Effect of Gibberellic Acid on Glutamine Synthetase Activity in Two Varieties of Lettuce Seeds, New York 515 and Grand Rapids

Gibberellic acid (GA) increased glutamine synthetase (GS) activityduring imbibition by lettuce seeds. The effect of GA was moreremarkable in the dark than under red light. The increase inGS activity induced by GA was inhibited completely by cycloheximide(1 mM). No promotive effect of GA on dark germination was observedin the presence of L-methionine-DL-sulfoximine, a specific inhibitorof GS. Therefore, GA has its promotive effect on the dark germinationof lettuce seeds mainly through GS activity. The GS activitypresent in the embryonic axes of Grand Rapids seeds was abouthalf that in New York 515 Improved, also the promotive effectof GA on dark germination was lower in Grand Rapids. This differencebetween dark germination in the New York and Grand Rapids seedswas interpreted as being the difference in the amount of GSactivity in the embryonic axes of the dry seeds. (Received September 29, 1983; Accepted November 29, 1983)     

The appearance of glutamine synthetase in turions of Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden as regulated by blueand red light, nitrate and ammonium

Control by light and nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) of theappearance of glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2 [EC] ) in turionsof Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden, strain SJ, was investigatedduring the pregermination period, i.e. up to 48 h after onsetof light. Immediately after transfer from after-ripening conditions(5C, darkness, D) to germination conditions (25C), GS activitydid not respond to light or nitrate. After 72 h in D (25C)activity increased in continuous light. Therefore, the regulatoryrole of light, nitrate and ammonium in the process of appearanceof GS was mainly studied between 72 and 120 h after transferfrom after-ripening to germination conditions (phase II of thepre-germination process). The inducing effect of red light ismediated by the photoreceptor phytochrome: the effect of long-termcontinuous red light (6 or 24 h) can be reversed, at least inpart, by a subsequent far-red light pulse (‘end of day’Irradiation). Blue light is more effective than red light ininducing the appearance of GS. Therefore, a specific blue lighteffect has to be assumed. This represents a novel mode of lightaction in regulating the level of the ammonium assimilatingenzyme in an angiosperm system. lmmunoblots showed that (i)increase in the enzymatic activity is caused by de novo synthesisof the enzyme protein, (ii) two different subunits (38 and 42kDa) contribute to the total activity which must be attributedto two different isofornis. In accordance with results fromother higher plants, the 38 kDa subunit (presumably relatedto the cytosolic isoform) did not increase in the presence oflight, whereas the 42 kDa subunit (presumably related to theplastidic isoform) was induced. The maximal enzyme level wasreached only in the presence of both light (blue light) andnitrate. Light induction was also observed in the presence ofammonium; however, GS activity was decreased, when comparedto nitrate-treated turions. Comparison of these results withprevious observations suggest that the influence of light andnitrate on the germination response and regulation of the nitrate/ammoniumassimilation pathway in turions appear to be unrelated phenomena. Key words: blue light, germination, glutamine synthetase, phytochrome, Spirodela polyrhiza, turion     

Effcts of Blue Light and Ammonia on Nitrogen Metabolism in a Colorless Mutant of Chlorella

Illumination of a colorless mutant of Chlorella vulgaris 1lh(M125) with blue light enhanced both the uptake of nitrate andthe release of ammonia. These effects were not observed underillumination with red light. The release of ammonia was alsoenhanced by the addition of methionine sulphoximine (MSX), aninhibitor of glutamine synthetase (GS). Addition of MSX to culturesin the dark increased the rate of breakdown of starch. Algal cells grown in nitrate-containing medium did not showthe aminating activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). Additionof large (millimolar) amounts of ammonia in the dark resultedin the induction of NADPH-GDH activity and, in addition, a decreasein GS activity. From these results it appears that GS catalyzesthe primary step in the assimilation of ammonia in algal cellsgrown in nitrate-containing medium. Two isoforms (GS1 and GS2)of GS have been separated by ion exchange chromatography. Theactivities of both isoforms were decreased upon the additionof ammonia. Illumination of the alga with blue light at intensities up to10,000 mW m^–2 enhanced the measurable activity of GS invitro, while higher intensities were ineffective. In red lightno such effect was observed. The effects of blue light and ammonia on nitrogen metabolismin algal cells are discussed. (Received November 25, 1988; Accepted March 6, 1989)     

