Aspartate metabolism in Cicer immature seeds requires Ca²⁺, protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation

Abstract

The enzyme, aspartate kinase (AK) which is regulated through feedback mechanism by its end products, lysine and threonine, controls aspartate metabolism in plants. Here evidence is provided that intracellular signalling molecules such as Ca²⁺, protein kinases and phosphatases also participate in regulating AK activity in immature seeds of Cicer. Elevated levels of intracellular Ca²⁺ activate AK, which is mediated through protein phosphorylation cascade.