Metabolite Regulation of Phosphenolpyruvate Carboxylase in Legume Root Nodules

The effects of metabolic activators and inhibitors on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activity were examined at pH 7 in partially purified enzyme from nodules of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), Psophocarpus tetragonolobus DC. and Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc. Glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, glucose 1-phosphate, fructose 1-phosphate, fructose 1,6- bisphosphate and phosphoglycerate stimulated the activity about 2-fold at low (0.5 mM) but not saturating (2.5 mM) PEP concentration. Glc 6-P and fru 6-P were the most effective activators and they increased the affinity of the enzyme for PEP by 2-4-fold. The dicarboxylates, malate, succinate, malonate, 2-oxoglutarate and aspartate inhibited PEPC activity. Malate was the most inhibitory, and strongly inhibited PEPC activity even at saturating PEP concentration. The Ki values for malate were 0.3-0.4 mM for soybean and P. tetragonolobus. However, glc 6-P and fru 6-P alleviated maiate inhibition and increased the Ki values by 11- to 28-fold in these two species. We propose that glc 6-P (fru 6-P) activates PEPC in a feedforward regulation and protects it against feedback inhibition by malate and thus coordinates the supply of photosynthate availability with malate synthesis required by the bacteroids to support symbiotic nitrogen fixation in nodules.