Root metabolic responses to short term anaerobiosis in the temperate sea grass Zostera marina L

Conference · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5271709

Smith, R D; Pregnall, A M; Alberte, R S

The submerged angiosperm Z. marina grows in highly reducing marine sediments. The roots experience periods of oxygen deprivation at night when photosynthesis-mediated oxygen transport from the shoot ceases. Despite this apparently inhospitable environment, Z. marina is extremely productive. This study sought to determine root metabolic responses to short term anaerobiosis. Roots were incubated for 4 h in the presence of /sup 14/C-sucrose. Amino acids and Krebs cycle intermediates were then extracted and label was quantified. Ethanol and lactate were the most heavily labeled metabolites following short term anaerobiosis. Despite increased synthesis of ethanol during anaerobiosis, endogenous levels do not increase significantly. Instead over 90% of newly synthesized ethanol is released by roots into the incubation medium. The authors conclude that release of ethanol by roots occurs naturally and prevents excessive accumulation of a potentially toxic product.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Chicago, IL
• OSTI ID: 5271709
• Journal Information: Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States), Vol. 80:4; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, 8-12 Jun 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ETHANOL
BIOSYNTHESIS
LACTATES
SACCHAROSE
LABELLING
AMINO ACIDS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
CARBON 14
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
KREBS CYCLE
METABOLISM
ROOTS
SEAWEEDS
ALCOHOLS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DISACCHARIDES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques