Aluminum and temperature alteration of cell membrane permeability of Quercus rubra

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Plant Physiology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.96.2.644· OSTI ID:7111117

Chen, Junping; Sucoff, E I; Stadelmann, E J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul (United States)

Al toxicity is the major factor limiting plant growth in acid soils. This report extends research on Al-induced changes in membrane behavior of intact root cortex cells of Northern red oak (Quercus rubra). Membrane permeability was determined by the plasmometric method for individual intact cells at temperatures from 2 or 4 to 35 C. Al (0.37 millimolar) significantly increased membrane permeability to urea and monoethyl urea and decreased permeability to water. Al significantly altered the activation energy required to transport water (+ 32%), urea (+ 9%), and monoethyl urea ({minus}7%) across cell membranes. Above 9 C, Al increased the lipid partiality of the cell membranes; below 7 C, Al decreased it. Al narrowed by 6 C the temperature range over which plasmolysis occurred without membrane damage. These changes in membrane behavior are explainable if Al reduced membrane lipid fluidity and kink frequency and increases packing density and the occurrence of straight lipid chains.

• OSTI ID: 7111117
• Journal Information: Plant Physiology; (United States), Vol. 96:2; ISSN 0032-0889
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALUMINIUM
TOXICITY
CELL MEMBRANES
PERMEABILITY
OAKS
PLANT GROWTH
ACIDIFICATION
ACTIVATION ENERGY
LIPIDS
PLANT CELLS
SOILS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
GROWTH
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MEMBRANES
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
TREES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology