Acid-base-modulation of nitrate reductase in leaf tissues

Abstract

The effect of acid or base-loading of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaf discs on the activation status of nitrate reductase (NR) in the dark and in the light was investigated. Activity of NR (NRA), measured in crude extracts of leaf discs with removed lower epidermis, which had been floating on Mes-buffer [2-(N-morpholino)ethane sulfonic acid] pH 5.2 in the dark, was at a similar low level as in whole, darkened leaves. By addition of acetate or propionic acid, butyric acid or benzoic acid, NR was activated to or beyond the light level. The pH of crude tissue extracts was decreased by 0.5–1 pH units. Tissue acidification caused an inhibition of photosynthesis and of dark CO₂ fixation. The acid-induced activation of NR in vivo was largely prevented by okadaic acid, an inhibitor of Type 1 and Type 2A protein phosphatases. This indicates that acid-induced activation was mediated by protein dephosphorylation. When, on the other hand, leaf discs were illuminated on Ches-buffer (2-[ N-cyclohexylamino]ethane sulfonic acid) pH 9 in the presence of bicarbonate (80 mM), their NR was as active as in intact leaves. Addition of ammonium chloride (up to 6 mM) caused a pH increase of the tissue extract up to 0.9 pH units. At the same time NR was inactivated to the dark level. Methionine sulfoximine did not prevent the ammonium effect. Photosynthesis and dark CO₂ fixation were stimulated at pH 9 by ammonium chloride (1–2· mol· m ⁻³) and were only slightly inhibited by up to 6 mol· m⁻³. The modulation of NR by acid-base treatment in vivo was fully reversible. The response of the NR system to acid or base treatment is consistent with a proposed role of nitrate reduction in the cellular pH-stat. The observation also indicates that cytosolic pH changes may be involved the signal chain triggering the modulation of NR.