Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS) occupies a key position in the nitrogen metabolism of higher plants. The enzyme is responsible for the assimilation of ammonium which arises from a number of reactions in different parts of the plant (Miflin and Lea 1980). In roots, ammonium occurs from direct uptake from the growth medium or reduction of exogenous nitrate, whereas in legume root nodules it arises primarily from dinitrogen fixation carried out by symbiotic Rhizobium. In leaves the major flux of ammonium is produced by photorespiration but other sources include reduction of nitrate and utilization of organic nitrogen transport compounds such as ureides and amides. In addition ammonium is released by amino acid catabolism and phenylpropanoid metabolism in many parts of the plant. GS activity must therefore be sufficient to serve these many physiological functions.
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References
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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Cullimore, J.V., Cock, J.M., Robbins, M.P., Bennett, M.J. (1990). Glutamine Synthetase of French Bean: From Genes To Isoenzymes. In: Ullrich, W.R., Rigano, C., Fuggi, A., Aparicio, P.J. (eds) Inorganic Nitrogen in Plants and Microorganisms. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75812-6_41
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75812-6_41
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