Distribution of Photosynthetic Enzymes between Mesophyll, Specialized Parenchyma and Bundle Sheath Cells of Arundinella hirta

Arundinella hirta L. is a C₄ plant having an unusual C₄ leaf anatomy. Besides mesophyll and bundle sheath cells, A. hirta leaves have specialized parenchyma cells which look morphologically like bundle sheath cells but which lack vascular connections and are located between veins, running parallel to them. Activities of phosphoenolpyruvate and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylases and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, NADP-and NAD-malic enzymes were determined for whole leaf extracts and isolated mesophyll protoplasts, specialized parenchyma cells, and bundle sheath cells. The data indicate that A. hirta is a NADP-malic enzyme type C₄ species. In addition, specialized parenchyma cells and bundle sheath cells are enzymatically alike. Compartmentation of enzymes followed the C₄ pattern with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase being restricted to mesophyll cells while ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and decarboxylating enzymes were restricted to bundle sheath and specialized parenchyma cells.     

Inorganic Carbon Diffusion between C(4) Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells: Direct Bundle Sheath CO(2) Assimilation in Intact Leaves in the Presence of an Inhibitor of the C(4) Pathway

Photosynthesis rates of detached Panicum miliaceum leaves were measured, by either CO₂ assimilation or oxygen evolution, over a wide range of CO₂ concentrations before and after supplying the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase inhibitor, 3,3-dichloro-2-(dihydroxyphosphinoyl-methyl)-propenoate (DCDP). At a concentration of CO₂ near ambient, net photosynthesis was completely inhibited by DCDP, but could be largely restored by elevating the CO₂ concentration to about 0.8% (v/v) and above. Inhibition of isolated PEP carboxylase by DCDP was not competitive with respect to HCO₃⁻, indicating that the recovery was not due to reversal of enzyme inhibition. The kinetics of ¹⁴C-incorporation from ¹⁴CO₂ into early labeled products indicated that photosynthesis in DCDP-treated P. miliaceum leaves at 1% (v/v) CO₂ occurs predominantly by direct CO₂ fixation by ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase. From the photosynthesis rates of DCDP-treated leaves at elevated CO₂ concentrations, permeability coefficients for CO₂ flux into bundle sheath cells were determined for a range of C₄ species. These values (6-21 micromoles per minute per milligram chlorophyll per millimolar, or 0.0016-0.0056 centimeter per second) were found to be about 100-fold lower than published values for mesophyll cells of C₃ plants. These results support the concept that a CO₂ permeability barrier exists to allow the development of high CO₂ concentrations in bundle sheath cells during C₄ photosynthesis.     

Light Modulation and Localization of Sucrose Phosphate Synthase Activity between Mesophyll Cells and Bundle Sheath Cells in C(4) Species

Experiments were conducted with several Panicum species (representing the different C₄ subtypes) to examine the light modulation of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity and the effect of illumination on the distribution of SPS activity between mesophyll cells (MC) and bundle sheath cells (BSC). Activity of SPS in the light decreased in the order: C₄ > C₃-C₄ intermediate > C₃. In illuminated leaves, SPS activities were similar among the three C₄ subtypes, but SPS activity was higher for NAD-malic enzyme (NAD-ME) species with centripetal chloroplasts in BSC (NAD-ME(P) species) than for NAD-ME species with centrifugal chloroplasts in BSC (NAD-ME(F) species). Transfer of plants into darkness for 30 minutes resulted in decreased SPS activity for all species tested except Panicum bisulcatum (C₃ species) and Panicum virgatum (NAD-ME(P) species) which showed little or no change. All C₄ subtypes had some SPS activity both in MC and BSC. In the light, SPS activity was mainly in the MC for NADP-ME, NAD-ME(F) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase species, while it was mainly in the BSC for NAD-ME(P) species. In the dark, for all C₄ subtypes, SPS activity in the MC was decreased to a greater extent than that in the BSC. It is intriguing that NAD-ME(F) and NAD-ME(P) species differed in the activity and distribution of SPS activity between MC and BSC, although they are otherwise identical in the photosynthetic carbon assimilation pathway. Diurnal changes in SPS activity in the MC and BSC were also examined in maize leaves. SPS activity in the MC in maize leaves was high and relatively constant throughout the middle of the light period, dropped rapidly after sunset and increased again prior to the light period. On the other hand, SPS activity in the BSC was lower and changed more coincidently with light intensity than that in the MC. The results suggested that light activation of SPS activity located in the BSC may require higher irradiance for saturation than the SPS in the MC. We conclude that SPS may function in both MC and BSC for sucrose synthesis in the light, particularly at high light intensity, while in the dark, the major function may be in the BSC during starch degradation.     

Differentiation of Photorespiratory Activity between Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells of C4 Plants I. Glycine Oxidation by Mitochondria

Mitochondria were isolated from mesophyll protoplasts and bundlesheath protoplasts or strands which were obtained by enzymaticdigestion of six C₄ species: Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, Panicummiliaceum, Panicum capillare, Panicum maximum and Chloris gayana,representative of three C₄ types. Photorespiratory glycine oxidationand related enzyme activities of mesophyll and bundle sheathmitochondria were compared. Mesophyll mitochondria showed good P/O ratios with malate andsuccinate as substrate but lacked the ability to oxidize glycine.On the other hand, mitochondria isolated from bundle sheathprotoplasts of P. miliaceum and bundle sheath strands of Z.mays possessed glycine oxidation activity similar to that ofmitochondria from C₃ plant leaves. The two enzymes involvedin glycine metabolism in mitochondria, serine hydroxymethyltransferaseand glycine decarboxylase, were also assayed in the mitochondriaof the two cell types. The activities of the two enzymes inbundle sheath mitochondria were in the range found in C₃ mitochondria.In contrast, the activities in mesophyll mitochondria were eithernot detectable or far lower than those in bundle sheath mitochondriaand ascribed to contaminating bundle sheath mitochondria. The present results indicate the deficiency of a complete glycineoxidation system in mesophyll mitochondria and also a differentiationbetween mesophyll and bundle sheath cells of C₄ plants withrespect to the photorespiratory activities of the mitochondria. (Received June 8, 1983; Accepted August 29, 1983)     

Isolation of Intact and Functional Chloroplasts from Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Protoplasts of the C(4) Plant Panicum miliaceum

A procedure is described for isolating and purifying mesophyll protoplasts and bundle sheath protoplasts of the C₄ plant Panicum miliaceum. Following enzymic digestion of leaf tissue, mesophyll protoplasts and bundle sheath protoplasts are released and purified by density centrifugation. The lower density of mesophyll protoplasts allowed rapid separation of the two protoplast types. Evidence for separation of mesophyll protoplasts and bundle sheath protoplasts (up to 95% purity) is provided from light microscopy (based on size difference in both chloroplasts and protoplasts), levels of marker enzymes in the preparations (i.e. pyruvate, Pi dikinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase for mesophyll and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase for bundle sheath), and differences in substrate-dependent O₂ evolution by chloroplasts isolated from protoplasts.     

Activities of Principal Photosynthetic and Photorespiratory Enzymes in Leaf Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Protoplasts from the C3-C4 Intermediate Flaveria ramosissima

Mesophyll and bundle sheath protoplasts were differentiallyisolated for the first time from leaves of a C₃-C₄ intermediate,Flaveria ramosissima. Protoplasts were partially purified fromleaf digests following differential centrifugation and flotationon dextran step-gradients. Two mesophyll and one bundle sheathfraction were obtained, with relative purities of the preparationsdetermined visually as >95% for mesophyll and >80% forbundle sheath. Representative C₃ and C₄ photosynthetic enzymes had substantialactivities, on a chlorophyll basis, in all three protoplastpreparations. The activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylasewas highest in the lower density mesophyll fraction and lowestin the bundle sheath fraction. Conversely, the activity of NADP-malicenzyme was highest in the bundle sheath, and lowest in the lightermesophyll preparation. Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenasehad similar activity in all three preparations, as did glycolateoxidase. However, glycine decarboxylase was about 3-fold enrichedin the bundle sheath fraction. The data indicate that the partialcompartmentation of photorespiratory metabolism may contributealong with limited C₄ photosynthesis to reducing photorespirationin this intermediate species. (Received April 27, 1988; Accepted June 17, 1988)     

