Differential carbon monoxide sensitivity of cytochrome C oxidase in the leaves of c(3) and c(4) plants.

CO sensitivity of cytochrome a(3) in the leaves of a number of C(3) and C(4) plants was monitored by the nitrate reductase assay under differing CO to O(2) ratios. All the C(3) plants were relatively insensitive to CO and required a high CO to O(2) ratio of 40 to promote significant nitrate reductase activity. However, when treated with 2 millimolar 2,4-dinitrophenol, these leaves readily responded to CO even at low CO to O(2) ratios of 10 or less. On the other hand, the leaves of all C(4) plants tested, belonging to the three subgroups, were highly sensitive to CO, even at CO to O(2) ratios of 5 or less. In these leaves, the uncoupler was without any effect, probably because the mitochondria, either from mesophyll or bundle sheath cells or both, lacked tight respiratory control.