The Effect of Hydroxymethanesulphonate on Photosynthesis in Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Photosynthesis under conditions known to favour glycollate excretionby algae did not result in glycollate excretion in a strainof Chlorella pyrenoidosa unless an inhibitor of glycollate oxidase,-hydroxypyridin-2yl-methane sulphonate (-HPMS), was present.This inhibitor increased the total amount of glycollate presentin the supernatant from the cells during photosynthetic carbondioxide fixation and gave accumulation of ¹⁴C in glycollateduring ¹⁴CO₂ fixation under conditions favouring glycollatesynthesis. At pH 8.3 -HPMS did not stimulate photosynthetic¹⁴CO₂ fixation in C. pyrenoidosa as occurs with some algae.Photoassimilation of acetate was inhibited by -HPMS, and thiswas shown to result from acetyl-CoA synthetase inhibition by-HPMS.     

An Analysis of Some Effects of Humidity on Photosynthesis by a Tomato Canopy under Winter Light Conditions and a Range of Carbon Dioxide Concentrations

The rates of net photosynthesis by closed canopies of tomatoplants were measured at three CO₂ concentrations and three humiditiesover a range of natural light flux densities. The data havebeen analysed using a model of canopy photosynthesis which allowsfor variation in leaf area index and other leaf and canopy characteristics.The model also deals explicitly with the effects of CO₂ concentration,leaf conductance, and photorespiration on the leaf photochemicalefficiency, . The leaves were found to have a photochemicalefficiency in the absence of photorespiration, _m, of 12?6 ?10^–9 kg (CO₂) J^–1. At a CO₂ concentration of 0?73 ? 10^–3 kg m^–3 (400vpm) the leaf photochemical efficiency, , and canopy light utilizationefficiency, _c, were 18 per cent greater at a vapour pressuredeficit of 0?5 kPa than at 1?0 kPa. At a CO₂ concentration of2?2 ? 10^–3 kg m^–3 (1200 vpm) they were only 5 percent greater.     

A Transient Stimulation of Net Photosynthesis of Rye Leaves by {alpha}-Hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulphonic Acid ({alpha}-HPMS) due to Inhibition of Photorespiratory CO2 Release

The effects of -hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulphonic acid (-HPMS)upon net photosynthesis (P_n, the CO₂ compensation point (),post-lower illumination burst of CO₂ (PLIB) and post-lower temperatureburst of CO₂ (PLTB) in detached rye (Secale cereale L.) leaveswere investigated. At low concentrations ( 0.5 mol m^–3),-HPMS initially stimulated P_n and decreased the magnitude ofboth PLIB and PLTB. The decreased at all concentrations of-HPMS (0.05–5.0 mol m^–3. The effects of -HPMS onP_n and were time-dependent and, after a few minutes, the P_nwas inhibited while values increased considerably. At a higherconcentration (5.0 mol m ^–3), the transient effects of-HPMS were shorter () or not observed at all (P_n. Both PLIBand PLTB, when expressed in relation to P_n, increased at higherlevels of this compound. Similar data with respect to the effectsof -HPMS on PLIB and PLTB were found for leaves of dandelion(Taraxacum officinale L.). The results suggest that -HPMS may stimulate P_n by inhibitingphotorespiration, as originally suggested by Zelitch (1966),but only at low concentrations and over a short time span. Thedecrease of PLIB and PLTB values at low -HPMS levels is consistentwith these processes being a residual activity of the glycolatepathway. Key words: CO₂ compensation point, -hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulphonic acid, photorespiration, photosynthesis     

Corrigendum

Light response curves for (•) gross ¹⁶O₂ evolution, and() CO² uptake in 210 mmol mol^–1 O₂ with 900–1000µbar CO₂ or () in air by leaves of Hirschfeldia incana.The difference between (•) and () or () was quantitativelyequivalent to the measured ¹⁸O₂ uptake. The areas under thecurves are labelled to identify regions of assimilatory andnon-assimilatory electron flow redrawn from data of Canvin etal. (1980). It should be noted that the data and the labelling of the figureaxes are correct as printed.     

The Site of Synthesis of Sucrose in Green Plant Cells

Glycollic acid-1-¹⁴C, glyoxylic acid-2-¹⁴C, glycine-1-¹⁴C, andglycine-2-¹⁴C were fed to illuminated excised leaves of Pisumsativum and the distribution of ¹⁴C determined in the glycine,serine, sucrose, and insoluble polyglucan formed. Carboxyl-labelledglycollic acid and glycine gave rise to randomly labelled polyglucanand sucrose although the serine formed was predominantly carboxyllabelled. By contrast glyoxylic acid and glycine labelled inthe -carbon did not give rise to randomly labelled serine, sucrose,or polyglucan.     

