Evidence for a light dependent increase of phosphoglucomutase activity in isolated, intact spinach chloroplasts

Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) activity was measured in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. Initial enzyme activity in a chloroplast lysate was 5 to 10% of total activity measured with 1 micromolar glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (Glc 1,6-P(2)) in the assay. Initial PGM activity increased 2- to 3-fold when chloroplasts were illuminated for 10 minutes prior to enzyme measurement and then decreased slowly in the dark. Measurements of total enzyme activity were unchanged by prior light treatment. Initial PGM activity from light treated chloroplasts was sufficient to account for in vivo rates of starch synthesis. Changes in PGM activity were affected by stromal pH and orthophosphate concentration. Photosynthetic inhibitors, dl-glyceraldehyde, glycolaldehyde, and glyoxylate, decreased and 3-phosphoglyceric acid increased light induced changes of PGM activity. Dark preincubation of chloroplasts with 10 millimolar dithiothreitol had no effect upon initial PGM activity, suggesting that light effects did not involve a sulfhydryl mechanism. Hexose monophosphate levels increased in illuminated chloroplasts. Activation of PGM in a chloroplast lysate by Glc 1,6-P(2) was maximal between pH 7.5 and 8.5. Stromal concentrations of Glc 1,6-P(2) were between 20 and 30 micromolar for both light and dark incubated chloroplasts and these levels should saturate PGM activity. Light dependent alterations of enzyme activity may be due to changes of phosphorylated PGM levels in the stroma or are the result of changes in residual activity by the dephosphorylated form of the enzyme. The above results indicate that PGM activity in spinach chloroplasts may be regulated by light, stromal pH, and Glc 1,6-P(2) concentration.