Abstract
Nitrate reductase (NR) is the key enzyme in nitrate assimilation in plants. The specific calcium requirement by NR and its role in enzyme function are not well stablished. Previous experiments showed that Pfr (far-red light-absorbing form of phytochrome) promoted NRA in etiolated cotyledons of Cucumis sativus through a red-far-red reversible response, and an increase in cytoplasmatic calcium mimicked the Pfr response (Bergareche et al 1994). PI turnover is a major mechanism for transmembrane signalling in response to external stimuli (Lehle, 1990). Several lines of evidence support the presence of plant PI, the enzymes involved in their metabolism and a Ca2+-regulated amplification system responsive to IP3. It has been proposed that inositol phospholipids are hydrolyzed in the light and their products, IP3 and diacylglycerol (DAG), increase cytosolic Ca2+ and activate kinases, respectively (Berridge 1987). Furthermore, Pfr affects the levels of PI in etiolated leaves of Zea mays (Guron et al 1992). PI turnover replaces the light requirement for the induction of NR in maize (Chandok and Sopory 1994).
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Vidal, D., Bergareche, C., Gil, M.T., Simon, E. (2001). Phytochrome Signal Transduction in Cucumber Cotyledons. In: Sopory, S.K., Oelmüller, R., Maheshwari, S.C. (eds) Signal Transduction in Plants. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1365-0_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1365-0_10
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