Measurement of Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Enzyme Activities in Plants

Mitochondria are vital cytoplasmic organelle of eukaryotic cells responsible for oxidative energy metabolism and the synthesis of intermediates utilized in various other metabolic pathways. The functions of mitochondrion are the oxidation of organic acids by the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and the synthesis of ATP by the oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The TCA cycle is composed by a set of enzymes that are essential for optimal functioning of the primary carbon metabolism in plants. The activity of each TCA cycle enzyme in plants may vary according to cell type, plant tissue, stage of plant development, and the environment. Here, we describe current methods used for the determination of the TCA cycle enzyme activities in different plant tissues.