Peroxisomes from Spinach Leaves Containing Enzymes Related to Glycolate Metabolism

The control of food mobilisation in seeds of Cucumis sativus L. : V. The effect of light on lipid degradation

The degradation of neutral lipid and the development of lipase activity in cucumber cotyledons is stimulated by white light. Malate synthase and isocitrate lyase activities show no stimulation. Lipase activity and neutral lipid breakdown are also enhanced by red light, far-red light proving ineffective. Far-red light reverses the effect of red light indicating the involvement of phytochrome in the control of lipase activity. Although light stimulates neutral lipid degradation it appears that much of the additional lipid lost is used in the synthesis of polar lipid constituents. Furthermore, the influence of light on lipid degradation appears to be species dependent.

Kinetics of mitochondrial phosphate transport and rates of respiration and phosphorylation during greening of etiolated Avena leaves

Using the technique of silicone oil filtration of organelles and the inhibitor stop method, the kinetics of transport of inorganic phosphate across the inner mitochondrial membrane were tested in relation to different stages of greening (0 to 24 h) of etiolated laminae of Avena sativa L., and compared to the rates of oxygen consumption and ATP formation. The results demonstrate that there is a pronounced increase in phosphate transport after 3 h of greening, reaching values for Vmax (about 17 μmol mg protein(-1) h(-1)) that are three times as high as those measured with mitochondria from etiolated tissue. This is also mirrored by the rates of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. After 24 h of light treatment (4 Klx), respiration and ATP formation, as well as V decreased again to levels below those of the etiolated stage. In contrast to V, there was no change in the affinity between inorganic phosphate and the binding sites of the transporting systems involved, as indicated by a rather constant Km (0.23 mM) for phosphate transport. Of the inhibitors of phosphate transport tested, mersalyl and methyl mercuric iodide were most efficient with identical characteristics of inhibition; but compared to animal mitochondria, the concentrations needed to result in similar amounts of inhibition, were more than ten times higher. The results are discussed with respect to plastid development.

A survey for isoenzymes of glucosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in C3-, C 4-and crassulacean-acid-metabolism plants, and green algae

Two isoenzymes each of glucosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9), phosphoglucomutase (EC 2.7.5.1), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.43) were separated by (NH4)2SO4 gradient solubilization and DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography from green leaves of the C3-plants spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), of the Crassulacean-acid-metabolism plants Crassula lycopodioides Lam., Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb. and Sedum rubrotinctum R.T. Clausen, and from the green algae Chlorella vulgaris and Chlamydomonas reinhardii. After isolation of cell organelles from spinach leaves by isopyenic centrifugation in sucrose gradients one of two isoenzymes of each of the four enzymes was found to be associated with whole chloroplasts while the other was restricted to the soluble cell fraction, implying the same intracellular distribution of these isoenzymes also in the other species.Among C4-plants, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were found in only one form in corn (Zea mays L.), sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and Coix lacrymajobi L., but as two isoenzymes in Atriplex spongiosa L. and Portulaca oleracea L. In corn, the two dehydrogenases were mainly associated with isolated mesophyll protoplasts while in Atriplex spongiosa they were of similar specific activity in both mesophyll protoplasts and bundle-sheath strands. In all five C4-plants three isoenzymes of glucosephosphate isomerase and phosphoglucomutase were found. In corn two were localized in the bundle-sheath strands and the third one in the mesophyll protoplasts. The amount of activity of the enzymes was similar in each of the two cell fractions. Apparently, C4 plants have isoenzymes not only in two cell compartments, but also in physiologically closely linked cell types such as mesophyll and bundle-sheath cells.

Destruction and possible de novo synthesis of phytochrome in subcellular fractions of laminae from Avena sativa L

Phytochrome was determined in etiolated laminae of Avena sativaL. either without pretreatment or after 5 min of red irradiation followed by different periods of darkness (0-24 h). At given intervals laminae were homogenized and phytochrome was determined spectrophotometrically in the total homogenate and in purified etioplasts and mitochondria. Enhanced specific activity of phytochrome was found in all fractions after the irradiation in comparison to dark controls. Phytochrome destruction was observed in all fractions at the beginning of the subsequent dark period. Whereas the homogenate and the mitochondrial fraction showed a continuous destruction so that phytochrome reached a level far below that in etiolated plants, the phytochrome level in the plastid fraction reacheda minimum at 2 h with a subsequent increase beyond the dark level. This increase was most pronounced between 4 and 8 h after the red irradiation. The results are discussed in terms of the destruction and possible de novo synthesis of phytochrome that may be different in mitochondria and plastids.

