Regulation of the supply of cytosolic oxaloacetate for mitochondrial metabolism via phospho enol pyruvate carboxylase in barley leaf protoplasts. I. The effect of covalent modification on PEPC activity, pH response, and kinetic properties

The regulation of the supply of oxaloacetate (OAA) for mitochondrial metabolism via phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) by covalent modification is studied in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaf protoplasts in light or darkness as well as under photorespiratory or non-photorespiratory conditions. Extracts for studies on in vivo PEPC phosphorylation were prepared from barley leaf protoplasts by rapid filtration, fractionating the cell within less than 1 s. Measurements of in vitro PEPC activity were performed on samples quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen to break the cell and stop metabolism and thus preserve the in vivo activation state. The relative PEPC phosphorylation state increased upon illumination and decreased upon redarkening under photorespiratory and non-photorespiratory conditions. PEPC activity measured in the presence of malate (3 mM) under photorespiratory conditions showed the same response indicating that a light-induced increase in PEPC activity and decrease in malate sensitivity is caused by an increased phosphorylation level of the PEPC protein. PEPC activity was pH dependent. At the physiological cytosolic pH, activity was suboptimal, but most sensitive towards malate inhibition and glucose 6-phosphate stimulation. The presence of malate increased the sensitivity of PEPC activity towards pH changes. The response of PEPC activity to changing pH was not affected by changes in the activation state of the enzyme. The Km (phospho enol pyruvate, PEP) is about 1 mM. Upon illumination the Km (PEP) decrease significantly. Vmax was unaffected by the light treatment. The presence of physiological concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate decreased Km (PEP) 5- to 10-fold and increased Vmax by about 35%. The effect of glucose 6-phosphate was strongest (up to 7-fold) at subsaturating PEP concentrations stimulating PEPC activity to nearly maximal rates. The results show that an increase in PEPC phosphorylation state causes an increase in PEPC activity as well as in substrate affinity leading to an increased production of OAA in the light.