Analysis of the O2 dependency in leaf-level photosynthesis of two Reynoutria japonica populations growing at different altitudes

To examine the effects of decreased CO₂ and O₂ partial pressure on leaf‐level photosynthesis in alpine plants at high altitude, we compared the maximal carboxylation efficiency, CE, of Reynoutria japonica Houtt. var. japonica growing in a highland with one growing in a lowland. CE under the native atmospheric conditions (native CE) of the highland population was significantly lower than that of the lowland one. The O₂ dependency of CE was significantly less in the highland population than in the lowland. Using theoretical analysis, we explained that O₂ dependency of leaf‐level photosynthesis became less as internal conductance (g_i) decreased. We also showed that g_i and the content of active Rubisco (E) could be estimated from the O₂ dependency of leaf‐level photosynthesis. By applying the analysis, a severe limitation of CO₂ diffusion in the leaf was estimated in the highland population, whereas almost the same values of E were estimated in both populations. A reasonable explanation for the difference in the native CE is the smaller O₂ dependency and photosynthetic capacity caused by a smaller g_i in the highland population in addition to the differences in the partial pressures of CO₂ and O₂.     

Photosynthetic characteristics of dipterocarp species planted on degraded sandy soils in southern Thailand

To elucidate whether dipterocarp species, dominant late-successional species of tropical forests in Southeast Asia, actually have a disadvantage when planted on open site in terms of their photosynthetic characteristics, we investigated photosynthesis in dipterocarp seedlings planted in the open on degraded sandy soils in southern Thailand. These species were compared with seedlings of Acacia mangium Willd., a fast-growing tropical leguminous tree, which is often planted on degraded open site in Southeast Asia. The dipterocarp seedlings had an irradiance-saturated net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), carboxylation efficiency, and photosynthetic capacity comparable to or superior to those of A. mangium. In particular, seedlings of Dipterocarpus obtusifolius Teijsm. ex Miq. showed an irradian-ce-saturated P _N of 21 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, a value higher than any previously reported for a dipterocarp species, accompanied by high g _s (0.7 mol m⁻² s⁻¹) and high photosynthetic capacity. Thus dipterocarp species do not necessarily have a disadvantage in terms of their photosynthetic characteristics on open sites with degraded sandy soils.     

6个不结球白菜品种光合作用特性的研究

对6个不结球白菜品种的光合作用特性进行了研究。结果表明,在800μmol·m-2·s-1的光强下,不结球白菜的净光合速率以‘正大抗热青3号’最高,达16.37μmol CO2·m-2·s-1,其光合作用表观量子效率、羧化效率和水分利用效率也最高,分别为0.0442、0.0854mol·m-2·s-1和6.20μmol CO2·mmol-1H2O;暗呼吸速率以‘绿星’最低,为2.24μmol CO2·m-2·s-1;Pn-PFD响应曲线显示,在光强300μmol·m-2·s-1以下,各品种的净光合速率差异较小,在光强为300~1000μmol·m-2·s-1区段时,净光合速率随着光照强度增加而迅速增加。‘正大抗热青3号’光饱和点最高,达1910.3μmol·m-2·s-1,其光饱和点的净光合速率也最高,达20.2μmol CO2·m-2·s-1;不结球白菜不同品种净光合速率日变化进程相似,不论数值高低均呈双峰曲线型,有明显的“午休”现象。     

Regulation of Photosynthesis of C3 Plants in Response to Progressive Drought: Stomatal Conductance as a Reference Parameter

We review the photosynthetic responses to drought in field-growngrapevines and other species. As in other plant species, therelationship between photosynthesis and leaf water potentialand/or relative water content in field-grown grapevines dependson conditions during plant growth and measurements. However,when light-saturated stomatal conductance was used as the referenceparameter to reflect drought intensity, a common response patternwas observed that was much less dependent on the species andconditions. Many photosynthetic parameters (e.g. electron transportrate, carboxylation efficiency, intrinsic water-use efficiency,respiration rate in the light, etc.) were also more stronglycorrelated with stomatal conductance than with water statusitself. Moreover, steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence alsoshowed a high dependency on stomatal conductance. This is discussedin terms of an integrated down-regulation of the whole photosyntheticprocess by CO₂ availability in the mesophyll. A study with sixMediterranean shrubs revealed that, in spite of some markedinterspecific differences, all followed the same pattern ofdependence of photosynthetic processes on stomatal conductance,and this pattern was quite similar to that of grapevines. Furtheranalysis of the available literature suggests that the above-mentionedpattern is general for C₃ plants. Even though the patterns describeddo not necessarily imply a cause and effect relationship, theycan help our understanding of the apparent contradictions concerningstomatal vs. non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis underdrought. The significance of these findings for the improvementof water-use efficiency of crops is discussed.     