ATP Sulphurylase and O-Acetylserine Sulphydrylase in Isolated Mesophyll Protoplasts and Bundle Sheath Strands of S-deprived Maize Leaves

In Zea mays L. (cv. XL 72 A) leaves sulphur deficiency causedreduction of soluble protein and chlorophyll contents, whereasATP sulphurylase (EC 2.7.7.4 [EC] ) and O-acetylserine sulphydrylase(EC 4.2.95.9 [EC] ) activities increased with the increasing of S-deprivationtime. The two enzymes exhibited the maximum activity after 5d (ATP sulphurylase) and 3 d (O-acetylserine sulphydrylase)from the beginning of deprivation period. The activities weredifferently distributed between mesophyll protoplasts and bundlesheath strands. The results suggest that the activity of thetwo enzymes may be induced sequentially and differently regulatedin the two types of cells. Key words: ATP sulphurylase, Bundle sheath strands, Mesophyll protoplasts, O-acetylserine sulphydrylase, Sulphur deprivation, Zea     

Differentiation of Photorespiratory Activity between Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells of C4 Plants II. Peroxisomes of Panicum miliaceum L.

Peroxisomes were isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugationfrom mesophyll and bundle sheath protoplasts of a C₄ plant,Panicum miliaceum L. The equilibrium density in the gradientwas 1.25 for bundle sheath peroxisomes and 1.23 for mesophyllperoxisomes, the former density being similar to that of peroxisomesof wheat mesophyll protoplasts. Photorespiratory and other microbody enzymes were assayed forthe peroxisomes of P. miliaceum to detect possible differentiationat an enzyme level. The specific activities of photorespiratoryenzymes, except for hydroxypyruvate reductase, in bundle sheathperoxisomes were 40–60% of those in wheat peroxisomes,when compared on a protein basis, and only 20–30% in mesophyllperoxisomes. However, peroxisomes from both cell types containedsignificant levels of all the enzymes involved in the photorespiratoryglycolate pathway, when compared with castor bean glyoxysomes.The activity of hydroxypyruvate reductase in the peroxisomesof P. miliaceum was comparable to or higher than that in wheatperoxisomes. Two ß-oxidation enzymes and urate oxidasewere detected in the peroxisomes in a similar level to thatin wheat peroxisomes. These results suggest that the peroxisomes of mesophyll andbundle sheath cells of P. miliaceum are essentially similarto those of C₃ plants, and that they cannot be differentiatedexcept for a difference in equilibrium density in a sucrosegradient. (Received December 24, 1984; Accepted April 9, 1985)     

Intracellular Localization of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase in Bundle Sheath Cells of C4 Plants

Bundle sheath protoplasts (BSP) were isolated and purified fromfour C₄ species of the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxykinasetype (Panicum maximum, P. texanum, Chloris gayana and Eriochloaborumensis), and cell organellses were separated from the BSPextract by differential centrifugation or sucrose density gradientcentrifugation. Separation of the organelles was ascertainedby the distribution of marker enzymes for chloroplasts, mitochondria,peroxisomes and cytoplasm. Contrary to the previous report [Rathnamand Edwards (1975) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 171: 214], the distributionof PEP carboxykinase in BSP of P. maximum was the same as thatof UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, a marker for cytoplasm, andPEP carboxykinase activity was not recovered in the intact chloroplasts.The same results were obtained with P. texanum, C. gayana andE. borumensis. Therefore, we conclude that PEP carboxykinase is exclusivelylocalized in the cytoplasm of bundle sheath cells of C₄ plants. (Received July 23, 1983; Accepted October 17, 1983)     

Nitrogen Assimilation Pathways in Leaf Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells of C(4) Photosynthesis Plants Formulated from Comparative Studies with Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop

Nitrogen assimilation in crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., was studied by comparing leaf extracts with isolated mesophyll cell and bundle sheath strand extracts. The results show that both nitrate and nitrate reductase are localized in mesophyll cells; glutamine synthetase is nearly equally distributed in the mesophyll and bundle sheath; approximately 67% of the glutamate synthase activity is in the bundle sheath and 33% is in the mesophyll; and 80% of the glutamate dehydrogenase activity is in the bundle sheath, with the NADH-dependent form exhibiting a 2.5-fold higher activity than the NADPH-dependent form.     

