Resistance is useful: diurnal patterns of photosynthesis in C3 and crassulacean acid metabolism epiphytic bromeliads

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Maxwell
Keyword(s):  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Photosynthetic Electron Transport ◽  
Co2 Assimilation ◽  
Enzyme Activation ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Photon Flux Density ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
Diurnal Patterns ◽  
Rubisco Activation

This paper originates from a presentation at the IIIrd International Congress on Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia, August 2001 Diurnal patterns of photosynthesis in response to environmental variables were investigated in an obligate C3 and a facultative C3-crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) bromeliad species. A midday depression of photosynthesis occurred in both C3 groups, mediated as a decrease in stomatal conductance in response to increased vapour pressure difference. The response was associated with a reduction in Rubisco activation state during the period of maximum photon flux density. In contrast, the switch to CAM resulted in a strong shift in the pattern of Rubisco carbamylation, with full enzyme activation delayed until the midday period. For the first time it is demonstrated that the pattern of Rubisco activation differs between C3 and CAM plants of the same species under identical conditions. Despite large differences in Rubisco content between C3 and CAM plants, neither the amount of Rubisco or enzyme activity is thought to be limiting for photosynthesis, and it is suggested that Rubisco may function as a nitrogen store. Extreme CO2 diffusion limitation resulted in low rates of atmospheric CO2 assimilation that were associated with high rates of photosynthetic electron transport, and it is likely that photorespiration constitutes a significant electron sink over the entire diurnal course. Leaf morphological and physiological adaptations to drought stress are necessary for the epiphytic lifestyle but limit CO2 assimilation and confound the likelihood of high productivity.

scholarly journals Evolution along the crassulacean acid metabolism continuum

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia Silvera ◽  
Kurt M. Neubig ◽  
W. Mark Whitten ◽  
Norris H. Williams ◽  
Klaus Winter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Aquatic Macrophytes ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Co2 Assimilation ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
Evolutionary Origins

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is a specialised mode of photosynthesis that improves atmospheric CO2 assimilation in water-limited terrestrial and epiphytic habitats and in CO2-limited aquatic environments. In contrast with C3 and C4 plants, CAM plants take up CO2 from the atmosphere partially or predominantly at night. CAM is taxonomically widespread among vascular plants and is present in many succulent species that occupy semiarid regions, as well as in tropical epiphytes and in some aquatic macrophytes. This water-conserving photosynthetic pathway has evolved multiple times and is found in close to 6% of vascular plant species from at least 35 families. Although many aspects of CAM molecular biology, biochemistry and ecophysiology are well understood, relatively little is known about the evolutionary origins of CAM. This review focuses on five main topics: (1) the permutations and plasticity of CAM, (2) the requirements for CAM evolution, (3) the drivers of CAM evolution, (4) the prevalence and taxonomic distribution of CAM among vascular plants with emphasis on the Orchidaceae and (5) the molecular underpinnings of CAM evolution including circadian clock regulation of gene expression.

How to tell the time: the regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 728-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.G. Nimmo
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase ◽  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Circadian Oscillator ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
Reversible Phosphorylation ◽  
Circadian Expression ◽  
Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Kinase ◽  
Co2 Metabolism

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants exhibit persistent circadian rhythms of CO2 metabolism. These rhythms are driven by changes in the flux through phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, which is regulated by reversible phosphorylation in response to a circadian oscillator. This article reviews progress in our understanding of the circadian expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase kinase.

scholarly journals Effect of Light Spectrum on Gas Exchange, Growth and Biochemical Characteristics of Einkorn Seedlings

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luce Bartucca ◽  
Daniele Del Buono ◽  
Eleonora Ballerini ◽  
Paolo Benincasa ◽  
Beatrice Falcinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Light Emitting Diode ◽  
Co2 Assimilation ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Photon Flux Density ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Light Spectrum ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Iron And Zinc ◽  
Effect Of Light

The use of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights in microscale vegetable production is more and more widespread. In this context, the effect of light spectrum on photosynthesis, growth, shoot yield, pigment content, and nutritional status of einkorn seedlings (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum), germinated and grown in a nutrient solution, was investigated. Plants were subjected to six different LED light treatments, all having a photon flux density (PFD) of 200 μmol m−2 s−1. Two light treatments were monochromatic (red or blue), three dichromatic (blue and red in the proportion), and one of a wider spectrum (selected as a control). All the light treatments affected the morphological, biochemical, and nutritional status of einkorn seedlings. Overall, the dichromatic treatments were the most effective in stimulating biomass production, CO2 assimilation, and evapotranspiration, as well as contents in chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids, and additionally nitrogen, phosphorous, manganese, iron, and zinc. These results are of relevance for the beneficial effects of dichromatic LED treatments in maximizing einkorn shoot yield and nutritional values, and in limiting energy consumption in indoor cultivation.

