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Molecular Biology and Gene Regulation

Pyrophosphate Dependent Phosphofructokinase of Citrullus lanatus: Molecular Forms and Expression of Subunits ¹

Department of Botany, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

During germination and seedling establishment, the total pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PFP) activity in the cotyledons increases. Two types of subunits with molecular weights of 68 (-subunit) and 65 (-subunit) kilodaltons are present. The increase in activity coincides with an approximately 10-fold increase in -subunit and twofold increase in -subunit content. Different isoforms of PFP are present at all stages of incubation, but the ratio between the isoforms significantly changes. A linear relationship exists between the ratio of the two PFP subunits and the ratio of the two isoforms of the enzyme. The more anionic (peak 2) isoform of the enzyme apparently is favored by a high ratio of total -subunit to -subunit content. The - to -subunit ratio of the peak 2 isoform is also approximately fivefold higher than that of the peak 1 (less anionic) isoform. It is evident that the two subunits are not coordinately expressed and the level of expression of each subunit appears to be the primary factor determining the molecular form in which the enzyme is present. In some tissues, only the 65 kilodalton polypeptide is expressed in large amounts. The peak 1 isoform has a higher affinity for pyrophosphate than the peak 2 isoform, while the affinity for fructose-6-phosphate is similar. Both molecular forms are activated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.