Differential Protein Composition and Gene Expression in Leaf Mesophyll Cells and Bundle Sheath Cells of the C(4) Plant Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop

The distribution and molecular weights of cellular proteins in soluble and membrane-associated locations were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Coomassie blue staining of leaf (Digitaria sanguinalis L. Scop.) extracts and isolated cell extracts. Leaf polypeptides also were pulse-labeled, followed by isolation of the labeled leaf cell types and analysis of the newly synthesized polypeptides in each cell type by electrophoresis and fluorography.

Comparison of the electrophoretic patterns of crabgrass whole leaf polypeptides with isolated cell-type polypeptides indicated a difference in protein distribution patterns for the two cell types. The mesophyll cells exhibited a greater allocation of total cellular protein into membrane-associated proteins relative to soluble proteins. In contrast, the bundle sheath cells exhibited a higher percentage of total cellular protein in soluble proteins. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase was the major soluble protein in the mesophyll cell and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase was the major soluble protein in the bundle sheath cell. The majority of in vivo³⁵S-pulse-labeled proteins synthesized by the two crabgrass cell types corresponded in molecular weight to the proteins present in the cell types which were detected by conventional staining techniques. The bundle sheath cell and mesophyll cell fluorograph profiles each had 15 major ³⁵S-labeled proteins. The major incorporation of ³⁵S by bundle sheath cells was into products which co-electrophoresed with the large and small subunits of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase. In contrast, a major ³⁵S-labeled product in mesophyll cell extracts co-electrophoresed with the subunit of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Both cell types exhibited equivalent in vivo labeling of a polypeptide with one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic behavior similar to the major apoprotein of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein. Results from the use of protein synthesis inhibitors during pulse-labeling experiments indicated intercellular differences in both organelle and cytoplasmic protein synthesis. A majority of the ³⁵S incorporation by crabgrass mesophyll cell 70S ribosomes was associated with a pair of membrane-associated polypeptides of molecular weight 32,000 and 34,500; a comparison of fluorograph and stained gel profiles suggests these products resemble the precursor and mature forms of the maize chloroplast 32,000 dalton protein reported by Grebanier et al. (1978 J. Cell Biol. 28:734-746). In contrast, crabgrass bundle sheath cell organelle translation was directed predominantly into a product which co-electrophoresed with the large subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase.

     

Effects of Light Quality on Photosynthetic Carbon Metabolism in C4 and C3 Plants: Rapid Movements of Photosynthetic Intermediates Between Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells

The influence of varying light intensity and quality on thecarbon labelling patterns in Rumex vesicarius (a C₃ plant),Setaria italica (a malate-formingC₄ plant), and Amaranthus paniculatus(an aspartate-forming C₄ plant) was studied. In A. paniculatusand B. vesicarius blue light decreased the transfer of radioactivityto sugars and starch but in S. italica only slightly decreasedradioactivity in sugar phosphates, sucrose, and insolubles.Negligible transfer was observed from the C₄ acids to sugarphosphates, sucrose, and starch under dim blue-green and blue-yellowlights in S. italica and A. paniculatus. Blue light favouredthe formation of malate, aspartate, and alanine in all threeplants. The differential effect of blue and red light suggesteda variation in the mechanisms of C₄-photosynthesis in Setariaand Amaranthus. Leaves of S. italica and A. paniculatus were allowed to photosynthesizein ¹⁴CO₂ for 5 s and then the distribution of the labelled productsbetween the mesophyll and the bundle sheath cells was determinedduring subsequent photosynthesis in ¹²CO₂. Malate and aspartatewhich appeared initially in the mesophyll layer moved rapidlyinto the bundle sheath cells. Phosphoglyceric acid originatingin the bundle sheath moved swiftly to the mesophyll layer. Sugarphosphates were recovered from both the mesophyll and the bundlesheath cells. Most of the starch was found in the bundle sheathcells while sucrose and alanine were localized in the mesophyllcells.     

