Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) allow cells to rapidly regulate enzyme activity in response to changing metabolic and environmental conditions.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us match each metabolic enzyme with its post-translational regulation mechanism:
- (A) Nitrogenase: In many nitrogen-fixing bacteria, nitrogenase activity is shut off in response to ammonium availability through reversible ADP-ribosylation (II) of the dinitrogenase reductase protein.
- (B) Glutamine synthetase: In prokaryotes, this key nitrogen-assimilation enzyme is regulated by adenylylation (III), where attachment of an AMP moiety inactivates the enzyme.
- (C) Nitrate reductase: In plant cells, nitrate reductase is inactivated when a specific serine residue is phosphorylated, allowing a 14-3-3 inhibitor protein to bind and block activity (I).
- (D) Rubisco: Rubisco activity is regulated by nitric oxide levels through S-Nitrosylation (IV) of specific cysteine residues.
This yields the correct matching sequence: (A)-(II), (B)-(III), (C)-(I), (D)-(IV).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Hence, the correct option is (C).