Open AccessN2 Fixation, Carbon Metabolism, and Oxidative Damage in Nodules of Dark-Stressed Common Bean Plants
Author(s) -
Yolanda Gogorcena,
A. R. Gordon,
Pedro R. Escuredo,
F. R. Minchin,
J. F. Witty,
José F. Morán,
Manuel Becana
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
plant physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.554
H-Index - 312
eISSN - 1532-2548
pISSN - 0032-0889
DOI - 10.1104/pp.113.4.1193
Subject(s) - oxidative metabolism , oxidative damage , metabolism , fixation (population genetics) , oxidative phosphorylation , oxidative stress , carbon fixation , carbon fibers , plant metabolism , chemistry , botany , biology , biochemistry , biophysics , photosynthesis , gene , materials science , rna , composite number , composite material
Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were exposed to continuous darkness to induce nodule senescence, and several nodule parameters were investigated to identify factors that may be involved in the initial loss of N2 fixation. After only 1 d of darkness, total root respiration decreased by 76% and in vivo nitrogenase (N2ase) activity decreased by 95%. This decline coincided with the almost complete depletion (97%) of sucrose and fructose in nodules. At this stage, the O2 concentration in the infected zone increased to 1%, which may be sufficient to inactivate N2ase; however, key enzymes of carbon and nitrogen metabolism were still active. After 2 d of dark stress there was a significant decrease in the level of N2ase proteins and in the activities of enzymes involved in carbon and nitrogen assimilation. However, the general collapse of nodule metabolism occurred only after 4 d of stress, with a large decline in leghemoglobin and antioxidants. At this final senescent stage, there was an accumulation of oxidatively modified proteins. This oxidative stress may have originated from the decrease in antioxidant defenses and from the Fe-catalyzed generation of activated oxygen due to the increased availability of catalytic Fe and O2 in the infected region.