Localization of adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase in spinach leaves

Roots of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) seedlings contained only a very low activity of adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase compared to the cotyledons. Adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase activity increased about tenfold in cotyledons during greening. Preparation of organelle fractions from spinach leaves by a combination of differential and isopycnic density gradient centrifugation showed that adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase banded with NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a marker enzyme for intact chloroplasts. In the fractions of peroxisomes, mitochondria and broken chloroplasts virtually no adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase activity was measured. Comparison with the chloroplast enzyme NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase indicates that in spinach, adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase is localized almost exclusively in the chloroplasts.

In-vitro interaction between chloroplasts and peroxisomes as controlled by inorganic phosphate

Peroxisomes, whole chloroplasts, mitochondria, and broken chloroplasts of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), each form 1 band at its typical density, when isolated in sucrose gradients by isopycnic centrifugation in glycylglycine buffer. In potassium-phosphate buffer peroxisomes form a 2nd band at the density of whole chloroplasts. The phosphate effect is half-saturated at a concentration of 10-20 mM. If whole chloroplasts are removed by differential centrifugation before isopycnic centrifugation no second band is formed. Arsenate can be substituted for potassium phosphate while KCl, NaCl, KNO3 and glycolate cannot, showing inorganic phosphate to be the active ion. Evidence is presented showing that during isopycnic centrifugation more slowly sedimenting peroxisomes have to move through faster sedimented bands of whole and broken chloroplasts. In the presence of inorganic phosphate this leads to a specific interaction between whole chloroplasts and peroxisomes visible as a second peroxisomal band at the density of the whole chloroplasts. The relationship of the interaction in vitro to the known association of the two organelles in vivo is considered.

Subcellular distribution of (35)S-sulfur in spinach leaves after application of (35)SO 4 (2-) , (35)SO 3 (2-) , and (35)SO 2

(35)SO2, (35)SO 3 (2-) , and (35)SO 4 (2-) , respectively, were applied to leaves of Spinacia oleracea L. for 60 min in the light. Thereafter, the specific activity was determined in the organelles separated by means of sucrose density gradient centrifugation. In mitochondria and peroxisomes, the specific activity was equally distributed in their protein moieties. After application of (35)SO2 or (35)SO 3 (2-) , the chloroplast lamellae are characterized by elevated specific activity, which is not found after application of (35)SO 4 (2-) . Chloroplast stroma shows a low specific incorporation rate after application of either compound, which may be due to the low turnover rate of Fraction I protein.

The effect of hydrogen peroxide on CO2 fixation of isolated intact chloroplasts

Low concentration of hydrogen peroxide strongly inhibit CO2 fixation of isolated intact chloroplasts (50% inhibition at 10(-5) M hydrogen peroxide). Addition of catalase to a suspension of intact chloroplasts stimulates CO2 fixation 2--6 fold, indicating that this process is partially inhibited by endogenous hydrogen peroxide formed in a Mehler reaction. The rate of CO2 fixation is strongly increased by addition of Calvin cycle intermediates if the catalase activity of the preparation is low. However, at high catalase activity addition of Calvin cycle intermediates remains without effect. Obviously the hydrogen peroxide formed at low catalase activity leads to a loss of Calvin cycle substrates which reduces the rate of CO2 fixation. 3-Phosphoglycerate-dependent O2-evolution is not influenced by hydrogen peroxide at a concentration (5x10(-4) M) which inhibits CO2 fixation almost completely. Therefore the inhibition site of hydrogen peroxide cannot be at the step of 3-phosphoglycerate reduction. Dark CO2 fixation of lysed chloroplasts in a hypotonic medium is not or only slightly inhibited by hydrogen peroxide (2,5x10(-4) M), if ribulose-1,5-diphosphate, ribose 5-phosphate or xylulose 5-phosphate were added as substrates. However, there is a strong inhibition of CO2 fixation by hydrogen peroxide, if fructose 6-phosphate together with triose phosphate are used as substrates. This indicates that hydrogen peroxide interrupts the Calvin cycle at the transketolase step, leading to a reduced supply of the CO2-acceptor ribulose 1,5-diphosphate.

A mitochondrial glycolate: Cytochrome C reductase in Chlamydomonas reinhardii

A glycolate: cytochrome c reductase is reported in a thin-walled mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardii. The reductase is of mitochondrial origin and is sensitive to certain mitochondrial electron transport system inhibitors.

