Inhibition of oxalacetate decarboxylation during C4 photosynthesis by 3-mercaptopicolin acid.

3-Mercaptopicolinic acid specifically inhibits phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in leaves of the C4 plant Panicum maximum. Both the ATP- and ADP-dependent decarboxylation of oxalacetate and the carboxylation activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase are inhibited by 3-mercaptopicolinic acid while phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase are not inhibited. 3-Mercaptopicolinic acid inhibits the fixation of 14CO2 by illuminated P. maximum bundle sheath strands which is dependent upon oxalacetate and ATP but does not affect C3 photosynthesis in bundle sheath strands nor C4 photosynthesis in mesophyll cells. 3-Mercaptopicolinic acid treatment reduced P. maximum leaf photosynthesis 25% while raising the photosynthetic CO2 compensation point from near zero to 18 to 45 mul of CO2/liter of air.