RESUMEN

Group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)α) catalyzes the first step in the arachidonic acid cascade leading to the synthesis of important lipid mediators, the prostaglandins and leukotrienes. We previously described a patient deficient in cPLA(2)α activity, which was associated with mutations in both alleles encoding the enzyme. In this paper, we describe the biochemical characterization of each of these mutations. Using saturating concentrations of calcium, we showed that the R485H mutant was nearly devoid of any catalytic activity, that the S111P mutation did not affect the enzyme activity, and that the known K651R polymorphism was associated with activity slightly higher than that of the wild type. Using MDCK cells, we showed that translocation to the Golgi in response to serum activation was impaired for the S111P mutant but not for the other mutants. Using immortalized mouse lung fibroblasts lacking endogenous cPLA(2)α activity, we showed that both mutations S111P and R485H/K651R caused a profound defect in the enzyme catalytic activity in response to cell stimulation with serum. Taken together, our results show that the S111P mutation hampers calcium binding and membrane translocation without affecting the catalytic activity, and that the mutation R485H does not affect membrane translocation but blocks catalytic activity that leads to inactivation of the enzyme. Interestingly, our results show that the common K651R polymorphism confers slightly higher activity to the enzyme, suggesting a role of this residue in favoring a catalytically active conformation of cPLA(2)α. Our results define how the mutations negatively influence cPLA(2)α function and explain the inability of the proband to release arachidonic acid for eicosanoid production.

Asunto(s)

Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/metabolismo , Mutación , Animales , Biocatálisis , Línea Celular , Perros , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/deficiencia , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/genética , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Transporte de Proteínas

RESUMEN

Exposure to environmental pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in coal tar mixtures and tobacco sources, is considered a significant risk factor for the development of heart disease in humans. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of PAHs present at a Superfund site on human coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) activity and apoptosis. Extremely high levels of 12 out of 15 EPA high-priority PAHs were present in both the streambed and floodplain sediments at a site where an urban creek and its adjacent floodplain were extensively contaminated by PAHs and other coal tar compounds. Nine of the 12 compounds and a coal tar mixture (SRM 1597A) activated group IVC PLA(2) in HCAECs, and activation of this enzyme was associated with histone fragmentation and poly (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Genetic silencing of group IVC PLA(2) inhibited both (3)H-fatty acid release and histone fragmentation by PAHs and SRM 1597A, indicating that individual PAHs and a coal tar mixture induce apoptosis of HCAECs via a mechanism that involves group IVC PLA(2). Western blot analysis of aortas isolated from feral mice (Peromyscus leucopus) inhabiting the Superfund site showed increased PARP and caspase-3 cleavage when compared to reference mice. These data suggest that PAHs induce apoptosis of HCAECs via activation of group IVC PLA(2).

Asunto(s)

Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Vasos Coronarios/efectos de los fármacos , Endotelio Vascular/efectos de los fármacos , Regulación Enzimológica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/metabolismo , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/toxicidad , Contaminantes del Suelo/toxicidad , Animales , Animales Salvajes , Caspasa 3/química , Caspasa 3/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Vasos Coronarios/enzimología , Vasos Coronarios/metabolismo , Endotelio Vascular/enzimología , Endotelio Vascular/metabolismo , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Silenciador del Gen , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/antagonistas & inhibidores , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/genética , Histonas/química , Histonas/metabolismo , Humanos , Isoenzimas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Isoenzimas/genética , Isoenzimas/metabolismo , Fragmentos de Péptidos/química , Fragmentos de Péptidos/metabolismo , Peromyscus , Poli(ADP-Ribosa) Polimerasas/química , Poli(ADP-Ribosa) Polimerasas/metabolismo , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/aislamiento & purificación , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Ríos , Suelo/química , Contaminantes del Suelo/aislamiento & purificación , Tennessee

