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Articles

Photosynthetic/Photorespiratory Carbon Metabolism in the C₃-C₄ Intermediate Species, Moricandia arvensis and Panicum milioides¹

Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, East Campus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0718

The distribution of ¹⁴C in photosynthetic metabolites of two naturally occurring higher plants with reduced photorespiration, Moricandia arvensis and Panicum milioides, in pulse and pulse-chase ¹⁴CO₂ incorporation experiments was similar to that for the C₃ species, M. foetida and Glycine max. After 6 seconds of ¹⁴CO₂ incorporation, only about 6% of the total ¹⁴C fixed was in malate and aspartate in both M. arvensis and P. milioides. The apparent turnover of the C₄ acids was very slow, and malate accumulated during the day in M. arvensis. Thus, C₄ acid metabolism by M. arvensis and P. milioides had no significant role in photosynthetic carbon assimilation under the conditions of our experiments (310 microliters CO₂ per liter, 21% O₂, 1100 or 1900 micromoles photon per square meter per second, 27°C).

After a 36-second chase period in air containing 270 microliters CO₂ per liter, about 20% of the total ¹⁴C fixed was in glycine with M. arvensis, as compared to 15% with M. foetida, 14% with P. milioides, and 9% with G. max. After a 36-second chase period in 100 microliters CO₂ per liter, the percentage in glycine was about twice that at 270 microliters CO₂ per liter in the C₃ species and P. milioides, but only 20% more ¹⁴C was in glycine in M. arvensis. These data suggest that either the photorespiratory glycine pool in M. arvensis is larger than in the other species examined or the apparent turnover rate of glycine and the flow of carbon into glycine during photorespiration are less in M. arvensis. An unusual glycine metabolism in M. arvensis may be linked to the mechanism of photorespiratory reduction in this crucifer.

³ To whom all correspondence should be addressed.

¹ Supported in part by Contract No. DE-ACO2-81ER10902 from the United States Department of Energy and published as Paper No. 7156, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station.