Identification of amino compounds synthesized and translocated in symbiotic Parasponia |
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Authors: | A BAKER C D DODD R PARSONS |
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Institution: | Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK |
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Abstract: | We investigated the synthesis and translocation of amino compounds in Parasponia, a genus of the Ulmaceae that represents the only non-legumes known to form a root nodule symbiosis with rhizohia. In the xylem sap of P. andersonii we identified asparagine. aspartate. glutamine, glutamated significant quantities of a non-protein amino acid. 4-methylglutamte(2-amino-4-methylpentanedioic acid). This identification was confirmed by two methods, capillary gas chromatography (GC) electron ionization (El) mass spectrometry (MS) and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of derivatized compounds. In leaf, root and nodule samples from P. andersonii and P. parviflora we also identified the related compounds 4-methyleneglutamate and 4-methyleneglulamine. Using 15N2 labelling and GC-Ms analysis of root nodule extracts we followed N2 fixation and ammonia assimilation in P. andersonii root nodules and observed Label initially in glutamine and subsequently in glutamate, suggesting operation of the glutamine synthetase/glutamine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GS/GOGAT) pathway. Importantly, we observed the incorporation of significant quantities of 15N into 4-methylglutamate in nodules, demonstrating the de nova synthesis of this non protein amino acid and suggesting a role in the translation of N in symbioticParasponia. |
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Keywords: | Parasponia Ulmaceae ammonia assimilation GC-MS GS/GOGAT 4-methyleneglulamine 4-methylglutamate N2 fixation |
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