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The activities of PEP carboxylase and the C4 acid decarboxylases are little changed by drought stress in three C4 grasses of different subtypes

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Abstract

The C4 photosynthetic pathway involves the assimilation of CO2 by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and the subsequent decarboxylation of C4 acids. The enzymes of the CO2 concentrating mechanism could be affected under water deficit and limit C4 photosynthesis. Three different C4 grasses were submitted to gradually induced drought stress conditions: Paspalum dilatatum (NADP-malic enzyme, NADP-ME), Cynodon dactylon (NAD-malic enzyme, NAD-ME) and Zoysia japonica (PEP carboxykinase, PEPCK). Moderate leaf dehydration affected the activity and regulation of PEPC in a similar manner in the three grasses but had species-specific effects on the C4 acid decarboxylases, NADP-ME, NAD-ME and PEPCK, although changes in the C4 enzyme activities were small. In all three species, the PEPC phosphorylation state, judged by the inhibitory effect of l-malate on PEPC activity, increased with water deficit and could promote increased assimilation of CO2 by the enzyme under stress conditions. Appreciable activity of PEPCK was observed in all three species suggesting that this enzyme may act as a supplementary decarboxylase to NADP-ME and NAD-ME in addition to its role in other metabolic pathways.

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Abbreviations

BS:

Bundle sheath

DTT:

1,4-Dithiothreitol

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

LWP:

Leaf water potential

M:

Mesophyll

MDH:

Malate dehydrogenase

NADH:

Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (reduced)

NAD-ME:

NAD-malic enzyme

NADPH:

Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced)

NADP-ME:

NADP-malic enzyme

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

PEP:

Phosphoenolpyruvate

PEPC:

PEP carboxylase

PEPCK:

PEP carboxykinase

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

PVP:

Polyvinylpyrrolidone

Rubisco:

RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase

RuBP:

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

RWC:

Leaf relative water content

SWC:

Soil water content

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Acknowledgements

A. E. Carmo-Silva acknowledges Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal, for financial support (PhD grant SFRH/BD/13730/2003). Rothamsted Research is a grant-aided institute of The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, United Kingdom. The authors thank AgResearch, Margot Forde Forage Germplasm Centre, New Zealand, for providing the seeds of P. dilatatum, and Alípio Dias & Irmão, Lda, Portugal, for providing the seeds of C. dactylon and Z. japonica. We are grateful to Dr. Stephen J. Powers, Department of Biomathematics and Bioinformatics, Rothamsted Research, England, for advice on statistical evaluation of the data and help with REML modelling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Engenharia Biológica and Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal

    Ana E. Carmo-Silva, Anabela Bernardes da Silva & Maria C. Arrabaça

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, Centre for Crop Genetic Improvement, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK

    Alfred J. Keys & Martin A. J. Parry

Authors
  1. Ana E. Carmo-Silva
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  2. Anabela Bernardes da Silva
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  3. Alfred J. Keys
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  4. Martin A. J. Parry
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  5. Maria C. Arrabaça
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Correspondence to Ana E. Carmo-Silva.

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Carmo-Silva, A.E., Bernardes da Silva, A., Keys, A.J. et al. The activities of PEP carboxylase and the C4 acid decarboxylases are little changed by drought stress in three C4 grasses of different subtypes. Photosynth Res 97, 223–233 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-008-9329-7

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