Blue and Red Light-dependent Alterations in the Ratio of two Forms of Glutamine Synthetase in Chlorella kessleri

Two forms of glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) can be separated in crude extracts of Chlorella kessleri on the basis of their different surface charges. The two enzyme forms (GS1 and GS2) respond differently upon transferring the cells from darkness to autotrophic growth in white light: the activity of GS2 increases, that of GS1 remains unchanged. The increase in GS2 activity is only brought about by blue light; in red light GS2 activity appears to be uninfluenced, while that of GS1 increases. There are no indications of wavelength-dependent oligomerization processes as a cause for the observed activity alterations. There is however, a strong influence of inhibitors of protein biosynthesis. Cycloheximide and lincomycin both affect the blue light-dependent increase in activity of GS2, cycloheximide preventing that of GS1 in red lgiht completely. Since literature data point to localization of GS2 in the chloroplast, and GS1 in the cytosol, the data are discussed in view of two different photoreceptors involved in the regulation of the amounts of GS1 and GS2 in different compartments of the Chlorella cell.     

Role of Light in the Appearance of Glutamine Synthetase in Leaves of Pennisetum glaucum

Leaves of Pennisetum [Pennisetum glaucum (L) HHB 67] seedlings contained two isozymes of glutamine synthetase (GS, EC 6.3.1.2): cytosolic GS1 and chloroplastic GS2. Leaves of seedlings grown in light for seven days contained about twofold higher GS activity than etiolated leaves. In both light and dark grown seedlings, total GS, GS1 and GS2 activity declined with plant age with more pronounced effect in leaves of etiolated seedlings, and GS2 declined at a much faster rate than GS1. Exposure of etiolated seedlings to light markedly enhanced GS1 and GS2 activity. This increase in activity was not affected by cycloheximide, precluding light dependent de novo synthesis of the enzyme. Treatment of etiolated seedlings with photosynthetic inhibitor, dichlorophenyl dimethyl urea (DCMU) inhibited light dependent appearance of GS. Exogenous supply of sucrose to dark grown seedlings greatly increased the GS activity in dark. These results suggest that light-mediated stimulation in activity of GS in Pennisetum leaves is dependent on photosynthetic reaction.     

Synthesis de novo of Glutamine Synthetase in the Embryonic Axis, Closely Related to the Germination of Lettuce Seeds

Glutamine synthetase (GS) was purified from lettuce seeds incubatedunder red light. The amount of enzyme protein was estimatedby rocket immunoelectrophoresis using a specific antiserum.Red light and gibberellin separately increased the level ofenzyme protein in the embryonic axis. The increases in the proteinwere completely suppressed by cycloheximide. High temperature(35?C) caused a rapid decrease in the enzymatic activity, butno decrease in the level of enzyme protein. Translation in vitroof poly(A)⁺RNA extracted from the seeds demonstrated that levelof translatable mRNA for GS increased in the seeds irradiatedby red light. (Received March 14, 1990; Accepted May 8, 1990)     

Glutamine synthetase in Scots pine seedlings and its control by blue light and light absorbed by phytochrome

