Test 1 Flashcards
(100 cards)
Explain the mechanism by which Rubisco is activated in the light through Rubisco activase. Note: Rubisco activase also undergoes further activation by the Thioredoxin-Ferredoxin system discussed in class.
Rubisco activase uses ATP to remove inhibitors from the active site of Rubisco that ‘stick’ in the dark, including the substrate RuPB.
-This allows Rubisco to be activated in the light.
-RubisCO activase links RubisCO with the light reactions of photosynthesis
What is the Thioredoxin-Ferredoxin system and exactly how does it alter the activity of enzymes in the light?
Many enzymes required for photosynthesis are activated post-translationally through the reduction of disulfide bridges
-The reduction of disulfide bridges in these proteins occurs through the Thioredoxin-Ferredoxin system
-Thioredoxin is a small polypeptide containing a conserved amino acid sequence cys-gly-pro-cys that is reduced by Ferrodoxin. Once reduced, Thioredoxin can reduce the disulfide bonds in photosynthetic proteins, which works to activate them.
How many active sites per Rubisco
8
since it contains 8 large subunits where the active site resides.
What does RuBP binding to the RubisCO active site prevent?
the Carbamylation reaction that activates RubisCO
are the activation site and active site are in the same position on Rubisco
No
Carbamylation occurs on a lysine residue in the protein separate from the active site
What is a specific characteristic of enzymes that are affected by the Thioredoxin-Ferredoxin system (i.e., this characteristic is not necessarily found in isozymic forms present in other cellular compartments)?
disulfide bridges that activate or deactivate the enzymes
What are the two categories of enzymes activated or deactivated by the Thioredoxin-Ferredoxin system, respectively?
activated: photosynthetic proteins
deactivated: oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) proteins
Provide 2 examples in each category of enzymes activated or deactivated by the Thioredoxin-Ferredoxin system.
activated: rubisco activase, ATP synthase
deactivated: glucose-6P dehydrogenase, transaldolase
What is the functional significance of deactivation of OPPP enzymes in the light?
it prevents a futile cycle with the CBB Cycle
In general terms, what determines the direction of any biochemical reaction that involves a readily reversible enzyme-catalyzed reaction?
concentration of substrates and products determine the direction
Compare the Calvin cycle to the OPPP in terms of intermediary metabolites shared by both pathways;
Intermediary metabolites that are shared are transketolase, R-5-p Epimerase, and R-5-p l (these are enzymes, what are the substrates?)
Compare the Calvin cycle to the OPPP in terms of the enzymes shared and the direction of the reaction catalyzed by these enzymes.
the enzymes shared work at opposite times (light vs. dark) and work in opposite direction
Explain the division-of-labour between the CBB cycle and the OPPP in terms of function in a photosynthetic cell, including their role in providing intermediary metabolites for other synthetic reactions in the cell.
OPPP cycle generates 2 NADPH/ glucose in the dark + generates the same intermediary metabolites as the CBB Cycle for synthesis of various compounds in the dark
-CBB cycle provides intermediary metabolites sucrose, starch and for other synthetic pathways in the light
What is ‘net C assimilation/net photosynthesis’ and the methodologies used to measure it photosynthetic organisms?
net C assimilation is the overall rate at which a plant takes in CO2, subtracting the amount of CO2 it loses through respiration
-can measure it by using an O2 electrode to measure O2 concentration in solution or by using a leaf cuvette to measure leaf C exchange rates
Why is CO2 uptake measured for terrestrial plants and O2 evolution for aquatic organisms?
CO2 for terrestrial = the atmospheric CO2 concentration is low and there is a much reduced background of CO2, much easier to quantify small differences in CO2 concentration in air compared to O2
O2 for aquatic = in water the background O2 concentration is much reduced compared to air
What parameters can be determined from a CO2 response curve that examines the relationship between atmospheric CO2 level and net C assimilation?
as CO2 levels increase phoresp decreases
What is the Warburg effect and how was it determined?
-elevated O2 concentration inhibited CO2 fixation in plants
-determined by measuring O2 evolution in cuvettes
Provide a definition for photorespiration.
a light-dependent respiratory process that involves uptake of O2 and release of CO2
What environmental factors influence the rate of photorespiration?
-elevated O2
-decreased CO2
-(changes in the CO2/O2 ratio)
-drought due to closed stomates (restricts CO2 movement into a leaf)
-increased air temp
-high light due to increased leaf temp
What is the biochemical basis for photorespiration in plants?
oxygenation reaction catalyzed by Rubisco
Provide the reaction mechanisms for the carboxylation and oxygenation reactions catalyzed by Rubisco. You should know these reaction mechanisms, including where the O and C from O2 and CO2, respectively, are found in the reaction products.
oxygenase- O from O2 is found in 2-P glycolate and one is in OH-
carboxylase- C from CO2 ends up in 3- phosphoglycerate
What is the function of the photorespiratory C/N cycle in plants?
to recycle some of the C that ends up in 2-phosphoglycolate (for every 2 2-phosphoglycolate, 3 out of 4 Cs are recycled, 1 lost as CO2
Describe the C2 oxidative photosynthetic C/N cycle according to the nature of the pathway, including the metabolites consumed in the cycle
phosphoglycolate to glycolate that diffuses to the peroxisome. glycolate to glyoxylate and H2O2. glycine and serine are synthesized. Ammonium is also synthesized, and that must be re-assimilated into amino acids. The remainder of the reactions convert the 3-C amino acid serine to 3-PGA, which can re-enter the Calvin cycle.
Describe the C2 oxidative photosynthetic C/N cycle according to the metabolites synthesized in the cycle that have been shown to exit the cycle
H2O, 1/2O2, CO2, NH4+, ATP, NADPH and NADH