Purification and Characterization of Two Forms of Glutamine Synthetase from the Pedicel Region of Maize (Zea mays L.) Kernels

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Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) kernel pedicels, including vascular tissues, pedicel parenchyma, placento-chalazal tissue, and the surrounding pericarp, contained two forms of glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2), separable by anion exchange chromatography under mildly acidic conditions. The earlier-eluting activity (GSp1), but not the later-eluting activity (GSp2), was chromatographically distinct from the maize leaf and root glutamine synthetases. The level of GSp1 activity changed in a developmentally dependent manner while GSp2 activity was constitutive. GSp1 and GSp2 exhibited distinct ratios of transferase to hydroxylamine-dependent synthetase activities (5 and 23, respectively), which did not change with kernel age. Purified pedicel glutamine synthetases had native relative molecular masses of 340,000, while the subunit relative molecular masses differed slightly at 38,900 and 40,500 for GSp1 and GSp2, respectively. Both GS forms required free Mg2+ with apparent Kms = 2.0 and 0.19 millimolar for GSp1 and GSp2, respectively, GSp1 had an apparent Km for glutamate of 35 millimolar and exhibited substrate inhibition at glutamate concentrations greater than 90 millimolar. In contrat, GSp2 exhibited simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics for glutamate with a Km value of 3.4 millimolar. Both isozymes exhibited positive cooperatively for ammonia, with S0.5 values of 100 and 45 micromolar, respectively. GSp1 appears to be a unique, kernel-specific form of plant glutamine synthetase. Possible functions for the pedicel GS isozymes in kernel nitrogen metabolism are discussed.