Day-night changes in the levels of adenine nucleotides, phosphoenolpyruvate and inorganic pyrophosphate in leaves of plants having Crassulacean acid metabolism.

The levels of phosphorylated compounds studied during the dark period of Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in Kalanchoë leaves showed increases for ATP and pyrophosphate and decreases for ADP, AMP and phosphenolpyruvate; levels of inorganic phosphate remained constant. Changes in adenylate levels and the correlated nocturnal increase in adenylate-energycharge were closely related to changes in malate levels. The increase in ATP levels was much inhibited in CO2-free air and stimulated after induction of CAM in short-day-treated plants of K. blossfeldiana cv. Tom Thumb. Changes in levels of phosphoenolpyruvate and pyrophosphate were independent of the presence of CO2. The results show the operation of complex regulatory mechanisms in the energy metabolism of CAM plants during nocturnal malic-acid accumulation.