Photosynthesis and photoinhibition after night chilling in seedlings of two tropical tree species grown under three irradiances

We investigated the physiological effect of night chilling (CN) on potted seedlings of two tropical tree species, Calophyllum polyanthum and Linociera insignis, in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. Seedlings grown under 8, 25, and 50 % daylight for five months were moved to a 4–6 °C cold storage house for three consecutive nights, and returned to the original shaded sites during the day. CN resulted in strong suppression of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance for L. insignis, and reduced photorespiration rates, carboxylation efficiency, and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) at dawn and midday for both species. CN increased dawn and midday rates of non-photochemical quenching, and the contents of malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ for both species. CN also induced inactivation or destruction of PS2 reaction centres. The impacts of CN on tropical seedlings increased with the number of CN. Shading could significantly mitigate the adverse effects of CN for both species. After 3-d-recovery, gas exchange and fluorescence parameters for both species returned to pre-treatment levels in most cases. Thus CN induced mainly stomatal limitation of photosynthesis for L. insignis, and non-stomatal limitation for C. polyanthum. C. polyanthum was more susceptible to CN than L. insignis. Fog, which often occurs in Xishuangbanna, could be beneficial to chilling sensitive tropical seedlings in this area through alleviating photoinhibition or photodamage by reducing sunlight.     

Chloroplastic Carbon Dioxide Concentration in Norway Spruce (Picea Abies [L.] Karst.) needles relates to the position within the crown

Differences between sun (E) and shaded (S) foliage were studied in a Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) stand. Response curves describing the dependence of the CO2 assimilation rate (PN) on the CO2 concentration at the catalytic site of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, RuBPCO (PN-Cc) were estimated using the simultaneous measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas exchange. Higher PN, higher electron transport (Ja), higher carboxylation capacity (Vc), and higher RuBPCO activity () for sun acclimated needles was found. The S-needles had higher portion of internal limitation and higher CO2 compensation concentration () than the E-needles. Because higher degree of limitation of photosynthesis by carboxylation was ascertained, it can be assumed that photosynthesis in shade foliage is limited mainly by lower carboxylation capacity and by low chloroplastic CO2 concentration     

The temperature acclimation of photosynthetic responses to CO2 in Zea mays and its relationship to the activities of photosynthetic enzymes and the CO2-concentrating mechanism of C4 photosynthesis

Abstract Associations between photosynthetic responses to CO₂ at rate-saturating light and photosynthetic enzyme activities were compared for leaves of maize grown under constant air temperatures of 19, 25 and 31°C. Key photosynthetic enzymes analysed were ribulose bisphosphatc (RuBP) carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase, NADP-malic enzyme and pyruvate, P_i dikinasc. Rates of CO₂-saturated photosynthesis were similar in leaves developed at 19°C and 25°C but were decreased significantly by growth at 31°C. In contrast, carboxylation efficiency differed significantly between all three temperature regimes. Carboxylation efficiency was greatest in leaves developed at 19°C and decreased with increasing temperature during growth. The changes of carboxylation efficiency were highly correlated with changes in the activity of pyruvate, P_i dikinase (r= 0.95), but not with other photosynthetic enzyme activities. The activities of these latter enzymes, including that of RuBP carboxylase, were relatively insensitive to temperature during growth. The sensitivity of quantum yield to O₂ concentration was lower in leaves grown at 19°C than in leaves grown at 31°C. These observations support the novel hypothesis that variation in the capacity for CO₂ delivery to the bundle sheath by the C₄ cycle, relative to the capacity for net assimilation by the C₂ cycle, can be a principal determinant of C₄ photosynthetic responses to CO₂.     