Effect of {alpha}-hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulfonate on glycolate metabolism in spinach leaf protoplasts

The addition of -hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulfonate (-HPMS)to spinach leaf protoplasts caused a marked inhibition of photosyntheticCO₂ fixation in both air and O₂ atmospheres. In the O₂ atmosphere,¹⁴CO₂ was incorporated into glycine, but upon addition of -HPMS(10 mM), there was a suppression of ¹⁴CO₂ incorporation intothe glycine and serine plus isoleucine fractions, accompaniedby an accumulation of ¹⁴C-glycolate. A marked stimulation ofalanine labeling due to the -HPMS treatment was also observed.Feeding protoplasts with [l–¹⁴C)-glycolate resulted inthe formation of ¹⁴C-labeled glycine, serine, and sugar phosphatesin both light and dark conditions, and a sizable amount of ¹⁴CO₂evolved concomitantly. The results support the notion concerningthe operation of the glycolate pathway in leaf tissue duringphotorespiratory environments. The suitability of protoplastsfor photosynthetic research in conjunction with the use of inhibitorsubstances are discussed, although the results of the presentresearch indicate that the effect of a-HPMS is not confinedto the specific inhibition of the glycolate-oxidase reaction. ¹ This is paper 42 in the series "Structure and Function ofChloroplast Proteins", and the research was supported in partby the grant from the Ministry of Education of Japan (11912,147106), the Toray Science Foundation (Tokyo), the Nissan ScienceFoundation (Tokyo), and the Matsunaga Foundation (to M. N.). (Received July 21, 1977; )     

The Relationship Between Transpiration Rate, Water Potential, and Resistances to Water Movement in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The effects of transpiration rate on the vertical gradientsof leaf and stem xylem water potential ( and ) were examinedusing hydroponic sunflower plants. Transpiration was variedby stepwise alterations of environmental conditions. The gradientsof and were relatively small (2.3 and 0.8 x 10⁵ Pa m^–1)when transpiration rates approached zero, but increased sharplyto 5.4 and 2.3 x 10⁵ Pa m^–1 as transpiration increased.However, the gradients were independent of transpiration ratesabove 0.4 g dm^–2 h^–1 owing to variability of theplant resistance. The gradients of _I were usually less thanhalf those of _I. ₁ in individual leaves remained constant over a wide range oftranspiration rates (0.4—2.4 g dm^–2 h^–1) andeach leaf possessed a characteristic plateau value related toits elevation. _I responded similarly but was approximately 2.0x 10⁵ Pa higher than _I at the same elevation. Identical resultswere obtained regardless of the procedure employed to vary transpiration. The drop in water potential between stem and leaf implies thatthe leaf resistance is appreciable. This was confirmed usingrapidly transpiring excised leaves freely supplied with water._I increased by 2.0–2.5 x 10⁵ Pa following removal of theroot resistance but remained 2 x 10⁵ Pa lower than similar excisedleaves in darkness. Furthermore, ^I in excised leaves remainedconstant over a wide range of transporting rates, demonstratingthat the leaf resistance is also variable. The results are discussed in relation to previous reports.     

Water Relations of Chromium VI Treated Bush Bean Plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Contender) under both Normal and Water Stress Conditions

The effect of Chromium VI on leaf water potential (^w), solutepotential (^a), turgor potential (^p) and relative water content(RWC) of primary and first trifoliatc leaves of Phaseolus vulgarisL. was studied under normal growth conditions and during anartificially induced water stress period in order to establishthe possible influence of this heavy metal on the water stressresistance of plants. Plants were grown on perlite with nutrientsolution containing 0, 1•0, 2•5, 5•0 or 10•0µg cm^–3 Cr as Na₂Cr₂O₇.2H₂O. The effect of Cr onwater relations was highly concentration dependent, and primaryand first trifoliate leaves were affected differently. The growthreducing concentrations of Cr (2•5, 5•0 and 10•0µg cm^–3) generally decreased _s and _w and increased_p in primary leaves. The 1•0 µg cm^–3 Cr treatmentdid not affect growth, but altered water relations substantially:in primary leaves _w and _p were increased and _s decreased, whilein trifoliate leaves the effect was the opposite. All Cr treatedplants resisted water stress for longer than control plants.The higher water stress resistance may be due to the lower _sand to the increased cell wall elasticity observed in Cr VItreated plants. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris, Chromium VI, water stress, Richter plot     