RESUMEN

Group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)alpha) is regulated by phosphorylation and calcium-induced translocation to membranes. Immortalized mouse lung fibroblasts lacking endogenous cPLA(2)alpha (IMLF(-/-)) were reconstituted with wild type and cPLA(2)alpha mutants to investigate how calcium, phosphorylation, and the putative phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) binding site regulate translocation and arachidonic acid (AA) release. Agonists that elicit distinct modes of calcium mobilization were used. Serum induced cPLA(2)alpha translocation to Golgi within seconds that temporally paralleled the initial calcium transient. However, the subsequent influx of extracellular calcium was essential for stable binding of cPLA(2)alpha to Golgi and AA release. In contrast, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced low amplitude calcium oscillations, slower translocation of cPLA(2)alpha to Golgi, and much less AA release, which were blocked by chelating extracellular calcium. AA release from IMLF(-/-) expressing phosphorylation site (S505A) and PIP(2) binding site (K488N/K543N/K544N) mutants was partially reduced compared with cells expressing wild type cPLA(2)alpha, but calcium-induced translocation was not impaired. Consistent with these results, Ser-505 phosphorylation did not change the calcium requirement for interfacial binding and catalysis in vitro but increased activity by 2-fold. Mutations in basic residues in the catalytic domain of cPLA(2)alpha reduced activation by PIP(2) but did not affect the concentration of calcium required for interfacial binding or phospholipid hydrolysis. The results demonstrate that Ser-505 phosphorylation and basic residues in the catalytic domain principally act to regulate cPLA(2)alpha hydrolytic activity.

Asunto(s)

Dominio Catalítico , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/química , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/metabolismo , Animales , Calcio/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Medio de Cultivo Libre de Suero , Activación Enzimática/efectos de los fármacos , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/genética , Humanos , Cinética , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Mutación/efectos de los fármacos , Fosforilación , Unión Proteica , Transporte de Proteínas , Acetato de Tetradecanoilforbol/análogos & derivados , Acetato de Tetradecanoilforbol/farmacología

RESUMEN

In resident mouse peritoneal macrophages, group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)alpha) mediates arachidonic acid (AA) release and eicosanoid production in response to diverse agonists such as A23187, phorbol myristate acetate, zymosan, and the enterotoxin, okadaic acid (OA). cPLA(2)alpha is regulated by phosphorylation and by calcium that binds to the C2 domain and induces translocation from the cytosol to membranes. In contrast, OA activates cPLA(2)alpha-induced AA release and translocation to the Golgi in macrophages without an apparent increase in calcium. Inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 (hsp90), geldanamycin, and herbimycin blocked AA release in response to OA but not to A23187, PMA, or zymosan. OA, but not the other agonists, induced activation of a cytosolic serine/threonine 54-kDa kinase (p54), which phosphorylated cPLA(2)alpha in in-gel kinase assays and was associated with cPLA(2)alpha in immunoprecipitates. Activation of the p54 kinase was inhibited by geldanamycin. The kinase coimmunoprecipitated with hsp90 in unstimulated macrophages, and OA induced its loss from hsp90, concomitant with its association with cPLA(2)alpha. The results demonstrate a role for hsp90 in regulating cPLA(2)alpha-mediated AA release that involves association of a p54 kinase with cPLA(2)alpha upon OA stimulation.

Asunto(s)

Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/metabolismo , Proteínas HSP90 de Choque Térmico/fisiología , Macrófagos Peritoneales/efectos de los fármacos , Proteína Quinasa 10 Activada por Mitógenos/metabolismo , Ácido Ocadaico/farmacología , Animales , Ácido Araquidónico/metabolismo , Benzoquinonas/farmacología , Calcimicina/farmacología , Calcio/metabolismo , Carcinógenos/farmacología , Citosol/enzimología , Activación Enzimática/efectos de los fármacos , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/farmacología , Femenino , Aparato de Golgi/metabolismo , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes/metabolismo , Proteínas HSP90 de Choque Térmico/antagonistas & inhibidores , Immunoblotting , Inmunoprecipitación , Ionóforos/farmacología , Lactamas Macrocíclicas/farmacología , Macrófagos Peritoneales/metabolismo , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos ICR , Células 3T3 NIH , Ácidos Fosfoaminos/metabolismo , Fosforilación/efectos de los fármacos , Transporte de Proteínas , Rifabutina/análogos & derivados , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Acetato de Tetradecanoilforbol/farmacología , Zimosan/farmacología

