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The occurrence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and enzymes related to photosynthesis and organic acid/nitrogen metabolism in apricot flowers (Prunus armeniaca L.)

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Abstract

This study determined the occurrence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and some enzymes involved in photosynthesis and organic acid/nitrogen metabolism in the different parts of apricot flowers and some other tissues of apricot. Both PEPCK protein and activity were detected in the petal, carpel, stamen filament and in the flesh of both unripe and ripe fruits, but not in the sepal or mature leaf. Both PEPCK polypeptide and activity were most abundant in the flesh of ripe fruits. In floral tissues the photosynthetic enzymes ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and putative plastidic glutamine synthase and plastidic aldolase were most abundant in the sepal in which PEPCK was not detected. The potential functions of PEPCK in the different tissues of apricot are discussed. This study highlights the potential importance of gluconeogenesis in floral metabolism.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

PEPC:

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase

PEPCK:

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase

Rubisco:

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

GS:

Glutamine synthase

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Acknowledgements

The research was funded by the “Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia—Codice Progetto 2010.011.0470—Ricerca di base”, Perugia, Italy, Perugia, Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy

    Franco Famiani, Alessandro Baldicchi, Valeria Casulli & Robert P. Walker

  2. Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Università, 100, 80055, Portici, NA, Italy

    Claudio Di Vaio

  3. Centro Regional Universitario Oriente, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Huatusco, Veracruz, Mexico

    Juan G. Cruz-Castillo

Authors
  1. Franco Famiani
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  2. Alessandro Baldicchi
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  3. Valeria Casulli
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  4. Claudio Di Vaio
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  5. Juan G. Cruz-Castillo
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  6. Robert P. Walker
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Franco Famiani or Robert P. Walker.

Additional information

Communicated by L. A. Kleczkowski.

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Famiani, F., Baldicchi, A., Casulli, V. et al. The occurrence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and enzymes related to photosynthesis and organic acid/nitrogen metabolism in apricot flowers (Prunus armeniaca L.). Acta Physiol Plant 39, 260 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-017-2557-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-017-2557-8

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