scholarly journals Light-responsive expression atlas reveals the effects of light quality and intensity in Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi, a plant with crassulacean acid metabolism

GigaScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Rongbin Hu ◽  
Avinash Sreedasyam ◽  
Travis M Garcia ◽  
Anna Lipzen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
White Light ◽  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Light Quality ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Acid Accumulation ◽  
Expression Atlas

Abstract Background Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), a specialized mode of photosynthesis, enables plant adaptation to water-limited environments and improves photosynthetic efficiency via an inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism. Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi is an obligate CAM model featuring a relatively small genome and easy stable transformation. However, the molecular responses to light quality and intensity in CAM plants remain understudied. Results Here we present a genome-wide expression atlas of K. fedtschenkoi plants grown under 12 h/12 h photoperiod with different light quality (blue, red, far-red, white light) and intensity (0, 150, 440, and 1,000 μmol m–2 s–1) based on RNA sequencing performed for mature leaf samples collected at dawn (2 h before the light period) and dusk (2 h before the dark period). An eFP web browser was created for easy access of the gene expression data. Based on the expression atlas, we constructed a light-responsive co-expression network to reveal the potential regulatory relationships in K. fedtschenkoi. Measurements of leaf titratable acidity, soluble sugar, and starch turnover provided metabolic indicators of the magnitude of CAM under the different light treatments and were used to provide biological context for the expression dataset. Furthermore, CAM-related subnetworks were highlighted to showcase genes relevant to CAM pathway, circadian clock, and stomatal movement. In comparison with white light, monochrome blue/red/far-red light treatments repressed the expression of several CAM-related genes at dusk, along with a major reduction in acid accumulation. Increasing light intensity from an intermediate level (440 μmol m−2 s−1) of white light to a high light treatment (1,000 μmol m–2 s–1) increased expression of several genes involved in dark CO2 fixation and malate transport at dawn, along with an increase in organic acid accumulation. Conclusions This study provides a useful genomics resource for investigating the molecular mechanism underlying the light regulation of physiology and metabolism in CAM plants. Our results support the hypothesis that both light intensity and light quality can modulate the CAM pathway through regulation of CAM-related genes in K. fedtschenkoi.

Limitation of the Rate of Ribulosebisphosphate Carboxylase Activation by Carbamylation and Ribulosebisphosphate Carboxylase Activase Activity: Development and Tests of a Mechanistic Model

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
IE Woodrow ◽  
ME Kelly ◽  
KA Mott
Keyword(s):  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
Large Subunit ◽  
Intercellular Co2 Concentration ◽  
Rubisco Activase ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Photon Flux Density ◽  
Bisphosphate Carboxylase ◽  
Ribulosebisphosphate Carboxylase ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Rubisco Activation

A mechanistically-based model of light-mediated activation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is developed. The model describes the kinetics of Rubisco activation following a relatively rapid increase in photon flux density (PPFD) from an initially low level. Underlying the model is the assumption that there are two slow processes that could potentially limit the rate of light-mediated Rubisco activation. These processes are the addition of the activator CO2 to the large subunit of Rubisco, which is accompanied by a conformational change in the enzyme (carbamylation), and activase-mediated removal of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate from the inactive form of the enzyme. The contribution of these slow processes to the overall activation kinetics of Rubisco was resolved by measuring Rubisco activation in whole spinach leaves using non-steady-state CO2 exchange. It was found that when the change in PPFD was relatively small and a correspondingly small proportion of the Rubisco pool was activated, the kinetics of activation were highly sensitive to the intercellular CO2 concentration (ci). The apparent rate constant for activation under these conditions was found to be similar to that for the carbamylation of purified spinach Rubisco. When the change in PPFD and the proportion of Rubisco activated was relatively large, however, the kinetics of Rubisco activation were almost completely CO2 insensitive and were consistent with those of an enzyme-catalysed reaction. It is suggested that (1) CO2-insensitive activation reflects the operation of Rubisco activase and (2) the increasing CO2 sensitivity seen as the change in PPFD decreases reflects a transition to limitation by carbamylation.

scholarly journals CO2 starvation experiments provide support for the carbon-limited hypothesis on the evolution of CAM-like behaviour in Isoëtes

2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-141
Author(s):  
Jacob S Suissa ◽  
Walton A Green
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Atmospheric Co2 ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
Acid Accumulation ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Nocturnal Acid Accumulation

Abstract Background and Aims Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is an adaptation to increase water use efficiency in dry environments. Similar biochemical patterns occur in the aquatic lycophyte genus Isoëtes. It has long been assumed and accepted that CAM-like behaviour in these aquatic plants is an adaptation to low daytime carbon levels in aquatic ecosystems, but this has never been directly tested. Methods To test this hypothesis, populations of Isoëtes engelmannii and I. tuckermanii were grown in climate-controlled chambers and starved of atmospheric CO2 during the day while pH was measured for 24 h. Key Results We demonstrate that terrestrial plants exposed to low atmospheric CO2 display diel acidity cycles similar to those in both xerophytic CAM plants and submerged Isoëtes. Conclusions Daytime CO2 starvation induces CAM-like nocturnal acid accumulation in terrestrial Isoëtes, substantiating the hypothesis that carbon starvation is a selective pressure for this physiological behaviour.