The appearance of glutamine synthetase (GS. EC 6.3.1.2) in response to light and nitrogen (NO ₃ ^- , NH ₄ ⁺ ) was studied in the organs (roots, hypocotyl, cotyledonary whorl) of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedling. Although GS activity was found to be mainly (> 80%) located in the whorl where it increased strongly in response to light, a significant GS synthesis was also detected in dark-grown seedlings. Anion-exchange chromatography was used to resolve two GS isoforms which appeared to be regulated differentially in the cotyledonary whorls. The isoform (presumably plastidic GS2) which eluted from the column at 90 mM KCl increased drastically in response to light. The other isoform (presumably cytosolic GS1), which eluted at 200 mM KCl, was not stimulated by light but tended to disappear during the experimental period (4 to 12 d after sowing). Immunoblotting of pine extract yielded a prominent band with a molecular weight of 43 kDa. The linear correlation between GS activity and immunodetectable GS protein could be extrapolated through zero, showing that any increase of GS2 activity is to be attributed to the de-novo synthesis of GS protein. Gelfiltration chromatography yielded a molecular mass for the GS holoenzyme of 340 kDa, a value which supports an octameric quarternary structure as previously suggested for angiosperms. While supplying seedlings with 10 mM NO ₃ ^- stimulated GS synthesis in the whorl by 12%, 10 mM NH ₄ ⁺ caused an incipient ammonium toxicity. Experiments using dischromatic light (simultaneous treatment with two light beams to vary the level of the physiologically active form of phytochrome, Pfr, in blue light) revealed that synthesis of GS2 was controlled by light in the same way as previously shown for ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase (Fd-GOGAT; EC 1.4.7.1). Up to 10 d after sowing the strong light effect could be attributed to phytochrome action whereas between 10 and 12 d after sowing phytochrome control of GS-synthesis failed if no blue/ultraviolet-A light was provided. The data show that blue light is required to maintain responsiveness of GS2 synthesis to phytochrome. Both enzymes, GS2 as well as Fd-GOGAT, appear to be regulated coordinately to meet the demands of ammonium assimilation.Abbreviations and Symbols B blue light - D darkness - Fd-GOGAT ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.7.1); - GS glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) - R red light - RG9 long-wavelength far-red light defined by the properties of Schott glass filter RG9 - =Pfr/Ptot far-red absorbing form of phytochrome/total phytochrome, wavelength-dependent photoequilibrium of the phytochrome system Research supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 46 and Schwerpunkt Physiologie der Bäume). We thank J.M. Penther, (Institut für Biologie II, Freiburg, FRG) for his advice on the chromatographic techniques.     

Light Regulation of the Growth Response in Corn Root Gravitropism

Roots of Merit variety corn (Zea mays L.) require red light for orthogravitropic curvature. Experiments were undertaken to identify the step in the pathway from gravity perception to asymmetric growth on which light may act. Red light was effective in inducing gravitropism whether it was supplied concomitant with or as long as 30 minutes after the gravity stimulus (GS). The presentation time was the same whether the GS was supplied in red light or in darkness. Red light given before the GS slightly enhanced the rate of curvature but had little effect on the lag time or on the final curvature. This enhancement was expanded by a delay between the red light pulse and the GS. These results indicate that gravity perception and at least the initial transduction steps proceed in the dark. Light may regulate the final growth (motor) phase of gravitropism. The time required for full expression of the light enhancement of curvature is consistent with its involvement in some light-stimulated biosynthetic event.     

Rapid Decrease in the Glutamine Synthetase Activity during Imbibition of Thermodormant New York Lettuce Seeds

A high glutamine synthetase (GS) activity was detected in dryseeds of New York lettuce but it decreased rapidly during imbibitionat 35°C. The decrease in GS activity was remarkable at 35°C,but not so at 45°C or at 25°C. The activity of extractedGS was relatively constant even at 35°C. The decrease inGS activity stopped immediately after the addition of cycloheximide(CH). This suggests the presence of a GSinactivating systemin the seeds. The amount of ammonia increased abruptly duringthe early stage of imbibition at 35°C, suggesting the blockageof ammonia-assimilation at high temperature. The GS activitythat decreased to a low level during imbibition at 35°Cfor 12 h increased again during the subsequent imbibition atlow temperature (15CC) before the break of thermodormancy. Ahigher GS activity was found in the embryonic axes than in thecotyledons. Partial purification of GS showed that lettuce seedGS was eluted as a single peak on Biogel A1.5m or DEAE-Sephacel(mol wt: 4.4 x 10⁵). Thus the thermodormancy of New York lettuce seeds may be relatedto inactivation of GS during imbibition at high temperatures,and the activity of GS in the embryonic axes may control thegermination of New York lettuce seeds through the regulationof glutamine formation. (Received May 11, 1983; Accepted September 13, 1983)     

Phytochrome-mediated development of glycine oxidation by mitochondria in cucumber cotyledons

