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. 1985 Mar;77(3):648–652. doi: 10.1104/pp.77.3.648

A Low Molecular Weight Polypeptide Which Accumulates upon Inhibition of Porphyrin Biosynthesis in Maize

Ayelet Schuster 1, Eitan Harel 1
PMCID: PMC1064580  PMID: 16664114

Abstract

Levulinic acid, an inhibitor of porphyrin biosynthesis, causes marked accumulation of a low molecular weight polypeptide in greening maize (Zea mays L.) leaves. Additional compounds which interfere with porphyrin synthesis (e.g. aminooxyacetate, iron-chelators, 4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid) had a similar effect. The polypeptide accumulated in the cytosol and could not be detected in the plastid stroma. Its molecular weight was estimated as 4800 daltons by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gels containing urea and glycerol. The accumulation of the polypeptide did not result from inhibition of chlorophyll or protoheme syntheses. Compounds which caused its accumulation markedly reduced the activity of nitrite reductase. It is suggested that the accumulation is caused by inhibition of siroheme synthesis which interferes with the formation of nitrite or sulfite reductase.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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