The Labelling of Malic and Citric Acids of Pea Leaves and Cotyledons of Germinating Peas by 14CO2 in the Dark

Leaflets of green pea plants and cotyledons of germinating peaswere kept in the dark in air containing ¹⁴CO₂. The malate extractedwas labelled to 35–40 per cent in the C-1 position andthe citric acid was labelled to 70–75 per cent in theC-6 position. This showed that two carboxylations, at least,were involved in both tissues, i.e. probably of a three-carbonacid to form malate, and of -oxoglutarate to form isocitrate.     

Analysis of the diurnal change in osmotic potential in leaves of Fraxinus excelsior L.

The daily cycle of the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance,water potential, and the concentration of the main osmoticumidentified in ash leaves, malate and mannitol, were monitoredin a field on the Isere river plain. On sunny days, the stomatalconductance tends to remain close to its maximun value allowinga high transpiration rate and diurnal variations in leaf waterpotential, _w, which may fall as low as –2 MPa at solarnoon. These variations of _w are closely correlated with changesin malate, mannitol and the concentration of the well-knownosmoticum K⁺, which agree with the involvement of an osmoticadjustment to counteract the evaporative demand during daylighthours. How malate, mannitol and K⁺ contribute to the osmoticadjustment was analysed subsequently by comparing the solutepotential _s, evaluated by the Boyle-Van't Hoff relation, tothe osmotic potential measured by thermocouple psychrometry.These experiments have led us to suspect some errors in themeasurement of , presumably due to experimental artefacts andthe ability of Ca ²⁺ , present in high levels in leaves, toform chelates with malate once the cells have been decompartmentedby freezing and thawing. Since significant changes of Ca²⁺ alsooccurred during the diurnal variations of _w, the possible mechanismsby which Ca²⁺ may be implicated in controlling the water statusof the tree are discussed. Key words: Fraxinus excelsior L, osmotic adjustment, thermocouple psychrometry, malate, calcium     

Carbon Isotope Discrimination and the CO2 Accumulating Mechanism in Chlorella emersonii

The relationship between the CO₂ accumulating mechanism andcarbon isotope discrimination has been investigated in the unicellulargreen alga Chlorella emersonii. Growth of Chlorella at highC0₂ levels (5%) which repress the activity of the CO₂ accumulatingmechanism results in more negative ¹³C values. The data presentedin this paper suggest that it is possible to induce the accumulatingmechanism by nitrogen limitation as well as by carbon limitation.Activity of the accumulating mechanism, irrespective of whetherit is induced by C or by N limitation, is accompanied by ¹³Cvalues considerably less negative than those of cells whichdo not possess such a mechanism. It is suggested that the CO₂accumulating mechanism results in essentially a closed systemin which the inherent isotope discrimination by RuBP carboxylaseis not expressed.     

A comparison of the impacts of various nitrogen sources on acid-base balance in C3 Triticum aestivum L. and C4 Zea mays L. plants

This work aimed to study the impacts of acquisition and assimilationof various nitrogen sources, i.e. NO₃^–, NH₄⁺ or NH₄NO₃,in combination with gaseous NH₃ on plant growth and acid-basebalance in higher plants. Plants of C₃ Triticum aestivum L.and C₄ Zea mays L. grown with shoots in ambient air in hydroponicculture solutions with 2 mol m^–3 of nitrogen source asNO₃^–, NH₄⁺ or NH₄NO₃ for 21 d and 18 d, respectively,had their shoots exposed either to 320 µg m^–3 NH₃or to ambient air for 7 d. Variations in plant growth (leaves,stubble and roots), and OH^– and H⁺ extrusions as wellas the relative increases in nitrogen, carbon and carboxylatewere determined. These data were computed as H⁺/N, H⁺/C, (C-A)/N,and (C-A)/C to analyse influences of different nitrogen sourceson acid-base balance in C₃ Triticum aestivum and C₄ Zea maysplants. Root growth in dry weight gain was significantly reduced bytreatment with 320 µg m^–3 NH₃ in Triticum aestivumand Zea mays growing with different N-forms, whereas leaf growthwas not significantly affected by NH₃. In comparison with C₃Triticum aestivum, non-fumigated C₄ Zea mays had low ratiosof OH^–/N in NO₃^–3-grown plants and of H⁺/N in NH₄⁺- and NH ₄NO₃-grown plants. Utilization of NH₃ from the atmospherereduced both the OH^–N ratios in NO₃^– -grown plantsand the H⁺/N ratio in NH₄⁺ - and NH₄NO₃ -grown plants of bothspecies. Furthermore, Zea mays had higher ratios of (C-A)/Nin NH₄⁺ - and NH₄NO₃-grown plants than Triticum aestivum. Thismeans that C₄ Zea mays had synthesized more organic anion perunit increase in organic N than C₃ Triticum aestivum plants.Within both species, different nitrogen sources altered theratios of (C-A)/N in the order: NH₄NO₃>NH₄⁺>NO₃^–.Fumigation with NH₃ increased organic acid synthesis in NO₃^–- and NH₄⁺ - grown plants of Triticum aestivum, whereas it decreasedorganic acid synthesis in Zea mays plants under the same conditions.Furthermore, these differences in acid-base regulation betweenC₃ Triticum aestivum and C₄ Zea mays plants growing with differentnitrogen sources are discussed. Key words: Acid-base balance, ammonia, ammonium, nitrate, ammonium nitrate, C₃ Triticum aestivum L., C₄ Zea mays L.     

