Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Evidence from Solanum tuberosum in support of the dual-pathway hypothesis of aromatic biosynthesis

Journal Article · · Plant Physiology; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.89.1.10· OSTI ID:6937839

Key branchpoint enzymes of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (DS) and chorismate mutase (CM), have previously been shown to exist as separate compartmentalized isozymes in the chloroplasts and cytosol of tobacco, sorghum and spinach. Although additional examples of plants containing these isozyme pairs are accumulating, some studies in the literature report the presence of only the single plastidic DS or CM enzyme. Such apparent exceptions contradict the universality of pathway organization existing in higher plants that is implied by the dual-pathway hypothesis of aromatic biosynthesis. Since potato (Solanum tuberosum) exemplifies a case where only a single species of both DS and CM have been reported, we selected this system for further analysis. The DS-Mn and DS-Co isozyme pair, exhibiting all of the differential properties described in Nicotiana silvestris, have now been identified in S. tuberosum. Likwise, partial purification via DEAE-cellulose chromatography revealed two isozymes of CM in disks excised from tubers of S. tuberosum. The differential regulatory properties of these isozymes were comparable to the CM-1 and CM-2 isozymes of N. silvestris.

DOE Contract Number:
FG05-86ER13581
OSTI ID:
6937839
Journal Information:
Plant Physiology; (USA), Journal Name: Plant Physiology; (USA) Vol. 89:1; ISSN 0032-0889; ISSN PLPHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English