RESUMEN

Eicosanoid production by macrophages is an early response to microbial infection that promotes acute inflammation. The intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes stimulates arachidonic acid release and eicosanoid production from resident mouse peritoneal macrophages through activation of group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2alpha). The ability of wild type L. monocytogenes (WTLM) to stimulate arachidonic acid release is partially dependent on the virulence factor listeriolysin O; however, WTLM and L. monocytogenes lacking listeriolysin O (DeltahlyLM) induce similar levels of cyclooxygenase 2. Arachidonic acid release requires activation of MAPKs by WTLM and DeltahlyLM. The attenuated release of arachidonic acid that is observed in TLR2-/- and MyD88-/- macrophages infected with WTLM and DeltahlyLM correlates with diminished MAPK activation. WTLM but not DeltahlyLM increases intracellular calcium, which is implicated in regulation of cPLA2alpha. Prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin I2, and leukotriene C4 are produced by cPLA2alpha+/+ but not cPLA2alpha-/- macrophages in response to WTLM and DeltahlyLM. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production is significantly lower in cPLA2alpha+/+ than in cPLA2alpha-/- macrophages infected with WTLM and DeltahlyLM. Treatment of infected cPLA2alpha+/+ macrophages with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin increases TNFalpha production to the level produced by cPLA2alpha-/- macrophages implicating prostaglandins in TNFalpha down-regulation. Therefore activation of cPLA2alpha in macrophages may impact immune responses to L. monocytogenes.

Asunto(s)

Toxinas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/metabolismo , Proteínas de Choque Térmico/metabolismo , Proteínas Hemolisinas/metabolismo , Listeria monocytogenes , Listeriosis/enzimología , Activación de Macrófagos/fisiología , Macrófagos Peritoneales/enzimología , Receptor Toll-Like 2/metabolismo , Factores de Virulencia/metabolismo , Animales , Ácidos Araquidónicos/genética , Ácidos Araquidónicos/inmunología , Ácidos Araquidónicos/metabolismo , Toxinas Bacterianas/inmunología , Calcio/inmunología , Calcio/metabolismo , Señalización del Calcio/efectos de los fármacos , Señalización del Calcio/fisiología , Ciclooxigenasa 2/genética , Ciclooxigenasa 2/inmunología , Ciclooxigenasa 2/metabolismo , Inhibidores de la Ciclooxigenasa/farmacología , Regulación hacia Abajo/efectos de los fármacos , Regulación hacia Abajo/fisiología , Activación Enzimática/efectos de los fármacos , Activación Enzimática/fisiología , Quinasas MAP Reguladas por Señal Extracelular/genética , Quinasas MAP Reguladas por Señal Extracelular/inmunología , Quinasas MAP Reguladas por Señal Extracelular/metabolismo , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/genética , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV/inmunología , Proteínas de Choque Térmico/inmunología , Proteínas Hemolisinas/inmunología , Indometacina/farmacología , Listeria monocytogenes/inmunología , Listeriosis/genética , Listeriosis/inmunología , Sistema de Señalización de MAP Quinasas/efectos de los fármacos , Sistema de Señalización de MAP Quinasas/fisiología , Activación de Macrófagos/efectos de los fármacos , Macrófagos Peritoneales/inmunología , Macrófagos Peritoneales/microbiología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos ICR , Ratones Noqueados , Factor 88 de Diferenciación Mieloide/genética , Factor 88 de Diferenciación Mieloide/inmunología , Factor 88 de Diferenciación Mieloide/metabolismo , Receptor Toll-Like 2/genética , Receptor Toll-Like 2/inmunología , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/biosíntesis , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/genética , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/inmunología , Factores de Virulencia/inmunología

