In-situ immunofluorescent localization of phosphoenolpyruvate and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylases in leaves of C3, C 4, and C 3-C 4 intermediatePanicum species.

The in-situ inter- and intracellular localization patterns of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylases in green leaves of severalPanicum species were investigated using an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Four species were examined and compared:P. miliaceum (C4),P. bisulcatum (C3), andP. decipiens andP. milioides (C3-C4 intermediates which have Kranz-like leaf anatomy and reduced photorespiration). In the C4 Panicum, PEP carboxylase was located in the cytosol of the mesophyll cells and RuBP carboxylase was restricted to the bundle-sheath chloroplasts. In contrast, in the C3 Panicum species, PEP carboxylase was found throughout the leaf chlorenchyma, in both the cytosol and chloroplasts, and RuBP carboxylase was located in the chloroplasts. For the C3-C4 intermediate plants, the patterns depended on the species examined. ForP. decipiens, the in-situ localization of both carboxylases was similar to that described forP. bisulcatum and other C3 plants. However, inP. milioides, PEP carboxylase was found exclusively in the cytosol of the mesophyll cells, as inP. miliaceum and other C4 species, whereas RuBP carboxylase was distributed in both the mesophyll and bundle-sheath chloroplasts.