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Sucrose Synthase in Legume Nodules Is Essential for Nitrogen
Fixation1
Anthony J. Gordon*,
Frank R. Minchin,
Caron L. James, and
Olga Komina2
Department of Environmental Biology, Institute of Grassland and
Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceridigion SY23
3EB, United Kingdom
The role of sucrose synthase (SS) in
the fixation of N was examined in the rug4 mutant of pea
(Pisum sativum L.) plants in which SS activity was
severely reduced. When dependent on nodules for their N supply, the
mutant plants were not viable and appeared to be incapable of effective
N fixation, although nodule formation was essentially normal. In fact,
N and C resources invested in nodules were much greater in mutant
plants than in the wild-type (WT) plants. Low SS activity in nodules
(present at only 10% of WT levels) resulted in lower amounts of total
soluble protein and leghemoglobin and lower activities of several
enzymes compared with WT nodules. Alkaline invertase activity was not
increased to compensate for reduced SS activity. Leghemoglobin was
present at less than 20% of WT values, so O2 flux may have
been compromised. The two components of nitrogenase were present at
normal levels in mutant nodules. However, only a trace of nitrogenase
activity was detected in intact plants and none was found in isolated
bacteroids. The results are discussed in relation to the role of SS in
the provision of C substrates for N fixation and in the development of
functional nodules.
1
The Institute of Grassland and Environmental
Research is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
Research Council of the United Kingdom. O.K. was supported by the Royal
Society.
2
Present address: A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry,
Leninsky Pr 33, Moscow 117071, Russia.
*
Corresponding author; e-mail tony.gordon{at}bbsrc.ac.uk; fax
44-9-70-828-357.
Plant Physiol. (1999) 120: 867-878
Copyright Clearance Center: 0032-0889/99/120//12
© 1999 American Society of Plant Physiologists
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