La glutamine synthètase du Suaeda maritima. Action in vivo et in vitro du NaCl

The glutamine synthetase of Suaeda maritima. In vivo and in vitro action of NaCl Glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) was isolated and characterized from roots and aerial parts of the halophyte Suaeda maritima (L.) Dum. var. macrocarpa Moq. Km values of GS were identical in both types of organ and unchanged by the salinity in the medium. Addition of NaCl in the culturing solution increased the specific activity of the enzyme especially in the aerial parts, where GS is more abundant. This increase was all the more pronounced if the plant‐salt contact period was extended (between 21 and 45 days). In vitro the addition of 0 to 500 m M of salt did not affect the activity of GS at satured substrate concentrations. At low glutamate concentrations in combination with 300 m M NaCl or more, a slight competitive inhibition was observed, never over 18%. – The remarkable insensibility of GS to salinity in vitro and the stimulating effect of NaCl in vivo on the synthesis of the leaf enzyme indicates that GS plays a fundamental part in the assimilation of NH4 + in the halophyte Suaeda maritima var. macrocarpa.