DNA and RNA Levels in Bundle Sheath and Mesophyll Cells of Pearl Millett (Pennisetum americanum)

The DNA content of bundle sheath cells and mesophyll protoplasts from the C₄ plant pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum, Tift 23DB) was determined by microspectrophotometry to be 1.8 to 2.3 and 3.2 to 4.0 picograms/nucleus, respectively. Measurement of RNA by ultraviolet spectroscopy indicated that bundle sheath cells contain twice as much RNA as mesophyll cells.     

Fluorescence and Delayed Light Emission from Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells in Leaves of Normal and Salt-Treated Panicum miliaceum

A modified fluorescence microscope system was used to measure chlorophyll fluorescence and delayed light emission from mesophyll and bundle sheath cells in situ in fresh-cut sections from leaves of Panicum miliaceum L. The fluorescence rise in 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea (DCMU)-treated leaves and the slow fluorescence kinetics in untreated leaves show that mesophyll chloroplasts have larger photosystem II unit sizes than do bundle sheath chloroplasts. The larger photosystem II units imply more efficient noncyclic electron transport in mesophyll chloroplasts. Quenching of slow fluorescence also differs between the cell types with mesophyll chloroplasts showing complex kinetics and bundle sheath chloroplasts showing a relatively simple decline. Properties of the photosynthetic system were also investigated in leaves from plants grown in soil containing elevated NaCl levels. As judged by changes in both fluorescence kinetics in DCMU-treated leaves and delayed light emission in leaves not exposed to DCMU, salinity altered photosystem II in bundle sheath cells but not in mesophyll cells. This result may indicate different ionic distributions in the two cell types or, alternatively, different responses of the two chloroplast types to environmental change.     

Two-Dimensional Electrophoretic Mapping of Proteins of Bundle Sheath and Mesophyll Cells of the C(4) Grass Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (Crabgrass)

Two-dimensional electrophoresis was performed on proteins of bundle sheath and mesophyll cells isolated from the C₄ grass Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. Two-dimensional maps of these proteins were constructed and ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase were identified. Of the total number of proteins found in both cell types, 36% were found only in bundle sheath cells, 17% only in mesophyll cells, and 47% in both cell types. By comparison, the distributions of 48 enzymes assayed in these cell types were 35%, 21%, and 44%, respectively.

Protein patterns were also compared with C₄ plants exhibiting different decarboxylation pathways and, in both bundle sheath and mesophyll cells, proteins were found which were unique to each species. Bundle sheath proteins of one C₄ species were found to be more like bundle sheath proteins of another C₄ species than like mesophyll proteins of the same species.

     

Photochemical Characteristics of Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Chloroplasts from C4 Plants

Mesophyll and bundle sheath chloroplasts were isolated by differential grinding from the leaves of two NADP-ME C₄ plants, Setaria italica Beauv. cv. H-1, Pennisetum typhoides S & H. cv. AKP-2, and a NAD-ME C₄ species Amaranthus paniculatus L. The mesophyll chloroplasts of C₄ plants possessed slightly lower K_m for ADP and Pi than those of bundle sheath chloroplasts. The Hill reaction activities and noncyclic photophosphorylation rates of the bundle sheath chloropiasts from S. italica and P. typhoides were less than one-fifth of those by the mesophyll chloroplasts. But the bundle sheath chloroplasts of A. paniculatus exhibited high rates of Hill reaction, cyclic as well as noncyclic photophosphorylation. The pigment- and eyiochrome composition suggested a relative enrichment of PS 1 in bundle sheath chloroplasts of S. italica and P. typhoides. The chain exists in both mesophyll and bundle sheath chloroplasts. As much as 35–52% of leaf chlorophyll was located in the bundle sheath chloroplasts. The photochemical activities of bundle sheath chloroplasts are significant though a major part of leaf photochemical potential is associated with the mesophyll chloroplasts.     