Cell organelles from crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants

Planta ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 147 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Schnarrenberger ◽  
D. Gro� ◽  
Ch. Burkhard ◽  
M. Herbert
Keyword(s):  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
Cell Organelles

Purification and Properties of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase From Plants With Crassulacean Acid Metabolism

1982 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Nott ◽  
CB Osmond
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
Pep Carboxylase ◽  
Purification And Properties ◽  
Ph Dependent

Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase was purified from three species of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants. There was no evidence for isoenzymes of PEP carboxylase in these plants and the purified protein was an active dimer of Mr 220 000-250 000 which dissociated to a monomer of Mr 110 000 after treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Active, higher aggregates could be obtained on Sepharose 6B but the functional significance, if any, of these remains to be assessed. In the absence of effectors, normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics were obtamed with the substrates HCO3- and PEP. The purified enzyme shows a preference for HCO3-, rather than CO2, at pH 6.1 and 8.1, with a Km (HCO3-) of 10-20 �M. The Vmax was relatively independent of pH between pH 5.5 and 8.5, but the Km (PEP) (like most other kinetic properties) was pH dependent with a minimum of about 0.1 mM PEP at pH 6.8. Malate inhibition was more effective at pH 6.2 than at pH 8.2, and the inhibition evidently involved a slow binding of malate which increased the Km (PEP) and resulted in non-hyperbolic kinetics. The Km (PEP) was lowered about 5-10-fold by 1.0 mM glucose 6-phosphate which also overcame malate inhibition and restored hyperbolic kinetic relationships in the presence of malate. Possible roles for these properties in the regulation of CAM are discussed.

Is a Low Internal Conductance to CO2 Diffusion a Consequence of Succulence in Plants with Crassulacean Acid Metabolism?

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Maxwell ◽  
Susanne von Caemmerer ◽  
John R. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Co2 Assimilation ◽  
Co2 Partial Pressure ◽  
Co2 Diffusion ◽  
Internal Conductance ◽  
C3 Species ◽  
Cam Species ◽  
Transient Phases

Leaf internal conductance to CO2 (gi) from substomatal cavity to the carboxylation sites of Rubisco was measured in the leaf succulent CAM species, Kalanchoe daigremontiana Hamet et Perr. Measurements were made during Rubisco-mediated atmospheric C3 carboxylation in phase IV photosynthesis. Using simultaneous gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques, internal conductance was calculated to be 0.05 mol m-2 s-1 bar-1 , when measured at both saturating and limiting light. This is one of the lowest recorded values for gi as compared to a range of C3 species with comparable Rubisco content and indicates a large diffusion limitation to atmospheric CO2 fixation through the C3 pathway in K. daigremontiana. In ambient air, CO2 partial pressure at the carboxylation sites of Rubisco was 109 µbar. Internal diffusion is limited by a thick leaf consisting of densely packed, succulent mesophyll with a small portion of airspace. We speculate that a low internal conductance to CO2 diffusion results from the compromise between a succulent mesophyll required for C4 acid storage and access for CO2 diffusion to both PEPC in the cytoplasm and Rubisco in the chloroplasts. Restricted diffusion of CO2 within the leaf makes CO2 assimilation less efficient during the transient phases of crassulacean acid metabolism.

scholarly journals Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from pennywort (Umbilicus rupestris). Changes in properties after exposure to water stress

1984 ◽  
Vol 218 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
P P Daniel ◽  
J A Bryant ◽  
F I Woodward
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase ◽  
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Marked Decrease ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
Allosteric Inhibitor ◽  
Allosteric Effector ◽  
Incomplete Form ◽  
C3 Photosynthesis

Umbilicus rupestris (pennywort) switches from C3 photosynthesis to an incomplete form of crassulacean acid metabolism (referred to as ‘CAM-idling’) when exposed to water stress (drought). This switch is accompanied by an increase in the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. This enzyme also shows several changes in properties, including a marked decrease in sensitivity to acid pH, a lower Km for phosphoenolpyruvate, very much decreased sensitivity to the allosteric inhibitor malate, and increased responsiveness to the allosteric effector glucose 6-phosphate. The Mr of the enzyme remains unchanged, at approx. 185 000. These changes in properties of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase are discussed in relation to the roles of the enzyme in C3 and in CAM plants.

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