Summary
Chloroplast preparations from spinach leaves containing a high percentage of intact chloroplasts were capable of light dependent nitrite reduction at rates around 9 μmol/mg chlorophyll/h for at least 50 min. This reduction was inhibited by DCMU but unaffected by uncouplers of photosynthetic phosphorylation. Nitrite reduction was not accompanied by a stoichiometric evolution of oxygen evolution. The disappearance of nitrite was accompanied by an approximately stoichiometric formation of reduced nitrogen.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- DCMU:
-
3-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea
- CCCP:
-
carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone
References
Canvin, D. T., Atkins, C. A.: NO −3 , NO −2 and NH +4 assimilation by barley leaves. Plant Physiol. (Lancaster) 51, Suppl. Abs. No. 177 (1973)
Cheniae, G. M.: Photosystem II and O2 evolution. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 21, 467–498 (1970)
Dalling, M. J., Tolbert, N. E., Hageman, R. H.: Intracellular location of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase. I. Spinach and tobacco leaves. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 238, 505–512 (1972)
De Kieweit, D. Y., Hall, D. O., Jenner, F. L.: Effect of carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone on the photochemical reactions of isolated chloroplasts. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 109, 284–292 (1965)
Gaffron, H.: The effect of specific poisons upon the photoreduction with hydrogen in green algae. J. gen. Physiol. 26, 195–217 (1942)
Grant, B. R., Atkins, C. A., Canvin, D. T.: Intracellular location of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase in spinach and sunflower leaves. Planta (Berl.) 94, 60–72 (1970)
Grant, B. R., Canvin, D. T.: The effect of nitrate on oxygen evolution and carbon dioxide assimilation and the reduction of nitrate and nitrite by intact chloroplasts. Planta (Berl.) 95, 227–246 (1970)
Grant, B. R., LaBelle, R., Mangat, B. S.: The action of nitrite on NADP reduction by intact spinach chloroplasts. Planta (Berl.) 106, 181–184 (1972)
Hattori, A.: Light-induced reduction of nitrate, nitrite and hydroxylamine in a blue-green alga, Anabena cylindrica. Plant and Cell Physiol. 3, 355–369 (1962)
Hofmann, A.: Über die energetische Kopplung der Nitritassimilation von Grünalgen an Atmung und Photosynthese. Planta (Berl.) 102, 72–84 (1972)
Kessler, E., Zumft, W. G.: Effect of nitrite and nitrate on chlorophyll fluorescence in green algae. Planta (Berl.) 111, 41–46 (1973)
Kirk, P. R., Leech, R. M.: Amino acid biosynthesis by isolated chloroplasts during photosynthesis. Plant Physiol. (Lancaster) 50, 228–234 (1972)
Lips, S. H., Avissar, Y.: Plant-leaf microbodies as the intracellular site of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase. Europ. J. Biochem. 29, 20–24 (1972)
Lyttleton, J. W.: Use of colloidal silica in density gradients to separate intact chloroplasts. Analyt. Biochem. 38, 277–307 (1970)
Magalhaes, A. C., Neyra, C. A., Hageman, R. H.: Nitrite assimilation and amino acid synthesis in isolated spinach chloroplasts. Plant Physiol. (Lancaster) 51, Suppl. Abs. No 295 (1973)
Magalhaes, A. C., Neyra, C. A., Hageman, R. H.: Nitrite assimilation and amino nitrogen synthesis in isolated spinach chloroplasts. Plant Physiol. (Lancaster), in press (1974)
Miflin, B. J.: The role of light in nitrite reduction; studies with leaf disks. Planta (Berl.) 105, 225–233 (1972)
Morris, I., Ahmad, J.: The effect of light on nitrate and nitrite assimilation by Chlorella and Ankistrodesmus. Physiol. Plantarum (Cph.) 22, 1166–1176 (1969)
Paneque, A., Ramirez, J. M., DelCampo, F. F., Losada, M.: Light and dark reduction of nitrite in a reconstituted enzyme system. J. biol. Chem. 239, 1737–1741 (1964)
Ritenour, G. L., Joy, K. W., Bunning, J., Hageman, R. H.: Intracellular localization of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase and glutamic acid dehydrogenase in green leaf tissue. Plant Physiol. (Lancaster) 42, 233–237 (1967)
Rosen, H.: A modified ninhydrin colorimetric analysis for amino acids. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 67, 10–15 (1957)
Russel, J. A.: The estimation of small amounts of ammonia by the phenolhypochlorite reaction. J. biol. Chem. 156, 457–465 (1944)
Strotmann, H., Reid, A.: Polarographische Messung der Nitritreduktion von Chlorella im monochromatischen Licht. Planta (Berl.) 85, 250–269 (1969)
Swader, J. A., Stocking, C. R.: Nitrate and nitrite reduction by Wolffia arrhiza Plant Physiol. (Lancaster) 47, 189–191 (1971)
Walker, D. A.: Improved rates of carbon dioxide fixation by illuminated chloroplasts. Biochem. J. 92, 22c-23c (1964)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Miflin, B.J. Nitrite reduction in leaves; Studies on isolated chloroplasts. Planta 116, 187–196 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390226
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390226