Full text
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| Author(s): |
Paula Natália Pereira
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) |
| Defense date: | 2012-08-07 |
| Examining board members: |
Helenice Mercier;
Luciano Freschi;
Eduardo Purgatto
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| Advisor: | Helenice Mercier |
| Abstract | |
Prior studies undertaken in the Laboratory of Plant Physiology on IBUSP with Guzmania monostachia have shown that during water shortage, CAM induction occurs with greater expression in the apical portion of the leaf. In the case of another species (Vriesea gigantean), more intense nitrate reductase (NR) enzyme activity was observed in the basal portion during the daytime. In a certain terrestrial bromeliad (Ananas comosus), signaling by cytokinins, both in the induction of gene expression as well as NR activation, was observed. According to other laboratories, the cytokinins seem to play a negative regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) in CAM induced Mesembryanthemum crystallinum plants. As a result of accumulated knowledge, new questions have arisen, such as: Are there daily variations in PEPC and NR enzymes activity in the different portions of CAM induced leaves of G. monostachia? Would the more pronounced nocturnal availability of carbon skeletons (accumulation of acidity) positively influence NR activity, with consequential displacement of its peak of activity to this period? Would variations in endogenous cytokinins concentration accompany possible changes in PEPC and NR activity, thereby indicating the participation of this hormonal class in their regulation? The main aim in the present study was to investigate the possible regulation of PEPC and NR activity by cytokinins in detached CAM-induced leaves of the epiphyte tank bromeliad Guzmania monostachia (Bromeliaceae). The expectations with this research were to study more deeply the inter-relationship between photosynthetic behavior, the capacity for nitrogen assimilation and the possible regulation of PEPC and NR activity by endogenous cytokinins. Analyses of titratable acidity, organic acids, endogenous starch and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) enzyme activity confirmed CAM induction in isolated leaves of G. monostachia kept in polyethylene glycol (PEG) at a concentration of 30%. The use of this compound was efficient in reducing relative water content and imposing leaf water deficiency. Furthermore, compared to the basal portion, greater CAM expression could be observed in the apical portion of leaves kept in PEG 30%. Analyses of PEPC and NR activity allowed detecting their mutual spatial separation, seeing that, in the first greater activity was concentrated in the leaf apex, while in the second this was more pronounced in the basal portion. Even so, no temporal separation could be observed, since peak of activity for both occurred at night. The peak of nocturnal NR activity (1 hour) was observed in control leaves or those undergoing water deficiency, thereby implying that factors, other than CAM metabolism, exerted an influence on the occurrence of more intense activity of this enzyme at this time. Furthermore, there were indications that cytokinins possibly act as a negative regulator of PEPC activity during the daytime, when the highest endogenous levels of this hormone were observed, whereas it was apparent that the most intense activity of this enzyme actually occurred at night, when Z+iP rates decreased significantly. Z or iP application also induced a decrease in the activity of this enzyme. On the other hand, the cytokinins acted as a positive regulator of NR activity, since the nocturnal peak of activity of this enzyme was preceded by 3 or 6 hours by higher endogenous levels of cytokinins in the basal portion of leaves maintained in water or PEG 30%, respectively. The application of free cytokinins induced a significant increase in NR activity in the base of detached leaves kept in water or PEG 30% (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 10/04273-3 - Spatial division of PEPC and NR enzymes activity and its regulation by cytokinins in CAM induced leaves of Guzmania monostachia. |
| Grantee: | Paula Natália Pereira |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |