Carbon isotope ratios of respired CO2 from castor bean, corn, peanut, pea, radish, squash, sunflower and wheat seedlings

During the first month after germination peanut and sunflowerseedlings exhibit a significant shift in the ¹³C/¹²C ratiosof respired CO₂ indicating thatcarbohydrate gives way to lipidas the respiratory substrate. Other species (castor bean, corn,pea,radish, squash and wheat) show no change in the ¹³C/¹²C ratio (Received March 9, 1971; )     

The Analysis of 13C/12C Ratios in Exhaled CO2: Its Advantages and Potential Application to Field Research to Infer Diet, Changes in Diet Over Time, and Substrate Metabolism in Birds

Stable isotopes are becoming an increasingly powerful tool forstudying the physiological ecology of animals. The ¹³C/¹²C ratiosof animal tissues are frequently used to reconstruct the dietof animals. This usually requires killing the subjects. Whilethere is an extensive medical literature on measuring the ¹³C/¹²Cratio of exhaled CO₂ to determine substrate digestion and oxidation,we found little evidence that animal physiologists or physiologicalecologists have applied ¹³C/¹²C breath analysis in their studies.The analysis breath ¹³C/¹²C ratios has the advantage of beingnon-invasive and non-destructive and can be repeatedly usedon the same individual. Herein we briefly discuss the medicalliterature. We then discuss research which shows that, not onlycan the breath¹³C/¹²C ratio indicate what an animal is currentlyeating, but also the animal's diet in the past, and any changesin diet have occurred over time. We show that naturally occurring¹³C/¹²C ratios in exhaled CO₂ provides quantitative measureof the relative contribution of carbohydrates and lipids toflight metabolism. This technique is ripe for application tofield research, and we encourage physiological ecologists toadd this technique to their toolbox.     

The Effect of Root Temperature on Growth and Uptake of Ammonium and Nitrate by Brassica napus L. cv. Bien venu in Flowing Solution Culture: II. UPTAKE FROM SOLUTIONS CONTAINING NH4NO3

Macduff, J. H., Hopper, M. J. and Wild, A. 1987. The effectof root temperature on growth and uptake of ammonium and nitrateby Brassica napus L. CV. Bien venu in flowing solution culture.II. Uptake from solutions containing NH₄NO₃.—J. exp. Bot.38: 53–66 The effects of root temperature on uptake and assimilation ofNH₄⁺ and NO₃^– by oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. CV. Bienvenu) were examined. Plants were grown for 49 d in flowing nutrientsolution at pH 6?0 with root temperature decrementally reducedfrom 20?C to 5?C; and then exposed to different root temperatures(3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17 or 25?C) held constant for 14 d. Theair temperature was 20/15?C day/night and nitrogen was suppliedautomatically to maintain 10 mmol m^–3 NH₄NO₃ in solution.Total uptake of nitrogen over 14 d increased threefold between3–13?C but was constant above 13?C. Net uptake of NH₄⁺exceeded that of NO₃^– at all temperatures except 17?C,and represented 47–65% of the total uptake of nitrogen.Unit absorption rates of NH₄⁺ and of 1?5–2?7 for NO₃^–suggested that NO₃^– absorption was more sensitive thanNH₄⁺ absorption to temperature. Rates of absorption were relativelystable at 3?C and 5?C compared with those at 17?C and 25?C whichincreased sharply after 10 d. Tissue concentration of N in theshoot, expressed on a fresh weight basis, was independent ofroot temperature throughout, but doubled between 3–25?Cwhen expressed on a dry weight basis. The apparent proportionof net uptake of NO₃^– that was assimilated was inverselyrelated to root temperature. The results are used to examinethe relation between unit absorption rate adn shoot:root ratioin the context of short and long term responses to change ofroot temperature Key words: Brassica napus, oilseed rape, root temperature, nitrogen uptake     

Growth and Preferences for Ammonium or Nitrate Uptake by Barley in Relation to Root Termperature