Phytochrome-mediated transformation of glyoxysomes into peroxisomes in the cotyledons of mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seedlings

The specific changes in the temporal pattern of glyoxysomal and peroxisomal enzymes in dark-grown and continuously far-red irradiated mustard seedlings are accompanied by specific changes in the spatial associations of microbodies with other cell organelles which can be quantitatively estimated from electron micrographs. The association (surface contact) with oleosomes (lipid bodies) and with plastids have been used as operational criteria for the glyoxysomal and peroxisomal engagement, respectively, of individual microbodies. The time course of these specific associations during the phytochrome-mediated changeover from glyoxysomal to peroxisomal character reveals the transient formation of functionally intermediary microbodies ("glyoxyperoxisomes") which are associated to oleosomes as well as to plastids. In continuous far-red light, up to 50% of the microbody profiles detectable on electron micrographs fall into this category, compared to about 10% in darkness. It is concluded that peroxisomes of cotyledons neither originate de novo as an independent population nor are formed from pre-existing glyoxysomes by repackaging of enzymes. We suggest rather that a transition from glyoxysomal to peroxisomal enzyme formation in the presence of continuous turnover of microbody particles leads to a gradual replacement of microbodies of glyoxysomal character by microbodies of intermediary character and ultimately by microbodies of peroxisomal character.

Cytochemical discrimination between catalases and peroxidases using diaminobenzidine

The influence on diaminobenzidine staining of four variables: prefixation in aldehyde, temperature and pH of incubation, and H2O2 concentration, was investigated in catalase-, as well as in peroxydase-containing material. Catalase from five different sources and five types of peroxidase were examined. It is concluded: (a) when cells are incubated without prior fixation, in a DAB medium at room temperature and pH 7.3 with 0.003% H2O2, peroxidases produce a visible cytochemical stain, while catalases do not; (b) the cytochemical reaction elicited by catalases is stimulated by prior aldehyde fixation in specified conditions, and incubation at 45 degrees C and pH 9.7 with 0.06% H2O2; (c) under the latter circumstances several peroxidases also stain. Ultrastructural preservation is satisfactory in tissues incubated prior to fixation.

Studies on the intracellular location of enzymes of the photosynthetic carbon-reduction cycle

Homogenates of dark-pretreated leaves yield two particulate fractions in density gradient centrifugation: one contains chlorophyll (chloroplasts) while a second fraction contains ribulose-1, 5-bisphophate carboxylase, NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and catalase. Addition of a microbody-rich pellet to chloroplasts isolated from dark-pretreated plants largely enhances both oxygen evolution and CO2-fixation into organic compounds. The pathway of CO2 reduction may be part of a membrane system which, under suitable conditions, may separate from the chloroplast as a distinct cytoplasmic entity, having physical properties similar to those of microbodies.

Purification and properties of S-adenosyl-L-methionine: caffeic acid O-methyltransferase from leaves of spinach beet (Beta vulgaris L)

1. An enzyme catalysing the methylation of caffeic acid to ferulic acid, using S-adenosyl-L-methionine as methyl donor, has been extracted from leaves of spinach beet and purified 75-fold to obtain a stable preparation. 2. The enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 6.5, and did not require the addition of Mg2+ for maximum activity. 3. It was most active with caffeic acid, but showed some activity with catechol, protocatechuic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. The Km for caffeic acid was 68 muM. 4. 4. The Km for S-adenosyl-L-methionine was 12.5 muM. S-Adenosyl-L-homocystein (Ki = 4.4 muM) was a competitive inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine. 5. The synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine from adenosine and L-homocysteine and its consequent effect on caffeic acid methylation were demonstrated with a partially-purified preparation from spinach-beet leaves, which possessed both S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (EC 3.3.1.1) and adenosine nucleosidase (EC 3.2.2.7) activities. This preparation was also able to catalyse the rapid breakdown of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine to adenosine and adenine; the possible significance of this reaction in relieving the inhibition of caffeic acid methylation by S-adenosyl-L-homocystein is discussed.

[Localisation of tryptophan synthetase in etioplasts of Pisum sativum L]

Tryptophan synthetase from buds of pea seedlings is associated with a particulate fraction. By centrifugation on a continuous sucrose gradient and electron microscopy it is shown that the enzyme is localized in etioplasts.

Peroxidases in tobacco abscission zone tissue. I. Fine-structural localization in cell walls during ethylene-induced abscission

The fine-structural localization of peroxidases during ethylene-induced abscission of flower pedicels of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. ‘Little Turkish’ has been investigated. Peroxidase activity has been localized in both the cell walls and intercellular spaces of ethylene-treated flower pedicels which were fixed in glutaraldehyde, incubated in diaminobenzidine (DAB) medium with postfixation in 2 % osmium tetroxide. Peroxidase staining is present in the cell walls and intercellular spaces of control tissue but is not as intense as in ethylene-treated tissue. Increased peroxidase staining is evident in the intercellular spaces and cell walls after 2 h of exposure to ethylene and increases in intensity between 2 and 5 h. At 5 h, ethylene-induced abscission occurs. Fine-structural investigations revealed prominent staining in the middle-lamellar and peripheral areas of the cell walls in ethylene-treated tissue. The peroxidase staining appears to be due to peroxidase as prior incubation with potassium cyanide gives a marked reduction in the staining reaction. Incubation of the ethylene-exposed tissue in aminotriazole, a specific inhibitor of catalase, does not reduce peroxidase staining, except in the microbodies, which reportedly contain catalase.