Enzymes involved in anaerobic degradation of acetone by a denitrifying bacterium

The pathway of anaerobic acetone degradation by the denitrifying bacterial strain BunN was studied by enzyme measurements in extracts of anaerobic acetone-grown cells. An ADP- and MgCl₂-dependent decarboxylation of acetoacetate was detected which could not be found in cell-free extracts of acetate-grown cells. It is concluded that free acetoacetate is formed by ATP-dependent carboxylation of acetone. Acetoacetate was converted into its coenzyme A ester by succinyl-CoA: acetoacetate CoA transferase, and cleaved by a thiolase into acetyl-CoA. The acetyl residue was completely oxidized in the citric acid cycle. The ADP-dependent decarboxylation of acetoacetate was inhibited by EDTA, but not by avidin. High myokinase activities led to equilibrium amounts of ATP, ADP, and AMP in the reaction mixtures, and prevented determination of the decarboxylase reaction stoichiometry, therefore.Abbreviations ADP adenosine diphosphate - AMP adenosine monophosphate - ATP adenosine triphosphate - BSA bovine serum albumine - MOPS 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis-(2-ethanesulfonic acid) - PHB poly--hydroxybutyrate - Tris Tris-(hydroxymethyl-) aminomethane     

On the mechanism of the so-called uncoupling effect of medium- and short-chain fatty acids

Octanoate applied to rat liver mitochondria respiring with glutamate plus malate or succinate (plus rotenone) under resting-state (State 4) conditions stimulates oxygen uptake and decreases the membrane potential, both effects being sensitive to oligomycin but not to carboxyatractyloside. Octanoate also decreases the rate of pyruvate carboxylation under the same conditions, this effect being correlated with the decrease of intramitochondrial content of ATP and increase of AMP. The decrease of pyruvate carboxylation and the change of mitochondrial adenine nucleotides are both reversed by 2-oxoglutarate. Fatty acids of shorter chain length have similar effects, though at higher concentrations. Addition of octanoate in the presence of fluoride (inhibitor of pyrophosphatase) produces intramitochondrial accumulation of pyrophosphate, even under conditions when oxidation of octanoate is prevented by rotenone. In isolated hepatocytes incubated with lactate plus pyruvate, octanoate also increases oxygen uptake and produces a shift in the profile of adenine nucleotides similar to that observed in isolated mitochondria. It decreases the ‘efficiency’ of gluconeogenesis, as expressed by the ratio between an increase of glucose production and an increase of oxygen uptake upon addition of gluconeogenic substrates (lactate plus pyruvate), and increases the reduction state of mitochondrial NAD. These effects taken together are not compatible with uncoupling, but point to intramitochondrial hydrolysis of octanoyl-CoA and probably also shorter chain-length acyl-CoAs. This mechanism probably functions as a ‘safety valve’ preventing a drastic decrease of intramitochondrial free CoA under a large supply of medium- and short-chain fatty acids.     

过表达羧化途径及失活苹果酸酶基因对大肠杆菌好氧发酵产苹果酸的影响

苹果酸是一种重要的C4二羧酸,在食品、医药、化工等领域有广泛的应用。本文主要研究羧化途径强化及苹果酸酶失活对大肠杆菌好氧发酵生产苹果酸的影响。首先在大肠杆菌E2中过表达了磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶基因ppc,得到菌株E21,苹果酸积累量从0.57 g/L提高到3.83 g/L。随后,分别过表达来自谷氨酸棒杆菌的丙酮酸羧化酶基因pyc和来自琥珀酸放线杆菌的磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸激酶pck基因,相应的工程菌株E21(pTrcpyc)和E21(pTrc-A-pck)分别产6.04和5.01 g/L苹果酸,得率分别达到0.79和0.65 mol/mol葡萄糖。敲除E21中的苹果酸酶基因mae A和mae B,苹果酸产量也显著提高了36%,达到5.21 g/L,得率为0.62 mol/mol。然而,在过表达pyc的基础上敲除苹果酸酶基因并不能进一步提高苹果酸的产量。经过摇瓶发酵条件的初步优化,菌株E21(pTrcpyc)生产12.45 g/L苹果酸,得率为0.84 mol/mol,达到理论得率的63.2%。