[Differences in the light-activation of NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase between plants containing the Calvin and those containing the C4-dicarboxylic acid pathway of photosynthetic carbon reduction].

1. Preceding experiments had shown that irradiance of intact leaves or of isolated chloroplasts causes a reversible increase in the activity of NADP-GPD (Ziegler and Ziegler, 1965) as well as of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase (Latzko and Gibbs, 1969). Examination of several species which carry out the Calvin type of photosynthetic CO2 fixation (Vicia faba, Spinacia oleracea, Nicotiana tabacum, Avena sativa) now revealed that the dark level of NADP-GPD activity ranges between 300-400 μmol NADPH/mg chlorophyll·h; irradiance causes an activation to an turnover rate of 900-1600 μmol NADPH/mg chlorophyll·h. 2. The dark-level of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase in these Calvin type plants corresponds to about 400 \gmmol PO4---/mg chlorophyll\sdh. It rises to 900\2-1300 \gmmol PO4---/mg chlorophyll\sdh after irradiance. 3. In all species examined which carry out the C4-dicarboxylic acid type of CO2 fixation (Zea mays, Cyperus rotundus, Portulacca oleracea, Saccharum officinarum) the dark-level of NADP-GPD as well as of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase is already as high as the light-level of Calvin type plants. In these species irradiance either activates both enzymes only to a small extent (Saccharum officinarum, Portulacea oleracea) or it activates only one of the two enzymes to an exceptional high activity (NADP-GPD in Zea mays, ribulose-5-phosphate kinase in Cyperus rotundus), while the activity of the other one remains nearly constant. 4. The dark-level of NADP-GPD in young Zea mays (2 leaves expanded) is as high as in adult plants; moreover its further activation by light corresponds to that in adult plants. In contrast, the dark-activity of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase in young Zea mays corresponds to the lower level found in Calvin type plants and is activated by irradiance in the same manner as it is in the latter plants. 5. The activity of ribose-5-phosphate isomerase is not influenced by light.