Identification of a cDNA clone for sorghum leaf malate dehydrogenase (NADP). Light-dependent mRNA accumulation.

The mechanisms underlying the photoregulation of the synthesis of sorghum leaf malate dehydrogenase (NADP) (EC 1.1.1.82) (NADP-MDH), a key enzyme in C4 photosynthesis, have been investigated. During the greening process a light-dependent increase in enzyme activity took place, accompanied by de novo synthesis of the protein. In vitro translation experiments showed that this chloroplastic protein is synthesized as a precursor (46 kDa) with a 'transit peptide' of about 2.5 kDa. A large increase in NADP-MDH-translatable RNAs was also observed during greening. We describe also the construction and characterization of a cDNA clone for NADP-MDH (pCM18A) in the expression vector lambda gt11. The use of this homologous probe demonstrated a light-dependent mRNA accumulation.