Malate Metabolism in Leaf Mitochondria from the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Plant Kalanchoë blossfeldiana Poelln

The mechanisms and the controlling factors of malate oxidation by mitochondria from leaves of Kalanchoë blossfeldiana Poelln. plants performing Crassulacean acid metabolism were investigated using Percollpurified mitochondria. The effects of pH and of various cofactors (ATP, NAD(+), coenzyme A) on malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) and malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.39) solubilized from these mitochondria were examined. The crucial role of cofactor concentrations in the mitochondrial matrix on the pathways of malate oxidation is shown. The distribution of the electrons originating from malate between the different electron transport pathways and its consequence on the phosphorylation yield was studied. It was found that, depending on the electron transport pathway used, malate oxidation could yield from 3 to 0 ATP. Assayed under conditions of high reducing power and high energy charge, the ability of malic enzyme to feed electrons to the cyanide-resistant nonphosphorylating alternative pathway was found to be higher than that of other dehydrogenases linked to the functioning of the Krebs cycle (pyruvate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase). The physiological significance of such a functional relationship between malic enzyme activity and the nonphosphorylating alternative pathway is discussed in relation to Crassulacean acid metabolism.