title: Using immunohistochemistry to study plant metabolism: the examples of its use in the localization of amino acids in plant tissues, and of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and its possible role in pH regulation.
abstract: To understand many aspects of the metabolism of complex plant structures such as leaves, fruit and roots it is important to understand how metabolic processes are compartmentalized between tissues. The aim of this article is to show how immunohistochemistry, in conjunction with biochemical and physiological studies, is useful in understanding both the function of an enzyme in a tissue and metabolic processes occurring in plant tissues. This is illustrated by two examples. Firstly, the use of immunohistochemisty in the localization of amino acids in plant tissues is described. Secondly, the use of immunohistochemistry in understanding the function of an enzyme in a tissue and the metabolic processes occurring within the tissue is described. To illustrate this the example of phosophoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), an enzyme which is present in many plant tissues in which its function is unknown, is used. Evidence is provided that PEPCK may play a role in pH regulation in tissues active in the metabolism of nitrogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK. Istituto di Coltivazioni Arboree, Universita degli Studi di Perugia, via BorgoXX Guigno, 74-06121 Perugia, Italy. rob.walker@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Famiani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tecsi
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Leegood
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D019764:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP) / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D059828:Plant Cells; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D019764:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP); D009584:Nitrogen