Barley plants (Hordewn vulgare L. cv. Atem) were grown fromseed for 28 d in flowing solution culture, during which timeroot temperature was lowered decrementally to 5?C. Plants werethen subjected to root temperatures of 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17or 25 ?C, with common air temperature of 25/15 ?C (day/night).Changes in growth, plant total N, and NO₃^– levels, andnet uptake of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^– from a maintained concentrationof 10 mmol m^–3 NH₄NO₃ were measured over 14 d. Dry matterproduction increased 6-fold with increasing root temperaturebetween 3–25 ?C. The growth response was biphasic followingan increase in root temperature. Phase I, lasting about 5 d,was characterized by high root specific growth rates relativeto those of the shoot, particularly on a fresh weight basis.During Phase I the shoot dry weight specific growth rates wereinversely related to root temperature between 3–13 ?C.Phase 2, from 5–14 d, was characterized by the approachtowards, and/or attainment of, balanced exponential growth betweenshoots and roots. Concentrations of total N in plant dry matterincreased with root temperature between 3–25 ?C, moreso in the shoots than roots and most acutely in the youngestfully expanded leaf (2?l–6?9% N). When N contents wereexpressed on a tissue fresh weight basis the variation withtemperature lessened and the highest concentration in the shootwas at 11 ?C. Uptake of N increased with root temperature, andat all temperatures uptake of NH₄⁺, exceeded that of NO₃^–,irrespective of time. The proportions of total N uptake over14 d absorbed in the form of NH₄⁺ were (%): 86, 91, 75, 77,76, 73, 77, and 80, respectively, at 3, 5, 7, 9, Il, 13, 17,and 25 ?C. At all temperatures the preference for NH₄⁺ overNO₃^– uptake increased with time. An inverse relationshipbetween root temperature (3–11 ?C) and the uptake of NH₄⁺as a proportion of total N uptake was apparent during PhaseI. The possible mechanisms by which root temperature limitsgrowth and influences N uptake are discussed. Key words: Hordeum vulgare, root temperature, ammonium, nitrate, ion uptake, growth rate     

The Role of Glycollic Acid in the Photoassimilation of Acetate by Chlorella pyrenoidosa

The kinetics of ³H-acetate assimilation by Chlorella pyrenoidosain the light were examined. The primary products of assimilationwere glycollate and succinate. After 10 sec glycollate contained45 per cent and succinate 25 per cent of the tritium incorporatedby the cells. The percentage of the total tritium in glycollateand succinate fell with time while that in citrate increased.Initially the specific activities (µc of ³H per µmoleof acid) of succinate and glycollate were greater than citrate.When ³H-¹⁴C-2-acetate was added to the cells, total dpm for³H and ¹⁴C in glycollate rapidly reached a steady state andgave a ³H/¹⁴C ratio of 10, compared with a ³H/¹⁴C ratio of 4in the acetate. This ³H/¹⁴C ratio in glycollate is found because³H is derived from ³H-¹⁴C-2-acetate and because the ¹⁴C is dilutedwith cold carbon from elsewhere. The addition of ¹⁴CO₂ at thesame time as ³H-¹⁴C acetate decreased the ³H/¹⁴C ratio in glycollatebut incorporation of ¹⁴C from ¹⁴CO₂ into glycollate was slowerthan incorporation from ¹⁴C-2-acetate. Although ¹⁴C from acetaterapidly appeared in glycollate, ¹⁴C-labelled glyoxylate wasnot detected. The ³H/¹⁴C ratio observed in glycollate rulesout formation of glycollate from acetate via glycoaldehyde.The available evidence did not support glycollate formationvia the Calvin cycle. ¹⁴C from ¹⁴C-Z-acetate appeared in glycollatebefore it did in phosphoglyceric acid. Total dpm for ³H, ¹⁴C,and ³H/^l4C ratio in Calvin cycle intermediates were not in equilibriumwith glycollic acid.     