RESUMEN

Group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)alpha) initiates eicosanoid production; however, this pathway is not completely ablated in cPLA(2)alpha(-/-) lung fibroblasts stimulated with A23187 or serum. cPLA(2)alpha(+/+) fibroblasts preferentially released arachidonic acid, but A23187-stimulated cPLA(2)alpha(-/-) fibroblasts nonspecifically released multiple fatty acids. Arachidonic acid release from cPLA(2) alpha(-/-) fibroblasts was inhibited by the cPLA(2)alpha inhibitors pyrrolidine-2 (IC(50), 0.03 microM) and Wyeth-1 (IC(50), 0.1 microM), implicating another C2 domain-containing group IV PLA(2). cPLA(2) alpha(-/-) fibroblasts contain cPLA(2)beta and cPLA(2)zeta but not cPLA(2)epsilon or cPLA(2)delta. Purified cPLA(2)zeta exhibited much higher lysophospholipase and PLA(2) activity than cPLA(2)beta and was potently inhibited by pyrrolidine-2 and Wyeth-1, which did not inhibit cPLA(2)beta. In contrast to cPLA(2)beta, cPLA(2)zeta expressed in Sf9 cells mediated A23187-induced arachidonic acid release, which was inhibited by pyrrolidine-2 and Wyeth-1. cPLA(2)zeta exhibits specific activity, inhibitor sensitivity, and low micromolar calcium dependence similar to cPLA(2)alpha and has been identified as the PLA(2) responsible for calcium-induced fatty acid release and prostaglandin E(2) production from cPLA(2) alpha(-/-) lung fibroblasts. In response to ionomycin, EGFP-cPLA(2)zeta translocated to ruffles and dynamic vesicular structures, whereas EGFP-cPLA(2)alpha translocated to the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting distinct mechanisms of regulation for the two enzymes.

Asunto(s)

Ácido Araquidónico/metabolismo , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Fosfolipasas A/fisiología , Fosfolipasas de Tipo C/fisiología , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Citosol/metabolismo , Retículo Endoplásmico/metabolismo , Aparato de Golgi/metabolismo , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV , Insectos , Pulmón/metabolismo , Ratones , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Fosfoinositido Fosfolipasa C , Fosfolipasas A/genética , Fosfolipasas A/metabolismo , Transporte de Proteínas , Homología de Secuencia de Aminoácido , Fosfolipasas de Tipo C/metabolismo

RESUMEN

The Group IV phospholipase A2 family is comprised of six intracellular enzymes commonly called cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) alpha, cPLA2beta, cPLA2gamma, cPLA2delta, cPLA2epsilon and cPLA2zeta. They are most homologous to phospholipase A and phospholipase B/lysophospholipases of filamentous fungi particularly in regions containing conserved residues involved in catalysis. However, a number of other serine acylhydrolases (patatin, Group VI PLA2s, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoU and NTE) contain the Ser/Asp catalytic dyad characteristic of Group IV PLA2s, and recent structural analysis of patatin has confirmed its structural similarity to cPLA2alpha. A characteristic of all these serine acylhydrolases is their ability to carry out multiple reactions to varying degrees (PLA2, PLA1, lysophospholipase and transacylase activities). cPLA2alpha, the most extensively studied Group IV PLA2, is widely expressed in mammalian cells and mediates the production of functionally diverse lipid products in response to extracellular stimuli. It has PLA2 and lysophospholipase activities and is the only PLA2 that has specificity for phospholipid substrates containing arachidonic acid. Because of its role in initiating agonist-induced release of arachidonic acid for the production of eicosanoids, cPLA2alpha activation is important in regulating normal and pathological processes in a variety of tissues. Current information available about the biochemical properties and tissue distribution of other Group IV PLA2s suggests they may have distinct mechanisms of regulation and functional roles.

