Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase is involved in the decarboxylation of aspartate in the bundle sheath of maize

We recently showed that maize (Zea mays L.) leaves contain appreciable amounts of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK; R.P. Walker, R.M. Acheson, L.I. Tecsi, R.C. Leegood [1997] Aust J Plant Physiol 24: 459-468). In the present study, we investigated the role of PEPCK in C₄ photosynthesis in maize. PEPCK activity and protein were enriched in extracts from bundle-sheath (BS) strands compared with whole-leaf extracts. Decarboxylation of [4-¹⁴C]aspartate (Asp) by BS strands was dependent on the presence of 2-oxoglutarate and Mn²⁺, was stimulated by ATP, was inhibited by the PEPCK-specific inhibitor 3-mercaptopicolinic acid, and was independent of illumination. The principal product of Asp metabolism was phosphoenolpyruvate, whereas pyruvate was a minor product. Decarboxylation of [4-¹⁴C]malate was stimulated severalfold by Asp and 3-phosphoglycerate, was only slightly reduced in the absence of Mn²⁺ or in the presence of 3-mercaptopicolinic acid, and was light dependent. Our data show that decarboxylation of Asp and malate in BS cells of maize occurs via two different pathways: Whereas malate is mainly decarboxylated by NADP-malic enzyme, decarboxylation of Asp is dependent on the activity of PEPCK.