Supply of fatty acid is one limiting factor in the accumulation of triacylglycerol in developing embryos

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Plant Physiology (Bethesda)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.120.4.1057· OSTI ID:20006195

Bao, X; Ohlrogge, J

The metabolic factors that determine oil yield in seeds are still not well understood. To begin to examine the limits on triacylglycerol (TAG) production, developing Cuphea lanceolata, Ulmus carpinifolia, and Ulmus parvifolia embryos were incubated with factors whose availability might limit oil accumulation. The addition of glycerol or sucrose did not significantly influence the rate of TAG synthesis. However, the rate of {sup 14}C-TAG synthesis upon addition of 2.1 mM {sup 14}C-decanoic acid (10:0) was approximately four times higher than the in vivo rate of TAG accumulation in C. lanceolata and two times higher than the in vivo rate in U. carpinifolia and U. parvifolia. In C. lanceolata embryos, the highest rate of {sup 14}C-TAG synthesis (14.3 nmol h{sup {minus}1} embryo {sup {minus}1}) was achieved with the addition of 3.6 mM decanoic acid. {sup 14}C-Decanoic acid was incorporated equally well in all three acyl positions of TAG. The results suggest that C. lancelata, U. Carpinifolia, and U. parvifolia embryos have sufficient acyltransferase activities and glycerol-3-phosphate levels to support rates of TAG synthesis in excess of those found in vivo. Consequently, the amount of TAG synthesized in these oilseeds may be in part determined by the amount of fatty acid produced in plastids.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station; Department of Energy
• OSTI ID: 20006195
• Journal Information: Plant Physiology (Bethesda), Journal Name: Plant Physiology (Bethesda) Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 120; ISSN 0032-0889; ISSN PLPHAY
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOSYNTHESIS
DECANOIC ACID
EMBRYOS
GLYCEROL
METABOLISM
OILS
PLANTS
SEEDS
YIELDS