[Compartmentation and properties of the MDH-isoenzymes from watermelon cotyledons (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.)]

Five MDH-isoenzymes (I-V) from cotyledons of dark-grown water-melon seedlings older than 2 days can be identified by disc-electrophoresis. By isolating and fractionating cell organelles (10000 g fraction) by density gradient centrifugation (Fig. 1) the following compartmentation of the MDH-isoenzymes can be shown: the mitochondria contain isoenzyme III and the glyoxysomes preponderantly (if not exclusive) isoenzyme V (Fig. 2), whereas the isoenzymes I, II, and IV belong to the cytosol.The 5 MDH-isoenzymes differ in several properties, e.g. differential precipitation by ammonium sulfate (Fig. 4) or isoelectric point (Fig. 5). The glyoxysomal MDH is a relatively basic protein (isoelectric point at pH 8.7), whereas the isoelectric points of the other isoenzymes lie between pH 6.4 (IV) and pH 4.7 (I).

The ultrastructure and cytochemistry of microbodies in dinoflagellates

Microbodies, similar in morphology to those of higher plants and animals, have been observed in thirteen genera of dinoflagellates. As in other unicellular algae, they did not show any staining after incubation in DAB/H2O2 medium although the mitochondrial cristae and chloroplast lamellae did give a positive reaction. The microbodies of Scrippsiella sweeneyae were found to be associated with a membranous reticulate structure, which may be involved in their formation.

Urate oxidase in peroxisomes from maize root tips

Peroxisomes isolated from maize root tips contained urate oxidase, although the supplementary enzymes allantoinase, allantoicase and NADH-glyoxylate reductase were not detected. Some glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase was present in peroxisomes. Enzymes of two other pathways occuring in plant peroxisomes, namely glycolate metabolism and the glyoxylate cycle, were not present. The root peroxisome thus resembles peroxisomes of the Arum spadix and supports the concept that peroxisomes constitute a dynamic and differentiating system.

The effect of paraquat on flax cotyledon leaves: Physiological and biochemical changes

Some of the physiological and biochemical changes which were found to occur during paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium ion) treatment of cotyledon leaves of Linium usitatissimum, are reported. Results showed an inhibition of photosynthetic CO2 uptake and electron flow of isolated chloroplasts. An increase in membrane permeability, changes in the level of the major lipid components and of malondialdehyde. These are correlated with ultrastructural changes and the discussion includes a proposed mode of action for the herbicides.

Isolation of protein bodies on sucrose gradients

Storage protein bodies from sunflower cotyledons during early stages of seed germination were isolated on sucrose density gradients by isopycnic centrifugation. The density of this organelle on the gradients ranged between 1.26 and 1.36 g cm(-3). A proteinase with a pH optimum of 5.2 was associated with this organelle, and is probably responsible for degradation of storage protein. A NADH-dependent cytochrome-c reductase, a membrane marker enzyme with a pH optimum of 8.4, was also present in this organelle fraction.

Plant-leaf microbodies as the intracellular site of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase

The subcellular location of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase has been studied. This was done in order to test the feasibility of the functional coupling of the pathways of nitrate reduction and glycolate oxidation. Nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase sediment together with catalase‐containing microbodies in tobacco leaves. Nitrate reductase seems to be located on the membrane of the microbodies and can be easily separated from it without apparently affecting the integrity of the organelle. Nitrite reductase and catalase are located within the microbodies.

The occurrence of microbodies and peroxisomal enzymes in achlorophyllous leaves

Several types of leaves of leaf parts lacking chlorophyll were fixed and embedded according to conventional procedures and examined electron-microscopically for microbodies. Comparisons of relative abundance of microbodies, plastids and mitochondria were made by computing the average numbers of organelle profiles per cell section. Similar leaves were homogenized and assayed for three enzymes characteristic of leaf peroxisomes. The localization of these enzymes in microbodies was indicated for the achlorophyllous tissues by the positive result obtained when 3,3'-diaminobenzidine was used as an electron cytochemical stain for catalase activity.Microbodies were present in all non-photosynthetic leaves or leaf parts examined, including yellowish-white segments of variegated leaves, albino leaves, and etiolated leaves of two species. In several cases, the numbers of microbody profiles per cell section were as great in the achlorophyllous leaves as in the chlorophyllous. The levels of peroxisomal enzyme activity in the yellowish-white leaves were substantial, although often not as high as in the green leaves. It was concluded that enzymatically these microbodies are probably similar to the peroxisomes characterized from chlorophyllous leaves. In the absence of the photosynthetic product, glycolate, however, it seems unlikely that the organelle is performing the same functions as in green leaves. It is also apparent that the initial formation of peroxisomes in leaves can occur when neither light nor a photosynthate such as glycolate is present as an inducer.