Asunto(s)

Fosfolipasas A/metabolismo , Animales , Sitios de Unión/fisiología , Proteínas Portadoras/metabolismo , Catálisis , Membrana Celular/enzimología , Citosol/enzimología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Retículo Endoplásmico/enzimología , Hongos/enzimología , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/genética , Aparato de Golgi/enzimología , Metabolismo de los Lípidos/fisiología , Fosfolipasas A/genética , Fosfolipasas A1 , Fosfolipasas A2 , Fosforilación , Ratas

RESUMEN

Cytosolic phospholipase A(2)gamma (cPLA(2)gamma) is a member of the group IV family of intracellular phospholipase A(2) enzymes, but unlike the well-studied cPLA(2)alpha, it is constitutively bound to membrane and is calcium independent. cPLA(2)gamma contains a C-terminal CaaX sequence and is radiolabeled by mevalonic acid when expressed in cPLA(2)alpha-deficient immortalized lung fibroblasts (IMLF(-/-)). The radiolabel associated with cPLA(2)gamma was identified as the farnesyl group. The protein farnesyltransferase inhibitor BMS-214662 prevented the incorporation of [(3)H]mevalonic acid into cPLA(2)gamma and partially suppressed serum-stimulated arachidonic acid release from IMLF(-/-) and undifferentiated human skeletal muscle (SkMc) cells overexpressing cPLA(2)gamma, but not from cells overexpressing cPLA(2)alpha. However, BMS-214662 did not alter the amount of cPLA(2)gamma associated with membrane. These results were consistent in COS cells expressing the C538S cPLA(2)gamma prenylation mutant. cPLA(2)gamma also contains a classic myristoylation site and several potential palmitoylation sites and was found to be acylated with oleic and palmitic acids but not myristoylated. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that cPLA(2)gamma is associated with mitochondria in IMLF(-/-), SkMc cells, and COS cells.

Asunto(s)

Ácido Palmítico/metabolismo , Fosfolipasas A/metabolismo , Prenilación de Proteína , Acilación , Transferasas Alquil y Aril/antagonistas & inhibidores , Animales , Ácido Araquidónico/metabolismo , Benzodiazepinas/farmacología , Células COS , Membrana Celular/enzimología , Células Cultivadas , Chlorocebus aethiops , Fibroblastos , Fosfolipasas A2 Grupo IV , Humanos , Imidazoles/farmacología , Pulmón/citología , Ratones , Fosfolipasas A/biosíntesis , Spodoptera

RESUMEN

Nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) is a key regulatory enzyme in the assimilation of nitrate into amino acids in plant leaves. NR activity is intricately controlled by multifarious regulatory mechanisms acting at different levels ranging from transcription to protein degradation. It is among the few enzymes known to have a robust circadian rhythm of enzyme activity in many plant species. Although many aspects of NR regulation have been studied in depth, how these different types of control interact in a plant to deliver integrated control of activity in leaves over the course of the day has not been systematically investigated. This work documents that NR in young tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaves has an endogenous rhythm in mRNA and protein level, which in nearly all circumstances are in phase with the rhythm in NR enzyme activity. Our data show that the diurnal control of NR activity in tomato leaves rests primarily with circadian regulation of Nia gene expression. The accompanying oscillations in protein level in tomato are made possible by a short half-life of NR protein that is approx. 6 h under normal conditions and approx. 2.5 h when plants are darkened during mid-day. NR post-transcriptional regulation via phosphorylation and subsequent 14-3-3 protein binding has a physiologically vital but secondary regulatory role in tomato of rapidly deactivating NR in response to changes in light intensity that cannot be anticipated by circadian timing. The post-translational reactivation of phosphorylated NR appears to have its primary physiological role in tomato leaves in reversing the down regulation of NR following transient shading events. Although there is a significant steady-state pool of apparently inactive NR throughout the diurnal, our data indicate that tomato leaves are unable to draw on this reserve to compensate for NR protein that is degraded during shading.