Photosynthetic Metabolism of Aspartate in Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells Isolated from Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., a NADP-Malic Enzyme C(4) Plant

Mesophyll cells and bundle sheath strands isolated from leaves of the C(4) plant Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. are capable of utilizing aspartate as a Hill oxidant. The resulting O(2) evolution upon illumination depends on the presence of 2-oxoglutarate, is inhibited by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, and is stimulated by methylamine. The rate of aspartate-dependent O(2) evolution with mesophyll cells was similar to those with phosphoenolpyruvate + CO(2) or with oxalacetate. Amino-oxyacetate, an inhibitor of aspartate aminotransferase, inhibited the aspartate-dependent O(2) evolution. Aspartate aminotransferase and NADP(+) -malate dehydrogenase are located in the mesophyll chloroplasts. These data suggest that aspartate is converted to oxalacetate via aspartate aminotransferase in the chloroplasts of mesophyll cells and that oxalacetate is subsequently reduced to malate, which is coupled to the photochemical evolution of O(2). This suggestion is further verified by the inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent (14)CO(2) fixation by aspartate + 2-oxoglutarate, which presumably acts as oxalacetate and competes with phosphoenolpyruvate + CO(2) for NADPH. dl-Glyceraldehyde inhibited aspartate-dependent O(2) evolution in the bundle sheath strands but not in the mesophyll cells. The data indicate that aspartate may be converted to malate in both mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. In NADP(+) -malic enzyme species, aspartate may exist as a C(4)-dicarboxylic acid reservoir which can contribute to the C(4) cycle through its conversion to malate.     

Characterization of C4 Type Leaf Anatomy in Grasses (Poaceae). Mesophyll: Bundle Sheath Area Ratios

The cross-sectional area of ‘primary carbon assimilation’(PCA) (or mesophyll) tissue and of ‘photosynthetic carbonreduction’ (PCR) (or parenchymatous bundle sheath, PBS)tissue associated with each vein has been measured in transversesections of leaf blades of 124 grass species (Poaceae). Thespecies sample is representative of all major grass taxa, andof all photosynthetic types found in this family, viz. C₃, C₃/C₄intermediate, C₄ NADP-malic enzyme type (NADP-ME), C₄ NAD-malicenzyme type (NAD-ME) and PEP carboxykinase type (PCK). MeanPCA (or mesophyll) area per vein varies between photosynthetictypes in the order C₃ > NAD-ME > PCK = NADP-ME, mean PCR(or PBS) area per vein in the order NAD-ME > PCK = C₃ >NADP-ME, and mean PCA/PCR (or mesophyll/PBS) area ratio in theorder C₃ > NADP-ME > NAD-ME > PCK. Since grass leaveshave parallel venation, tissue areas and area ratios are directlyproportional to tissue volumes and volume ratios. Regressionanalyses of plots of PCA (or mesophyll) area per vein againstPCR (or PBS) area per vein yield characteristic slopes for photosynthetictypes. Differences between types in all these parameters arenearly always statistically significant, even within high leveltaxonomic groups (Eupanicoids and Chloridoids). However, differencesbetween major taxa (Eupanicoids, Andropogonoids, Chloridoids),within a photosynthetic type, are frequently not significant.This histometric characterization of photosynthetic types isdiscussed in relation to the co-operation of PCA and PCR tissuesin C₄ photosynthesis, to possible differences between C₄ typesin PCR spatial requirements and to the developmental originof PCR tissue. Grasses, Poaceae, C₄ photosynthesis, C₄ leaf blade anatomy, ‘Kranz’, NADP-malic enzyme, NAD-malic enzyme, PEP carboxykinase, PCA tissue, PCR tissue, taxonomy     

Metabolic Activities in Extracts of Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells of Panicum miliaceum (L.) in Relation to the C(4) Dicarboxylic Acid Pathway of Photosynthesis

The activities of certain enzymes related to the carbon assimilation pathway in whole leaves, mesophyll cell extracts, and bundle sheath extracts of the C₄ plant Panicum miliaceum have been measured and compared on a chlorophyll basis. Enzymes of the C₄ dicarboxylic acid pathway—phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malic dehydrogenase—were localized in mesophyll cells. Carbonic anhydrase was also localized in mesophyll cell extracts. Ribose 5-phosphate isomerase, ribulose 5-phosphate kinase, and ribulose diphosphate carboxylase—enzymes of the reductive pentose phosphate pathway—were predominantly localized in bundle sheath extracts. High activities of aspartate and alanine transaminases and glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase were found about equally distributed between the photosynthetic cell types. P. miliaceum had low malic enzyme activity in both mesophyll and bundle sheath extracts.