A Possible Source of Error in the Estimation of Stomatal Resistance

During transpiration, water vapour diffusing through the stomatamoves through air that has no mean motion: its diffusive inwardflux is balanced by a general outward mass flow. The effectis to accelerate outward diffusive flows (water vapour, CO₂in respiration) and retard inward diffusive flows (air, CO²for assimilation) and alter the apparent ratio of diffusioncoefficients. The magnitude of the effect is calculated theoretically,and estimated practically for an experiment in sugar-beet leaves.For this particular case the error in estimating mesophyll diffusiveresistance is near 2 per cent, but for other conditions couldbe much larger. Estimated values of the apparent ratio of thediffusion coefficient of water vapour and carbon dioxide (truevalue = 1.59) ranged from –0.027 to 2.79, but could lieanywhere between – and +.     

Characterization of Spring Wheat Genotypes Differing in Drought-Induced Abscisic Acid Accumulation: II. LEAF WATER RELATIONS

Aspects of the water relations of spring wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) are described for cultivars Highbury (low ABA) and TW269/9(high ABA), and low and high ABA accumulating F⁶selections derivedfrom a cross between them. In a pot experiment, pressure-volume (P-V) curves were constructedfor main stem leaf four (MSL4) of well-watered plants of Highburyand TW269/9. Estimates of solute potential (²) from these curveswere similar for the two cultivars, but varied with the timeof sampling and the time allowed for hydration in dim light. In a field experiment with four low and four high ABA F⁶lines,P-V curves for flag leaves from both droughted and irrigatedplants gave at both zero turgor (^p) and zero water potential(¹) which differed with degree of stress, sampling time andgenotype. ¹was strongly dependent on the initial_L of the leafand was reduced on average by c. 0.4 MPa per MPa decline ininitial L.5, was lower (more negative) by c. 0.1-MPa in theafternoon than in the morning. Overall, was also 0.1 MPa lowerin low ABA lines than in high ABA lines. In another field experiment, flag leaves of five low and fivehigh ABA F⁶lines were sampled over a 4 week period from droughtedplots and _L and 5, measured (the latter by osmometry with expressedsap). For these leaves 5, at zero p or zero _L was consistentlylower by 0.3–0.5 MPa than estimates of 5, from the P-Vcurves with flag leaves. However, data for the low ABA lineswere again lower (by c. 0.1 MPa) than those for high ABA lines. The consequences of these differences in 1 are discussed inrelation to the stimulation of ABA accumulation in low and highABA selections. Key words: Water potential, Solute potential, P-V curves, Wheat (Triticum aestivum), Drought stress     

Uptake and Accumulation of {alpha}-Naphthalene Acetic Acid by Cell Suspensions of Galium mollugo L.