Asunto(s)

Ritmo Circadiano , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Nitrato Reductasas/metabolismo , Solanum lycopersicum/enzimología , Adenosina Monofosfato/análisis , Oscuridad , Luz , Solanum lycopersicum/genética , Solanum lycopersicum/metabolismo , Magnesio/análisis , Nitrato-Reductasa , Fosforilación , Hojas de la Planta/enzimología , Hojas de la Planta/metabolismo , Procesamiento Proteico-Postraduccional , Factores de Tiempo

RESUMEN

Prostaglandin (PG)E2 acts in an autocrine fashion to suppress proliferation of lung fibroblasts and production of collagen, and may negatively regulate pulmonary fibrosis. The role of Group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 alpha (cPLA2 alpha) in PGE2 production was investigated by comparing lung fibroblasts from wild-type and cPLA2 alpha-deficient mice. Arachidonic acid release from wild-type mouse lung fibroblasts (MLF+/+) was stimulated by serum, A23187 plus phorbol-myristate acetate (PMA), and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) plus platelet-derived growth factor, but was > or = 80% lower from cPLA2 alpha-deficient MLF (MLF-/-). Transforming growth factor-beta increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) expression to similar levels in MLF+/+ and MLF-/-, but MLF+/+ produced an order of magnitude more PGE2 than MLF-/- in response to A23187/PMA or platelet-derived growth factor/LPA. MLF+/+ synthesized less collagen than MLF-/-, supporting a role for PGE2 in suppressing collagen production. An SV40 immortalized line developed from MLF+/+ released arachidonic acid and expressed COX2 to levels similar to those of primary fibroblasts but produced 30-fold lower amounts of PGE2. Unlike primary fibroblasts, immortalized cells were deficient in microsomal PGE synthase (mPGES) but expressed slightly higher levels of cytosolic PGES. The results demonstrate a primary role for cPLA2 alpha in providing arachidonic acid for PGE2 production in mouse lung fibroblasts and support a role for this pathway in regulating collagen production.

Asunto(s)

Citosol/enzimología , Dinoprostona/biosíntesis , Pulmón/metabolismo , Fosfolipasas A/metabolismo , Animales , Ácido Araquidónico/metabolismo , Secuencia de Bases , Línea Celular Transformada , Ciclooxigenasa 2 , Cartilla de ADN , Fibroblastos/enzimología , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Isoenzimas/metabolismo , Pulmón/citología , Pulmón/enzimología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Fosfolipasas A2 , Prostaglandina-Endoperóxido Sintasas/metabolismo , Regulación hacia Arriba

RESUMEN

Overnight low-temperature exposure inhibits photosynthesis in chilling-sensitive species, such as tomato and cucumber, by as much as 60%. Earlier work showed that low temperature stalled the endogenous rhythm controlling transcription of certain nuclear-encoded genes in chilling-sensitive plants causing the synthesis of the corresponding transcripts and proteins to be mistimed upon rewarming. The activity of nitrate reductase (NR), the first and rate-limiting step in the assimilation of nitrate into amino acids in leaves, is subjected to a varied range of regulatory influences including a robust circadian rhythm. We show here that although NR regulation is disrupted by low temperatures, the change is transient and does not alter the phase of the NR endogenous rhythm following the chill. There is a temporary induction of de novo transcription of NR causing an increase in both NR protein and activity. This occurs regardless of the time in the circadian cycle that the chilling episode is initiated thereby decoupling the normally closely coordinated processes of carbon and nitrogen assimilation. This decoupling would be expected to deplete cellular reductant and carbon skeleton reserves as well as allow accumulation of cytotoxic intermediates of nitrogen assimilation thereby contributing to the low temperature induced disruption of metabolism that takes place in photosynthetic cells of chilling sensitive plant species.