Photosynthetica 1999, 36(13):469-475 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1007168029162

UV-B Radiation Mediated Alterations in the Nitrate Assimilation Pathway of Crop Plants 2. Kinetic Characteristics of Nitrite Reductase

T. Balakumar1, K. Sathiameena1, V. Selvakumar1, C. Murugu Ilanchezhian1, K. Paliwal1
1 Centre for Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Botany, The American College, Madurai, India

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. cv. Co 4] seedlings were subjected to a weighted irradiance of 3.2 W m-2 s-1 of biologically effective ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280-320 nm) and the changes in the kinetic and other characteristics of nitrite reductase (NiR) were recorded. The activity of NiR was hampered by 19 % under UV-B irradiation compared to the control. The UV-B treated plants required higher concentrations of nitrate for the induction of NiR synthesis than the controls. The NiR activity decay kinetics showed that the UV-B treatment significantly lowers the t1/2 of the enzyme, thereby indicating a reduced rate of enzyme turnover. The comparison of kinetic characteristics of nitrate reductase (NR) and NiR under UV-B treatment showed that NiR was not so sensitive to UV-B radiation as NR. As shown by enzyme turnover rates, NiR extracted from plants irradiated by UV-B in situ was less sensitive to UV-B radiation than the enzyme extract subjected to in vitro UV-B irradiation. Though NiR was less damaged by UV-B treatment than NR, subtle changes occurred in its kinetic characteristics.

Additional key words: nitrate reductase; nitrite reductase; enzyme induction and kinetics; Vigna unguiculata

Prepublished online: November 1, 1999; Published: January 1, 1999  Show citation

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Balakumar, T., Sathiameena, K., Selvakumar, V., Murugu Ilanchezhian, C., & Paliwal, K. (1999). UV-B Radiation Mediated Alterations in the Nitrate Assimilation Pathway of Crop Plants 2. Kinetic Characteristics of Nitrite Reductase. Photosynthetica, 37(3), 469-475. doi: 10.1023/A:1007168029162
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