Carbon Dioxide Fixation in Roots and Nodules of Alnus glutinosa

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Abstract
Detached roots and nodules of the N2-fixing species, Albus glutinosa (European black alder), actively assimilate CO2. The maximum rates of dark CO2 fixation observed for detached nodules and roots were 15 and 3 micromoles CO2 fixed per gram dry weight per hour, respectively. The net incorporation of CO2 in these tissues was catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase which produces organic acids, some of which are used in the synthesis of the amino acids, aspartate, glutamate, and citrulline and by carbamyl phosphate synthetase. The latter accounts for approximately 30 to 40% of the CO2 fixed and provides carbamyl phosphate for the synthesis of citrulline. Results of labeling studies suggest that there are multiple pools of malate present in nodules. The major pool is apparently metabolically inactive and of unknown function while the smaller pool is rapidly utilized in the synthesis of amino acids. Dark CO2 fixation and N2 fixation in nodules decreased after treatment of nodulated plants with nitrate while the percentage of the total 14C incorporated into organic acids increased. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and carbamyl phosphate synthetase play key roles in the synthesis of amino acids including citrulline and in the metabolism of N2-fixing nodules and roots of alder.