Effect of Temperature on Photosynthesis and Photorespiration of Wheat Leaves

Wheat plants were grown in a controlled environment with daytemperatures of 18 ?C and with 500 µ Einsteins m^–28^–1 of photosynthetically active radiation for 16 h. Beforeanthesis and 2 to 3 weeks after, rates of net photosynthesiswere measured for leaves in 2 or 21% O₂ containing 350 vpm CO₂at 13, 18, 23, and 28 ?C and with 500 µEinsteins m^–2s^–1 of photosynthetically active radiation. Also, underthe same conditions of light intensity and temperature, therates of efflux of CO₂ into CO₂-free air were measured and,for mature flag leaves 3 to 4 weeks after anthesis, gross andnet photosynthesis from air containing 320 vpm ¹⁴CO₂ of specificactivity 39?7 nCi µmol^–1. When the O₂ concentration was decreased from 21 to 2% (v/v)the rate of net photosynthesis increased by 32 per cent at thelowest temperature and 54 per cent at the highest temperature.Efflux of CO₂ into CO₂-free air ranged from 38 per cent of netphotosynthesis at 13 ?C to 86 per cent at 28 ?C. Gross photosynthesis,measured by the ¹⁴C assimilated during 40 s, was greater thannet photosynthesis by some 10 per cent at 13 ?C and 17 per centat 28 ?C. These data indicate that photorespiration was relativelygreater at higher temperatures.     

N2 Fixation and Nitrate Uptake by White Clover Swards in Response to Root Temperature in Flowing Solution Culture

Nodulated white clover plants (Trifolium repens L. cv. Huia)were grown as simulated swards for 71 d in flowing nutrientsolutions with roots at 11 C and shoots at 20/15 C, day/night,under natural illumination. Root temperatures were then changedto 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17 or 25 C and the total N₂, fixation over21 d was measured in the absence of a supply mineral N. Alltreatments were subsequently supplied with 10 mmol m^–2NO₂ ^– in the flowing solutions for 14 d, and the relativeuptake of N by N₂, fixation and NO₃ ^– uptake was compared.Net uptake of K⁺ was measured on a daily basis. Root temperature had little effect on root d. wt over the 35-dexperimental period, but shoot d. wt increased by a factor of3.5 between 3 and 25 C, with the sharpest increase occurringat 7–11 C. Shoot: root d. wt ratios increased from 25to 68 with increasing temperature at 7–25 C. N₂-fixationper plant (in the absence of NO₂ ^–) increased with roottemperature at 3–13C, but showed little change above13 C. The ratios of N₂ fixation: NO₂ ^– uptake over 14d (mol N: mol N) were 0.47–0.77 at 3–7 C, 092–154at 11–17 C, and 046 at 25 C, reflecting the dominanceof NO₃ ^– uptake over N₂ fixation at extremes of high andlow root temperature. The total uptake of N varied only slightlyat 11–25 –C (095–110 mmol N plant^–1),the decline in N₂ fixation as root temperature increased above11 C was compensated for by the increase in NO^– ₃ uptake.The % N in shoot dry matter declined with decreasing root temperature,from 32% at 13 C to 15% at 3 C. In contrast, concentrationsof N expressed on a shoot water content basis showed a modestdecrease with increasing temperature, from 345 mol m^–3at 3 C to 290 mol m^–3 at 25 C. Trifolium repens L, white clover, root temperature, N₂ fixation, potassium uptake, nitrate uptake, flowing solution culture     

Sorting of metabolic pathway flux by the plasma membrane in cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells

