Fumaric acid: an overlooked form of fixed carbon in Arabidopsis and other plant species
Photoassimilates are used by plants for production of energy, as carbon skeletons and in transport of fixed carbon between different plant organs. Many studies have been devoted to characterizing the factors that. regulate photoassimilate concentrations in different plant species. Most studies examining photoassimilate concentrations in C{sub 3} plants have focused on analyzing starch and soluble sugars. However, work presented here demonstrates that a number of C{sub 3} plants, including the popular model organism Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., and agriculturally important plants, such as soybean [Glycine ma (L.) Merr.], contain significant quantities of furnaric acid. In fact, furnaric acid can accumulate to levels of several mg per g fresh weight in A-abidopsis leaves, often exceeding starch and soluble sugar levels. Furnaric acid is a component of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and, like starch and soluble sugars, can be metabolized to yield energy and carbon skeletons for production of other compounds. Fumaric acid concentrations increase with plant age and light intensity in Arabidopsis leaves. Arabidopsis phloem exudates contain significant quantities of fumaric acid, raising the possibility that fumaric acid may function in carbon transport.
- Research Organization:
- Rice University, Houston, TX (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-98ER20300
- OSTI ID:
- 761351
- Journal Information:
- Submitted to Planta, Other Information: Preprint information submitted to Planta; PBD: 1 Oct 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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