Emission of hydrogen sulfide by leaf tissue in response to L-cysteine

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Plant Physiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.70.2.430· OSTI ID:5740816

Sekiya, J; Schmidt, A; Wilson, L G; Filner, P

Leaf discs and detached leaves exposed to L-cysteine emitted a volatile sulfur compound which was proven by gas chromatography to be H/sub 2/S. This phenomenon was demonstrated in all nine species tested (Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita pepo, Nicotiana tabacum, Coleus blumei, Beta vulgaris, Phaseolus vulgaris, Medicago sativa, Hordeum vulgare, and Gossypium hirsutum). The emission of volatile sulfur by cucumber leaves occurred in the dark at a similar rate to that in the light. The emission of leaf discs reached the maximal rate, more than 40 picomoles per minute per square centimeter, 2 to 4 hours after starting exposure to L-cysteine; then it decreased. In the case of detached leaves, the maximum occurred 5 to 10 h after starting exposure. The average emission rate of H/sub 2/S during the first 4 hours from leaf discs of cucurbits in response to 10 millimolar L-cysteine, was usually more than 40 picomoles per minute per square centimeter, i.e. 0.24 micromoles per hour per square decimeter. Leaf discs exposed to 1 millimolar L-cysteine emitted only 2% as much as did the discs exposed to 10 millimolar L-cysteine. The emission from leaf discs and from detached leaves lasted for at least 5 and 15 hours, respectively. However, several hours after the maximal emission, injury of the leaves, manifested as chlorosis, was evident. H/sub 2/S emission was a specific consequence of exposure to L-cysteine; neither D-cysteine nor L-cysteine elicited H/sub 2/S emission. Aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of pyridoxal phosphate dependent enzymes, inhibited the emission. In a cell free system from cucumber leaves, H/sub 2/S formation and its release occurred in response to L-cysteine. Feeding experiments with (/sup 35/S)t-cysteine showed that most of the sulfur in H/sub 2/S was derived from sulfur in the L-cysteine supplied.

• Research Organization: MSU-DOE Plant Research Lab., East Lansing, MI
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ER01338
• OSTI ID: 5740816
• Journal Information: Plant Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Plant Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 70:2; ISSN PLPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMINO ACIDS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CUCUMBERS
CYSTEINE
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EMISSION
ENZYME INHIBITORS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOOD
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
INJURIES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LEAVES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
SULFIDES
SULFUR 35
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR CYCLE
SULFUR ISOTOPES
THIOLS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VEGETABLES