We used-escin-permeabilized pig cerebral microvessels (PCMV) to study theorganization of carbohydrate metabolism in the cytoplasm of vascularsmooth muscle (VSM) cells. We have previously demonstrated (Lloyd PGand Hardin CD. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 277: C1250-C1262,1999) that intact PCMV metabolize the glycolytic intermediate[1-¹³C]fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) to[1-¹³C]glucose with negligible production of[3-¹³C]lactate, while simultaneouslymetabolizing [2-¹³C]glucose to[2-¹³C]lactate. Thus gluconeogenic andglycolytic intermediates do not mix freely in intact VSM cells(compartmentation). Permeabilized PCMV retained the ability tometabolize [2-¹³C]glucose to[2-¹³C]lactate and to metabolize[1-¹³C]FBP to[1-¹³C]glucose. The continued existence ofglycolytic and gluconeogenic activity in permeabilized cells suggeststhat the intermediates of these pathways are channeled (directlytransferred) between enzymes. Both glycolytic and gluconeogenic flux inpermeabilized PCMV were sensitive to the presence of exogenous ATP andNAD. It was most interesting that a major product of[1-¹³C]FBP metabolism in permeabilized PCMV was[3-¹³C]lactate, in direct contrast to ourprevious findings in intact PCMV. Thus disruption of the plasmamembrane altered the distribution of substrates between the glycolyticand gluconeogenic pathways. These data suggest that organization of theplasma membrane into distinct microdomains plays an important role insorting intermediates between the glycolytic and gluconeogenic pathwaysin intact cells.

     

Intramuscular fatty acid metabolism evaluated with stable isotopic tracers

We evaluated the applicability of stableisotopic tracers to the study of intramuscular fatty acid metabolism byinfusing both[U-¹³C]palmitateand [1-¹³C]oleateintravenously for 4 h into fasted conscious rats. Skeletal muscles weresequentially biopsied, and the concentration and ¹³C enrichment of fatty acids weremeasured by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio massspectrometry. Throughout the study, the¹³C enrichment of plasma palmitateand oleate remained substantially greater than intramuscularnonesterified palmitate and oleate enrichment, which in turn wasgreater than intramuscular triglyceride palmitate and oleateenrichment. Fractional synthesis rates of intramuscular triglyceridesin gastrocnemius and soleus were 0.267 ± 0.075 and 0.100 ± 0.030/h (P = 0.04), respectively, asdetermined by using[U-¹³C]palmitate, andwere 0.278 ± 0.049 and 0.075 ± 0.013/h(P = 0.02), respectively, by using[1-¹³C]oleate. Weconclude that plasma free fatty acids are a source for intramusculartriglycerides and nonesterified fatty acids; the latter are likely thesynthetic precursors of the former. Uniformly and singly labeled[¹³C]fatty acidtracers will provide an important tool to study intramuscular fattyacid and triglyceride metabolism.

     

Glycollate Formation during the Photorespiration of Acetate by Chlorella

WhenChlorella pyrenoidosa photoassimilates ³H-¹⁴C-acetate theglycollic acid formed shows a high ³H/¹⁴C ratio, the only othercompounds showing similar ratios being glycerate and serine.The ³H/¹⁴C ratio of glycollate was unaffected by the TCA cycleinhibitors MFA, diethylmalonate and arsenite showing that ³Hin glycollate does not result from the oxidation of acetatevia the TCA cycle, the resulting NADP³H₂ or NAD³H₂ being usedfor the reduction of the glycollate precursor. Although DCMUdecreased the ³H/¹⁴C ratio, complete inhibition of glycollatelabelling was not observed with 10^–6 M DCMU, at whichconcentration complete inhibition of the Hill reaction is achieved.Although the ³H/¹⁴C ratio was unaltered, total dpm of both ¹⁴Cand ³H in glycollate were increased by INH. The ³H/¹⁴C ratiosof glycerate and serine were decreased by INH, as were the totaldpm of ³H and ¹⁴C incorporated into these compounds. Thus, INHinhibits the further metabolism of glycollate to glycerate andserine. The effect of INH on incorporation of ¹⁴C-I-acetateinto various cell fractions was investigated. The incorporationof ¹⁴C into polysaccharide and lipid was decreased, while theincorporation of ¹⁴C into the water-soluble fraction of cellsand therelease of ¹⁴CO₂ were little affected. Although glycollicacid was an early product of acetate photoassimilation in Chlorellapyrenoidosa, glycollate excretion does not take place undera wide range of environmental conditions shown to favour glycollateexcretion by other algae. However, small amounts of labelledglycollate were detected in the supernatant from the cells duringthe photoassimilation of ³H-¹⁴C-acetate, but this glycollatedid not show the high ³H/¹⁴C ratio of glycollate present withinthe cell. The failure of Chlorella pyrenoidosa to excrete appreciableamounts of glycollate when photoassimilating acetate or carbondioxide was considered to result from the presence of glycollateoxidase (EC 1.1.3.1 [EC] ) which allowed the further metabolism ofglycollate. Besides glycollate oxidase, glyoxylate reductasewas also demonstrated in Chlorella pyrenoidosa so that glycollatecould function in hydrogen transfer during the photoassimilationof acetate.     

