The effects of long-term exposure to ozone (O3, 60 mm3 m-3 for 5 h d-1) on some Calvin cycle enzymes, in particular those modulated by the thioredoxin system, were studied in two poplar clones. These clones differ in sensitivity to O3. In the I-214 clone, the first effects from O3 treatment were seen after 40 d of fumigation, while the Eridano clone showed visible symptoms of damage after only 15 d of the treatment. Specific activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (E.C. 4.1.1.39) diminished in both the clones, while specific activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.31) increased. Exposure to O3 also caused a reduction in the specific activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.19) in both clones. At the end of the exposure to O3, specific activity of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.13) increased in I-214 and remained similar to the control in Eridano, whereas specific activity of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.11) was higher in Eridano and similar to the control in I-214. and E. Degl'Innocenti, L. Guidi, G. F. Soldatini.
The effects of 20 and 50 µM concentrations of Cu and Cd on photosynthesis in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cotyledons were studied by the measurements of gas exchange characteristics, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, photosynthetic pigment contents, and two Calvin cycle enzymes activities: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and 3-phosphoglyceric acid kinase (PGK). To minimize indirect metal action, seedlings were treated with metals in the stage of green, fully developed cotyledons. The metals reached the cotyledon tissue after 48 h of treatments, though symptoms of metal action were not visible at that time. The effect of metals on the light phase of the photosynthesis parameters such as potential efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2; Fv/Fm), and photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching of Chl fluorescence (qP and qNP) was negligible. In contrast, a decrease of PS2 quantum efficiency (ΦPS2) was much more noticeable. Changes in the pigment contents were slight, as only 50 µM Cd decreased Chl a and b contents in small extent. On the contrary, metals in both concentrations drastically decreased (50 and more % of control) the net photosynthetic rate and the stomatal conductance, but not the internal CO2 concentration. The activities of both GAPDH and PGK were also decreased by metals, although the effect on PGK was more prominent, particularly on its potential activity (dithiothreitol in extraction and incubation media). Hence Cu and Cd affected the synthesis of enzyme proteins rather than they influenced their modifications. The effects of both metals on most of the measured photosynthesis parameters were similar, but the accumulation of Cd in the cotyledons was significantly higher than Cu accumulation. Thus Cu was more toxic for the photosynthesis of cucumber cotyledons than Cd. and M. Burzyński, A. Żurek.
Activities of crucial enzymes involved in the Calvin cycle, glycolysis, and oxidative pentose phosphate cycle (PPC) were investigated in green calli of sugar beet {Beta vulgaris L.) during the transitíon from photoheterotrophic to photoautotrophic growth. The actívities of the Calvin cycle enzymes were increased by lowering the sucrose concentration of the medium, whereas the actívities of dissimilatíon related enzymes were either decreased or not inftuenced. The photoautotrophic culture cultívated on sucrose-free medium and 2 % CO2 grew at a rate six tímes slower than the photoheterotrophic one. Its growth continued on polyurethane pads soaked with agar-free medium and was fully inhibited by 0.5 pM DCMU.