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Related Experiment Videos

Carbon dioxide metabolism in leaf epidermal tissue.

C M Willmer1, J E Pallas, C C Black

  • 1Southern Piedmont Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Watkinsville, Georgia 30677.

Plant Physiology
|November 1, 1973
PubMed
Summary

Plant epidermal cells, particularly guard cells, show distinct enzyme activity patterns for carbon dioxide fixation. These findings highlight specialized metabolic roles in leaf epidermis, differing from the bulk leaf tissue.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Photosynthesis Research

Background:

  • Leaf epidermis represents a specialized plant tissue with unique physiological functions.
  • Understanding enzyme distribution and activity within epidermal cells is crucial for plant metabolism studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the enzymatic profiles of pure leaf epidermal tissues from Commelina communis and Tulipa gesnariana (tulip).
  • To determine the specific roles of key enzymes in carbon dioxide fixation within epidermal cells, particularly guard cells.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and purification of leaf epidermal tissues from selected plant species.
  • Enzyme assays for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase, malic enzyme, and malate dehydrogenases.

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  • Microautoradiography and histochemical tests to localize CO(2) fixation activity.

    • Main Results:

    • Epidermal tissues exhibited higher activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase relative to ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase, contrasting with the bulk leaf tissue.
    • Malic enzyme activity was consistently higher in epidermal tissue compared to the remaining leaf tissue.
    • CO(2) fixation was predominantly localized in the guard cells of Commelina communis epidermis.

    Conclusions:

    • Plant epidermal cells, especially guard cells, possess a distinct enzymatic machinery for carbon metabolism.
    • These findings suggest specialized roles for epidermal enzymes in processes such as stomatal function and CO(2) uptake.
    • The study provides insights into the biochemical basis of guard cell physiology and its contribution to overall plant gas exchange.