Translocation of 13N and 11C between Nodulated Roots and Leaves in Alfalfa Seedlings

The positron-emitting isotopes of nitrogen and carbon, ¹³N and¹¹C, in the form of ¹³N₂, , and ¹¹CO₂ have been used successively on the same plant to investigatetracer movement between root nodules and shoots in young alfalfaseedlings. The mass flow profiles of ¹¹C photosynthate appearsimilar in shape in both stem and root but differ in speed;the speed of movement is significantly slower in roots thanin shoots (0?3 cm min^–1 compared with 0?5 cm min^–1)apparently in the phloem. Root nodules are sinks for the ¹¹Clabel. ¹³N fixation occurred in <3 min in root nodules andwas followed by export of ¹³N compounds in less than 30 minafter presentation in strong light. Fixation seems to be dependenton photosynthate supply. ¹³N export from the root nodules washighly irregular in profile and not a simple steady-state massflow. The speed of movement of ¹³N fixation compounds, and , suggests transport in the xylem, at rates of 6–12 cm min^–1 acropetally bothin root and shoot. Key words: Alfalfa seedlings, Translocation, Roots, Leaves, Carbon isotope ¹¹C, Nitrogen isotope ¹³N     

The Effect of Root Temperature on Growth and Uptake of Ammonium and Nitrate by Brassica napus L. in Flowing Solution Culture: I. GROWTH

Macduff, J. H., Hopper, M. J. and Wild, A. 1987. The effectof root temperature on growth and uptake of ammonium and nitrateby Brassica napus L. in flowing solution culture. I. Growth.—J.exp. Bot. 38: 42–52 Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Bien venu) was grown for49 d in flowing nutrient solution at pH 6?0 with root temperaturedecrementally reduced from 20?C to 5?C; and then exposed todifferent root temperatures (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13,17 or 25?C)held constant for 14 d. The air temperature was 20/15?C day/nightand nitrogen was supplied automatically to maintain 10 mmolm^–3 NH₄NO₃ in solution. Total dry matter production wasexponential with time and similar at all root temperatures givinga specific growth rate of 0?0784 g g^–1 d^–1. Partitioningof dry matter was influenced by root temperature; shoot: rootratios increased during treatment at 17?C and 25?C but decreasedafter 5 d at 3?C and 5?C. The ratio of shoot specific growthrate: root specific growth rate increased with the ratio ofwater soluble carbohydrates (shoot: root). Concentrations ofwater soluble carbohydrates in shoot and root were inverselyrelated to root temperature; at 3, 5 and 7?C they increasedin stem + petioles throughout treatment, coinciding with a decreasein the weight of tissue water per unit dry matter. These resultssuggest that the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates at lowtemperature is the result of metabolic imbalance and of osmoticadjustment to water stress. Key words: Brassica napus, oilseed rape, root temperature, specific growth rate     

Lipid-Linked Desaturation of Palmitic Acid in Monogalactosyl Diacylglycerol in the Blue-Green Alga (Cyanobacterium) Anabaena variabilis Studied in Vivo