The development of glycine oxidation activity in mitochondria in etiolated cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L., cv. Shinfushinari) cotyledons is regulated by phytochrome. This conclusion is based on two lines of evidence. 1. The oxidation activity was increased by continuous illumination of far-red light. 2. It was also increased by brief red light pulses, the effect of which was reversed by brief far-red light pulses. The light-induced increase in glycine oxidation and in glycine decarboxylase (EC 2.1.2.10) activity in the cotyledons was inhibited by cycloheximide, but not by chloramphenicol. While glycine oxidation activity continued to increase during light-illumination for 20 h, malate oxidation activity increased for 6 to 8 h after illumination and decreased thereafter. This transient increase in the activity of malate oxidation was also induced by red light pulses and the effect of the red light was reversed by far-red light pulses.     

Changes in Plastidic and Cytoplasmic Pyruvate Kinase Activity during Chloroplast Development of Pea in Blue and Red Light

Pyruvate kinase (PK) activity was demonstrated in the cytosolas well as in the plastids of pea leaves. Etioplasts and chloroplastscontained about 12% of the total activity. The presence of PKactivity in different cellular compartments and the pronounceddifferences in kinetic and regulatory properties indicate thatthese activities are due to isoenzymes. When etiolated pea leaves were illuminated with weak blue light,the plastidic PK activity increased immediately, reaching amaximum (about 21% of the total activity) after 24 h of illumination.Under red light, there was a lag period of about 4 h beforethe increase in isoenzyme activity. After 24 h of illumination,however, it reached the maximum found with blue light. In contrast,light quality had no appreciable effect on cytoplasmic PK andphosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Increases in NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenaseactivity and in the soluble protein in the plastids were somewhathigher, whereas the increase in chlorophyll content was slightlylower under blue light than under red light. Blue light specificallyincreased the chlorophyll alb-ratio. These different responsesto the light quality during chloroplast development indicatethat more than one photoreceptor is involved in these processes. The results obtained for pea PK also are discussed in comparisonwith similar findings for the chlorophyll-free Chlorella mutantno. 20. (Received January 19, 1982; Accepted April 21, 1983)     

Auxin controls Golgi-localized glucan synthetase activity in the maize mesocotyl

Decapitation or red light irradiation (R) inhibited growth and Golgi-localized glucan synthetase (GS I) activity in the mesocotyl of intact maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. Applied auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) prevented the effects of R and of decapitation on both growth and GS I. Auxin applied several hours after irradiation prevented any further decline in GS I but did not restore it. Mesocotyl segments incubated in solution elongated in response to auxin but lost GS I with time regardless of the presence of exogenous auxin. An attached seed was necessary for maintenance of GS I in the dark-grown mesocotyl.Abbreviations GS glucan synthetase - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - R red light     

Effect of Phytochrome and Kinetin on Nitrite Reductase Activity in Zea mays

Red light and kinetin (10 µm) increased nitrite reductase(NIR) activity by 85 and 47% respectively in excised leavesof etiolated Zea mays. The stimulatory effect of kinetin decayedslower than that of red light. Indoleacetic acid (10 µm)had no effect on NIR activity. In the presence of abscisic acid(10 µm), the kinetin stimulated increase in NIR activitywas totally nullified, however, the red light irradiated plantsretained 20–25% increase in NIR activity over the darkcontrol. If ABA was given 2 h after kinetin treatment or redlight irradiation, it totally blocked kinetin stimulation asnoticed earlier, but red light stimulation was inhibited byonly 11%. Kinetin-treated and the red light irradiated leavesshowed 20–25% increase in nitrate accumulation, whichwas totally nullified by ABA. The experiments presented suggestan independent mode of signal transduction by kinetin and phytochromein stimulating NIR activity. (Received December 2, 1986; Accepted February 7, 1987)     

