux on r_md. Considering the above, the carboxylation conductance in intact leaves in vivo may be found as the initial slope of the A versus C_c graph at low C_c values. If C_c cannot be calculated because r_md is unknown, the closest approximation is a plot of A versus C_w or A versus C_i. The true parameters of the carboxylase can be found only from experiments carried out in nonphotorespiratory conditions (1%–2% O₂); otherwise the competing oxygenase reaction consumes a part of RuBP and partially inhibits carboxylase activity.Because of technical problems with the measurement of A versus C_w relationships, in many studies only the net photosynthetic rate under atmospheric conditions (21% O₂) was related to Rubisco activity or content. Nevertheless, good correlation has been found (Makino et al., 1983; Hudson et al., 1992; Jacob and Lawlor, 1992; Jiang and Rodermel, 1995; Nakano et al., 1997). These results indicated that the level of Rubisco protein could be a limiting factor in photosynthesis throughout the life span of the leaf under natural environmental conditions. On the other hand, when Rubisco levels in leaves exceeded 4 g m⁻² (60 μmol m⁻²), the in vivo Rubisco activity (measured as photosynthesis under pC_i = 20 to 30 Pa and 21% O₂) became curvilinearly correlated with E_t (Makino et al., 1994, 1997). When measurements were made over the whole life span of wheat leaves, the measured rates of photosynthesis were lower in young leaves, which had high protein content, than would have been expected from the amount and activity of Rubisco (Lawlor et al., 1989).During senescence the decrease in Rubisco activity was initially greater than the decrease in net photosynthesis (Hall et al., 1978). In a willow canopy, Rubisco-specific activity was higher when the apparent E_t (N content in leaves) was smaller (Vapaavuori and Vuorinen, 1989). A similar nonlinearity was found in our previous experiments (Eichelmann and Laisk, 1990), in which we obtained a saturating relationship when E_t exceeded 30 μmol m⁻². In the latter work the initial slope of the A versus C_w curves under nonphotorespiratory conditions (1.5% O₂) was assumed to represent the Rubisco activity in vivo and was compared with the E_t. We discovered that growth light had the strongest influence on the saturation of the relationship between μ and E_t. In the present work we present insight into this relationship, using not only plants grown under different light intensities but also leaves adapted to different light intensities.     

Degradation of the Large Subunit of Ribulose-1, 5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase in Wheat Leaves

The degradation of the large subunit (LSU) of ribulose- 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco; EC 4.1.1.39) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yangmai 158) leaves was investigated. A 50 kDa fragment, a portion of the LSU of Rubisco, was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with antibody against tobacco Rubisco in crude enzyme extract of young wheat leaves. The appearance of the 50 kDa fragment was most obvious at 30-35 ℃ and pH 5.5. The LSU and its 50 kDa fragment both existed when the crude enzyme extract was incubated for 60 min. The amount of LSU decreased with incubation time from 0 to 3 h in crude enzyme extract. However, the 50 kDa fragment could not be found any pH from 4.5 to 8.5 in chloroplast lysates of young wheat leaves. In addition,through treatment with various inhibitors, reactions were inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64 or leupeptin.