The mechanism of desaturation of palmitic acid in monogalactosyldiacylglycerol in Anabaena variabilis was studied by labelingin vivo with ¹³C and mass spectrometry. When the cells werefed with [¹³C]Na₂CO₃ for 2.5 h, 19% of the palmitic, but virtuallynone of the palmitoleic, acid at the C-2 position of the lipidwas enriched with ¹³C. During subsequent incubation for 7.5h, the [¹³C]palmitic acid was desaturated to [¹³C]palmitoleicacid. Mass spectrometric analysis of the 2-acylglycerol moietyof the lipid indicated that [¹³C]palmitoyl-[¹³C]glycerol and[¹²C]palmitoyl-[¹²C]glycerol were converted to [¹³C]palmitoleoyl-[¹³C]glyceroland [¹²C]palmitoleoyl-[¹²C]glycerol, respectively. These resultssuggest that the palmitic acid was converted to palmitoleicacid in vivo by lipid-linked desaturation but not via a pathwayconsisting of deacylation, desaturation and reacylation. ⁴Present address: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science,University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo 113, Japan ⁵Present address: Department of Physiological Chemistry andNutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo,Tokyo 113, Japan (Received December 7, 1985; Accepted April 16, 1986)     

Stage of development is an important determinant in the effect of nitrate on photoassimilate (13C) partitioning in chicory (Cichorium intybus)

The effect of nitrogen supply to chicory plants on carbon partitioningbetween shoot, root and tuberized root was studied at differentstages of vegetative growth, using long-term ¹³CO₂ labelling-chaseexperiments. This approach was complemented by measurement ofstorage carbohydrates and activities of enzymes involved inroot sucrose metabolism (sucrose-sucrose fructosyl transferase(SST), sucrose synthase, invertase). In both young and matureplants, low resulted in a 30–35% decrease in ¹³C assimilation. However, the partitioningof ¹³C between shoot and root was affected differently at differentstages of development. In young plants, in which carbohydrateswere being used for structural root and shoot growth, neither¹³C shoot/¹³C root ratio nor root activities of the above enzymeswere modified by supply. In contrast, in mature plants storing large amounts of carbohydratesas fructan in the tuberized root, low caused the ratio to decrease from 0.6 to 0.2, despiteunchanged net flux of ¹³C from shoot to root. The extractableactivity of SST was elevated in mature plants, compared to youngplants, at both low and high , consistent with its role in fructan synthesis. However, matureplants grown at low exhibited SST activity double that of plants grown at high . From these results, it is concluded that the observeddecrease in shoot/root dry weight ratio at low supply is caused by increased utilization of carbohydratesfor storage due to elevated root SST activity. Key words: Chicory, nitrate, ¹³C, shoot/root ratio, fructans, SST     

Water availability and carbon isotope discrimination in conifers

The stable C isotope composition ('¹³C) of leaf and wood tissue has been used as an index of water availability at both the species and landscape level. However, the generality of this relationship across species has received little attention. We compiled literature data for a range of conifers and examined relationships among landscape and environmental variables (altitude, precipitation, evaporation) and '¹³C. A significant component of the variation in '¹³C was related to altitude (discrimination decreased with altitude in stemwood, 2.53‰ km^-1 altitude, r²=0.49, and in foliage, 1.91‰ km^-1, r²=0.42), as has been noted previously. The decrease in discrimination with altitude was such that the gradient in CO₂ partial pressure into the leaf (P_a-P_i) and altitude were generally unrelated. The ratio of precipitation to evaporation (P/E) explained significant variation in P_a-P_i of stemwood (r²=0.45) and foliage (r²=0.27), but only at low (<0.8) P/E. At greater P/E there was little or no relationship, and other influences on '¹³C probably dominated the effect of water availability. We also examined the relationship between plant drought stress (O) and '¹³C within annual rings of stemwood from Pinus radiata and Pinus pinaster in south-western Australia. Differential thinning and fertiliser application produced large differences in the availability of water, nutrients and light to individual trees. At a density of 750 stems ha^-1, O and '¹³C were less (more negative) than at 250 stems ha^-1 indicating greater drought stress and less efficient water use, contrary to what was expected in light of the general relationship between discrimination and P/E. The greater '¹³C of trees from heavily thinned plots may well be related to an increased interception of radiation by individual trees and greater concentrations of nutrients in foliage - attributes that increase rates of photosynthesis, reduce P_i and increase '¹³C. '¹³C was thus modified to a greater extent by interception of radiation and by nutrient concentrations than by water availability and the '¹³C-O relationship varied between thinning treatments. Within treatments, the relationship between '¹³C and O was strong (0.38<r²<0.58). We conclude that '¹³C may well be a useful indicator of water availability or drought stress, but only in seasonally dry climates (P/E<1) and where variation in other environmental factors can be accounted for.     