叶绿体发育和光对小麦叶谷氨酰胺合成酶基因表达的影响

利用电镜、ＤＥＡＥ－纤维素柱层析技术和小麦叶谷氨酰胺合成酶（ＧＳ）酶活性测定,研究了小麦叶片不同发育梯度的叶绿体超微结构和ＧＳ同功酶活性之间的关系。结果表明,从叶基至叶尖,随着叶绿体的成熟,净光合率增加,ＧＳ活性增加。各发育阶段离体叶绿体的３Ｈ－Ｕｒａ,３Ｈ－Ｌｅｕ 掺入试验和ＧＳ的Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ表明,基部是基因表达活性最高的部位。ＧＳｍ ＲＮＡ 在叶绿体发育阶段最多,而ＧＳ酶活性则在成熟叶绿体的部位最高。对黄化苗进行光照,ＧＳｍ ＲＮＡ 和ＧＳ活性明显增加,７２小时达到正常绿苗同等水平。由此说明核编码的叶绿体ＧＳ基因为光调控基因,明显促进了叶绿体ＧＳ基因的转录,而后叶绿体ＧＳ合成量增加     

LED Light-Induced ROS Differentially Regulates Focal Adhesion Kinase Activity in HaCaT Cell Viability

In this study, changes in cell signaling mechanisms in skin cells induced by various wavelengths and intensities of light-emitting diodes (LED) were investigated, focusing on the activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in particular. We examined the effect of LED irradiation on cell survival, the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the activity of various cell-signaling proteins. Red LED light increased cell viability at all intensities, whereas strong green and blue LED light reduced cell viability, and this effect was reversed by NAC or DPI treatment. Red LED light caused an increase in ROS formation according to the increase in the intensity of the LED light, and green and blue LED lights led to sharp increases in ROS formation. In the initial reaction to LEDs, red LED light only increased the phosphorylation of FAK and extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase (ERK), whereas green and blue LED lights increased the phosphorylation of inhibitory-κB Kinase α (IKKα), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. The phosphorylation of these intracellular proteins was reduced via FAK inhibitor, NAC, and DPI treatments. Even after 24 h of LED irradiation, the activity of FAK and ERK appeared in cells treated with red LED light but did not appear in cells treated with green and blue LED lights. Furthermore, the activity of caspase-3 was confirmed along with cell detachment. Therefore, our results suggest that red LED light induced mitogenic effects via low levels of ROS–FAK–ERK, while green and blue LED lights induced cytotoxic effects via cellular stress and apoptosis signaling resulting from high levels of ROS.     

蔗糖对水稻幼苗叶片谷氨酰胺合成酶和1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶/加氧酶的影响

报道了在光照和暗处培养下,不同的浓度的蔗水稻幼苗叶片GS及其同工酶、1,5－二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶／加氧酶（Rubisco）的影响。无论是在光照或在暗处,蔗糖对GS活性均有抑制作用,尤其是在较高蔗糖下作用更为明显;虽然Rubisco及可溶性蛋白的水平在光照和暗处有显著的差别,但蔗糖对其未见明显影响。NativePAGE与活性染色表明,在光照下或在暗处,蔗糖对GS2的抑制蔗糖浓度升同而加强,但对GS1未有明显影响。这些结果提示,在水稻幼苗生长中,蔗糖不能象不光一样诱导叶水GS活性及其同工酶表达。     

The effect of light and phytochrome on 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid metabolism in etiolated wheat seedling leaves

While light-grown wheat leaves produced ethylene at a low rate of <0.1 nanomoles per gram per hour and contained 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) at low levels of <2.5 nanomoles per gram, etiolated wheat leaves produced ethylene at a rate of 2 nanomoles per gram per hour and accumulated concentrations of ACC at levels of 40 nanomoles per gram. Upon illumination of 8-day-old etiolated wheat seedlings with white light, the ethylene production rate increased initially, due to the activation of ethylene-forming activity, but subsequently declined to a low level (0.1 nanomoles per gram per hour) at the end of the 6-hour illumination. This light-induced decline in ethylene production rate resulted from a decline (more than 35 nanomoles per gram) in ACC level, which was accompanied by a corresponding increase in 1-(malonylamino)cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid content. These data indicate that illumination promoted ACC malonylation, resulting in reduced ACC level and consequently reduced ethylene production. However, light did not cause any significant increase in the extractable ACC-malonyltransferase activity. The effect of continuous white light on promotion of ACC malonylation was also observed in intermittent white light or red light. A far-red light treatment following red light partially reversed the red light effect, indicating that phytochrome participates in the promotion of ACC malonylation.