Intracellular location of NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme in C 3 plants.

The aim of this work was to determine the maximum catalytic activity and intracellular location of NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) in C3 plants. Appreciable activities, ranging from 80 to 712 nmol · (gFW)(-1) · min(-1), were found in a wide range of tissues (roots and leaves of Pisum sativum L., cotyledons of Cucurbit a pepo Alef., developing seeds of Brassica napus L., mesocarp of Persea americana Gaertn., and suspension cultures of Glycine max L.). Overall, activity showed a rough positive correlation with biosynthesis. Differential and density-gradient fractionation of extracts of the cotyledons of germinating marrow (C. pepo) and lysates of protoplasts of suspension cultures of G. showed that the enzyme had the same distribution as the plastid marker enzymes. It is suggested that in C3 plants NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme is confined to the plastids and involved in biosynthesis.