Role of microtubules in the regulation of metabolism in isolated cerebral microvessels

We used¹³C-labeled substrates and nuclearmagnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine carbohydrate metabolism invascular smooth muscle of freshly isolated pig cerebral microvessels(PCMV). PCMV utilized[2-¹³C]glucose mainlyfor glycolysis, producing[2-¹³C]lactate.Simultaneously, PCMV utilized the glycolytic intermediate [1-¹³C]fructose1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) mainly for gluconeogenesis, producing[1-¹³C]glucose withonly minor[3-¹³C]lactateproduction. The dissimilarity in metabolism of[2-¹³C]FBP derivedfrom [2-¹³C]glucosebreakdown and metabolism of exogenous[1-¹³C]FBPdemonstrates that carbohydrate metabolism is compartmented in PCMV.Because glycolytic enzymes interact with microtubules, we disruptedmicrotubules with vinblastine. Vinblastine treatment significantlydecreased[2-¹³C]lactate peakintensity (87.8 ± 3.7% of control). The microtubule-stabilizing agent taxol also reduced[2-¹³C]lactate peakintensity (90.0 ± 2.4% of control). Treatment with both agentsfurther decreased[2-¹³C]lactateproduction (73.3 ± 4.0% of control). Neither vinblastine, taxol,or the combined drugs affected[1-¹³C]glucose peakintensity (gluconeogenesis) or disrupted the compartmentation ofcarbohydrate metabolism. The similar effects of taxol and vinblastine, drugs that have opposite effects on microtubule assembly, suggest thatthey produce their effects on glycolytic rate by competing withglycolytic enzymes for binding, not by affecting the overall assemblystate of the microtubule network. Glycolysis, but not gluconeogenesis,may be regulated in part by glycolytic enzyme-microtubule interactions.

     

Effects of NO2 and O3 Alone or in Combination on Kidney Bean Plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): Products of 13CO2 Assimilation Detected by 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

The effect of exposure of kidney bean primary leaves to NO₂and O₃, alone or in combination, on the fate of ¹³CO₂ assimilatedby photosynthesis was examined by ¹³C-NMR. There were more than70 peaks appearing in the ¹³C-NMR spectra for substances extractedfrom leaves with 80% ethanol. The 16 relatively well resolvedpeaks corresponded to signals from three sugars, two organicacids and four amino acids. These signals were used to estimatepool sizes and ^l3C incorporation. Exposures to NO₂ and O₃ increased the amounts of sucrose andfructose, but not the incorporation of the ¹³C label during10 min photosynthesis from ¹³CO₂. This suggests the presenceof photo-synthetically inactive pools of sucrose and fructose.Amounts of glycine and serine, and ¹³C incorporation into them,were increased by the exposure to the pollutants. The incorporationof ¹³C into alanine was stimulated by exposure to NO₂, but notby exposure to O₃ alone. The present study shows that with only simple procedures ofsample preparations ¹³C-NMR provides information on the productsof photosynthesis in leaves stressed by the two air pollutants. Key words: NO₂, O₃, Phaseolus vulgaris, CO₂ assimilation, ¹³C-NMR     