Fidgeon, C. and Wilson, G. 1988. Uptake and accumulation ofa-naphthalene acetic acid by cell suspensions of Galium mollugoL.—J. exp. Bot. 39: 241-249. Galium mollugo cell suspensions require -NAA for continued growthand cell division. The kinetics of -NAA uptake from the medium(B₅) by Galium cells was assessed using 1-¹⁴C -NAA in a standardratio of cells to medium (0.25 g: 2.5 cm³). It was found thatthe uptake of -NAA was rapid, over 90% being taken up within4 h. Cells which had accumulated -NAA for 4 h or more did notrelease it back into the medium. It was found that Galium cellsaccumulated -NAA against a significant concentration gradient;suggesting the participation of an active component in the uptakemechanism. The effect of free-space and surface adsorption onthe uptake of -NAA was determined by means of a repeated washtechnique. These two factors were found to be of importanceonly during the first hour of uptake. Neither dead cells norplasmolysed cells absorbed -NAA. It is clear that, in the normal growth cycle, Galium cells cantake up the available -NAA within 3 or 4 h of inoculation andthat this can stimulate a cell division response of 3-4 generationsover the subsequent 14 d. Key words: Galium, cell suspension, -naphthalene acetic acid     

Effects of Certain Inhibitors on Photorespiration by Wheat Leaf Segments

The effect on the carbon metabolism of wheat leaf segments ofcertain inhibitors of photorespiration was studied. Sodium 2-hydroxy-3-butynoatesupplied for 40 min resulted in accumulation of ¹⁴C in glycolicacid with only a 7% inhibition of photosynthesis; when suppliedfor 90 min, photosynthesis was inhibited by 47%. When ¹⁴CO₂was replaced by 1000 vpm ¹²CO₂, radioactivity in glycine decreasedbut increased more rapidly in sucrose with less release of ¹⁴CO₂.Isonicotinyl hydrazide (INH) inhibited photosynthesis from ¹⁴CO₂by 50% and glycine replaced sucrose as the main product. When,after 15 min, ¹⁴CO₂ was replaced by 150 vpm ¹²CO₂, in the presenceof INH less ¹⁴CO₂ was released, ¹⁴CO in glycine decreased moreslowly, and less [¹⁴CO]sucrose accumulated. Glycidate (potassium2,3-epoxypropionate) at 2 mM had no effect on photosyntheticrate and little effect on carbon metabolism; 20 mM glycidateinhibited photosynthesis by 64% and resulted in less radioactivityin glycine, more in phosphate esters, and less ¹⁴CO₂ released.When photosynthesis was measured in 1000 vpm CO₂ the inhibitorsgave smaller effects on metabolism than during photosynthesisfrom 150 vpm ¹⁴CO₂ but 20 mM glycidate still resulted in a 42%inhibition of photosynthesis. When U- [¹⁴CO]glycerate was appliedto leaf segments in air with 320 vpm ¹⁴CO₂ the total uptakeof glycerate was not changed by the inhibitors. INH and glycidateboth decreased the amount of glycerate metabolised. More ¹⁴COaccumulated in glycine in the presence of INH and in phosphateesters and serine in the presence of glycidate. Hydroxybutynoateincreased the production of glycolate from glycerate but didnot affect the total amount of glycerate metabolised. Although all three inhibitors affected photorespiratory metabolismnone stimulated photosynthesis. The results are consistent withthe main release of CO₂ in photorespiration arising from theconversion of glycine to serine.     

Effects of Oxygen on Metabolism by the Glycollate Pathway in Leaves

Segments of wheat leaves were supplied in the light with ¹⁴C-labelledserine or glucose in atmospheres containing different concentrationsof O₂ and zero or 350 parts/10⁶ CO₂. Some O₂ was necessary forsucrose synthesis from either serine or glucose but sucrosesynthesis from glucose depended on reactions with a high affinityfor O₂ whereas sucrose synthesis from serine depended both onreactions with high and low affinities for O₂. In the presenceof CO₂ sucrose synthesis from serine was decreased when theO₂ concentration was increased from 20 to 80% by volume andCO₂ was liberated; sucrose synthesis from glucose was almostunaffected by the same change in conditions. Also, in an atmospherecontaining 80% O₂ and 350 parts/10⁶ CO₂, radioactivity from[¹⁴C]serine, was incorporated into glycine. This was not truefor glucose feeding. Hence glucose provides a substrate forsucrose synthesis but not for photorespiration whereas serineis used for both processes in the presence of CO₂; in the absenceof CO₂ glucose provides substrate for both sucrose synthesisand photorespiration and serine metabolism to sucrose is restricted.     

