Regulation of catalase activity in leaves of Nicotiana sylvestris by high CO2

The effect of high CO2 (1% CO2/21% O2) on the activity of specific forms of catalase (CAT-1, -2, and -3) EA Havir, NA McHale [1987] Plant Physiol 84: 450-455) in seedling leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris, Nicotiana tabacum) was examined. In high CO2, total catalase activity decreased by 50% in the first 2 days, followed by a more gradual decline in the next 4 days. The loss of total activity resulted primarily from a decrease in CAT-1 catalase. In contrast, the activity of CAT-3 catalase, a form with enhanced peroxidatic activity, increased 3-fold in high CO2 relative to air controls after 4 days. Short-term exposure to high CO2 indicated that 50% loss of total activity occurs in the first 12 hours. Catalase levels increased to normal within 12 hours after seedlings were returned to air. When seedlings were transferred to air after prolonged exposure to high CO2 (13 days), the levels of CAT-1 catalase were partially restored while CAT-3 remained at its elevated level. Levels of superoxide dismutase activity and those of several peroxisomal enzymes were not affected by high CO2. Total catalase levels did not decline when seedlings were exposed to atmospheres of 0.04% CO2/5% O2 or 0.04% CO2/1% O2, indicating that regulation of catalase in high CO2 is not related directly to suppression of photorespiration. Antibodies prepared against CAT-1 catalase from N. tabacum reacted strongly against CAT-1 catalase from both N. syvestris and N. tabacum but not against CAT-3 catalase from either species. This observation, along with the rapid changes in CAT-1 and the much slower changes in CAT-3 suggest that one form is not directly derived from the other