Variations of Natural 13C Abundances in Leguminous Plants

The natural ¹³C abundance (¹³C value) of the field-grown leguminousplants (soybean, kidney bean, pea, azuki bean, mung bean, peanutand cowpea) was investigated by mass spectrometry with a precisionbetter than %0.2 for ¹³C. Among organs of premature plants,the leaves had the most negative values, and the nodules generallyhad the least negative values, and other organs, fruits, stemsand roots, showed intermediate values. In the soybeans so farinvestigated, the grains of nodulating plants exhibited higher¹³C values than nonnodulating lines. The ¹³C values of the grainsvaried depending on the species: peanuts showed the most negativevalues. Possible causes underlying these variations are discussed. ³Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Sakura-mura,Ibaraki 305, Japan. (Received December 3, 1982; Accepted May 25, 1983)     

The Effect of Temperature on Photosynthesis and Carbon Fluxes in Sunflower and Rape

Sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) and oilseed rape (Brassica napusL.) were grown at constant temperatures of 30 ?C (warm) and13 ?C (cold). Maximal rates of photosynthesis between 5 ?C and35 ?C were at higher temperatures in sunflower than rape. Photosyntheticrate over 4 h at the growth temperature declined in warm-andcold-grown rape and cold-grown sunflower, but remained constantin warm-grown sunflower. The stimulation of photosynthesis by2.0 kPa O₂ compared to 21 kPa O₂ declined with decreasing temperature.At 10 ?C in warm-grown rape photosynthesis was insensitive to2.0 kPa O₂. However, sensitivity to low O₂ continued at 10 ?Cin warm-grown sunflower. Carbohydrates accumulated in the cold,particularly fructose, glucose and sucrose in warm-grown sunflowertransferred to 13 ?C. By monitoring changes of ¹⁴C in leaves after the assimilationof ¹⁴CO₂, the rates of carbon export from leaves, pool sizesand carbon fluxes between them were estimated. The transferof warm- and cold-grown rape to 13 ?C and 30 ?C, respectively,had little effect on these parameters over 22 h. However, exportof carbon from sunflower leaves at 13 ?C was markedly less thanat 30 ?C, irrespective of the growth temperature, due to slowerexport from the transport pool. The rapid suppression of carbonexport at 13 ?C in warm-grown sunflower may be due to inhibitedtranslocation rather than reduced sink demand in the cold. It is concluded that assimilate utilisation is more depressedin the cold than is photosynthesis; this imposes a greater restrictionon biomass production in sunflower than in rape. Key words: Sunflower, rape, temperature, photosynthesis, carbon fluxes     

Glycolytic flux in permeabilized freshly isolated vascular smooth muscle cells

To determine whether channeling of glycolytic intermediates canoccur in vascular smooth muscle (VSM), we permeabilized freshly isolated VSM cells from hog carotid arteries with dextran sulfate. Thedextran sulfate-treated cells did not exclude trypan blue, a dye withmolecular weight of ~1,000. If glycolytic intermediates freelydiffuse, plasmalemmal permeabilization would allow intermediates toexit the cell and glycolytic flux should cease. We incubated permeabilized and nonpermeabilized cells with 5 mM[1-¹³C]glucose at37°C for 3 h. ¹³C nuclearmagnetic resonance (NMR) was used to determine relative [3-¹³C]lactateproduction and to identify any¹³C-labeled glycolyticintermediates that exited from the permeabilized cells.[3-¹³C]lactateproduction from[1-¹³C]glucose wasdecreased by an average of 32% (n = 6) in permeabilized cells compared with intact cells. No¹³C-labeled glycolyticintermediates were observed in the bathing solution of permeabilizedcells. We conclude that channeling of glycolytic intermediates canoccur in VSM cells.