Salt-Stimulated Bicarbonate-Dependent Photosynthesis in the Marine Angiosperm Zostera muelleri

Millhouse, J. and Strother, S. 1986. Salt-stimulated bicarbonate-dependentphotosynthesis in the marine angiosperm Zostera muelleri.—J.exp. Bot. 37: 965–976. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution in the seagrass Zostera muelleriIrmisch ex Aschers. was inhibited in iso-osmotic sucrose. Theapparent affinity of the leaves for CO₂ in seawater increasesfrom pH 8?2 to 8?9 indicating that as well as CO₂ may act as a substrate for photosynthesis. Theaffinity for CO₂ was lower in iso-osmotic sucrose and was notaffected by pH. Under these conditions was not a substrate for photosynthesis. The differencebetween the photosynthetic rate in seawater and iso-osmoticsucrose at the same concentration of CO₂ was used to estimate assimilation. The Briggs-Maskell equation, which allows for an unstirred layer around the tissuewas more appropriate than the Michaelis-Menten theory for calculatingthe apparent affinity of the leaf slices for CO₂. The apparentK_m CO₂ was calculated as 116 mmol m^–3 at pH 8?2 by Michaelis-Mentenkinetics but only 8?10 mmol m^–3 by the Briggs-Maskellequation. The stimulation by various ions in Seawater of use was investigated. The cations,in decreasing order of effectiveness were Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ andNa⁺ Anions were ineffective. No single cation at its concentrationin seawater was capable of supporting use at the rate observed in seawater. Acetazolamide,an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase, inhibited the use of for photosynthesis but had littleeffect on CO₂ photosynthesis. Thus, carbonic anhydrase activityis required for -dependent photosynthesis. Key words: Zostera muelleri, photosynthesis, salinity     

Calcification in the Green Alga Halimeda: III. THE SOURCES OF INORGANIC CARBON FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CALCIFICATION AND A MODEL OF THE MECHANISM OF CALCIFICATION

Calcification and photosynthetic rates in Halimeda tuna weremeasured by the ¹⁴C method under conditions of differing pHand total inorganic carbon (CO₂) concentrations. The effectsof pH and CO₂ on photosynthesis and respiration were also monitoredwith a polarographic O₂ electrode. The results obtained indicatethat the intercellular pH and CO₂ differ from those of the externalmedium. Experiments carried out over a range of pH values show thatHalimeda can use for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis appears to stimulate calcification by removing CO₂ from theintercellular spaces. As these spaces are isolated from theexternal sea water by the layer of cell wall of the adpressedperipheral utricles, the removal of CO₂ results in a rise in[] and a rise in pH. This results in an increased rate of CaCO₃ precipitation. Respiratory CO₂ evolution has aninhibitory effect on calcification by decreasing the pH and[]. A model for calcification in Halimeda is proposed based on theresults of this and previous papers. Calcification in Halimedais seen to be a result of the anatomy of the thallus in whichthe sites of calcification are within a semi-isolated chamberwhere removal or addition of CO₂ due to photosynthesis or respirationcan effectively change [CO] thereby resulting in precipitation of CaCO₃. In the Appendix to this paper theoreticalcalculations illustrate the effects of CO₂, , and removal or addition in a closed system on the relative concentrations of the other inorganic carbonspecies.     

The Metabolism of Labelled Lysine and Pipecolic Acid by Acacia Phyllodes

C¹⁴-lysine and C¹⁴- and H³-pipecolic acids have been used tostudy the metabolism of the lysine family of amino-acids inAcacia, which contains ₄-hydroxypipecolic acid as a characteristiccomponent of the soluble-nitrogen fraction. Degradation of C¹⁴-lysinewas rapid and was far more extensive than that observed earlierin higher plants. Pipecolic acid was the major radioactive productin short-term experiments. After longer metabolic periods, radioactivitywas distributed over a wide range of amino-acids, organic acids,and sugars. A tentative metabolic scheme is produced to explainthese observations concerning lysine degradation. The distributionof radioactivity in the amino-acids of the protein present inthe phyllodes was determined 24 hours after supplying C¹⁴-lysine.Specific activities of free and bound amino-acids are comparedat this time. Hydroxyproline forms a notable component of thephyllode protein. Pipecolic acid degradation has been demonstrated for the firsttime in a biological system. The breakdown pathway was studiedin Acacia phyllodes using H²-pipecolic acid. Substances tentativelyidentified as '-piperdine-2-carboxylic acid and -amino--hydroxycaproicacid were amongst the early degradation products. Ultimately,lysine and -aminoadipic acid became labelled. In contrast tothe experiments with C organic acids and sugars did not becomeradioactive. The explanation of this finding is probably tobe found in the ease with which H³ atoms present in certainchemical groupings may undergo exchange with normal hydrogenatoms of water molecules. The biosynthesis of 4-hydroxypipecolic acid probably involvesa direct hydroxylation of the parent imino-acid.