Glycolipid Degradation in Leaves of the Thermophilic Cucumis sativus as Affected by Light and Low-Temperature Treatment

Treatment of Cucumis leaf discs with light and low temperature (1°C) resulted in degradation of the total lipids. In addition, a decrease of the linolenic acid content of the glycolipids of leaves and leaf discs took place while at the same time an increase in the content of unidentified degradation products from the glycolipids was observed. The decrease of the linolenic acid content was not due to galactolipase activity, since no monogalactosyl diglyceride acyl hydrolase activity was found. Dark and low temperature did not alter the fatty acid composition. Blue light and low temperature resulted in a decrease of the linolenic acid content, while yellow-, red- and far red light in combination with low temperature were ineffective.     

Fatty Acid Levels in Apple Leaves of Different Age as Affected by Temperature

Relative electrical conductivity (RC) values and Tally acid levels were measured on apple leaves of different ages exposed to 0 and 20°C. RC values were measured at—3°C and high RC values indicate frost-sensitive tissue. A prolonged period at 0°C gave an increased RC value of the leaves, which indicates damage. At 20°C the RC values were lower in older leaves than in young leaves. The fatty acids level as well as the degree of saturation were different at different ages of the leaves. Young leaves showed a higher fatty acid level in plants held at 20°C than in plants at 0°C. The older leaves maintained the same level after 12 days at 20°C as after 3 days at 20°C. The fatty acid level decreased at 0°C. The linolenic acid level followed the same trend as total fatty acids, indicating that synthesis and degradation of linolenic acid can occur in the same plant depending on the age of the leaf and on the temperature. Cold resistance and linolenic acid levels were correlated in both old and young leaves at 20°C and in older leaves at 0°C. There was no correlation between cold resistance and levels of linotenic acid levels in young leaves at 0°C. Two hiosynthetic pathways for linolenic acid synthesis are discussed.     

A biochemical difference between healthy bean leaves resistant and susceptible to the halo-blight disease caused by Pseudomonas phaseolicola

Substrate for an endogenous oxidation in homogenates of leaves of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) was traced to two fractions of lipids, each representing less than 2% of the dry weight of leaves. The substrate lipids, tentatively identified as galactosyl diglycerides, yielded linolenic and linoleic acids on acid hydrolysis. Amounts of linolenic acid in total lipids in resistant and susceptible leaves were similar. Amounts of free linolenic acid in resistant leaves increased eightfold to 408.6 μg and in susceptible leaves fourfold to 130.6 μg/g fresh leaf after homogenization and incubation for 16 min at 4 °C. These quantities are sufficient to account during their lipoxidation for the previously reported oxygen uptakes in homogenates. Differences between resistant and susceptible leaves were traced to the activities of lipase systems which liberate linolenic acid from substrate lipids.     

Formation of cis-3-hexenal,trans-2-hexenal and cis-3-hexenol in macerated Thea sinensis leaves

Thea sinensis; Theaceae; tea; cis-3-hexenal: leaf aldehyde; leaf alcohol; linolenic acid; biosynthesis of leaf alcohol.Linolenic acid and cis-3-hexenal were found in macerated leaves of Thea sinensis and this aldehyde may be produced from linolenic acid by an enzyme contained in macerated leaves in the presence of oxygen. This aldehyde was easily isomerized to trans-2-hexenal, and was converted to cis-3-hexenol by alcohol dehydrogenase. During maceration of freshly picked tea leaves, the amounts of trans-2-hexenal quickly increased and were influenced by maceration time, heating, oxygen and the pH. But in unpicked tea leaves the occurrence of trans-2-hexenal is extremely doubtful.     

Developmental change in c(6)-aldehyde formation by soybean leaves

Damage to plant leaves by wounding or freezing induces the production of large amounts of C₆-compounds. However, the control of formation of these compounds in leaves is not yet clear. In the current study, C₆-aldehyde formation by freeze-injured soybean leaves of different ages (based on the leaf positions on the plant) at stage R1 of plant development was investigated. The results demonstrate that C₆-aldehyde formation by the soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves changes as leaves develop. Younger leaves produce high levels of C₆-aldehydes, mainly composed of hexanal. Subsequently, as the leaves develop, the level of C₆-aldehyde formation decreases markedly, followed by an increase with a large shift from hexanal to hexenals. Lipoxygenase and lipolytic acyl hydrolase activity was reduced, and, in contrast, hydroperoxide lyase activity increased. There was little difference in lipoxygenase substrate specificity for linoleic acid and linolenic acid, but hydroperoxide lyase preferentially utilized 13-hydroperoxy-9,11,15-octadecatrienoic acid. In the in vivo lipoxygenase substrate pool, the linoleic acid level declined and the relative level of linolenic acid increased. The change in ratios of linolenic acid to linoleic acid showed a similar trend during soybean leaf development to that of hexenals to hexanal.     

Lipids in Cruciferae IX. The Effect of Growth Temperature and Stage of Development on the Fatty Acid Composition of Leaves, Siliques and Seeds of "Zero-erucic-acid" Breeding Lines of Brassica napus

Two breeding lines of “zero-erucic-acid” rapeseed (Brassica napus) were grown in climate chambers at a constant night temperature (12°C) and constant photoperiod (16 hours) but with different day temperatures (15, 20 and 25°C). Samples of leaves, siliques and immature seeds were analysed for total fatty acid pattern. The content of different acyl lipids and the fatty acid pattern of these lipids were also determined in some of the samples by use of preparative TLC followed by GLC of the fatty acids. The mature seeds produced by ten plants of each selection in each climate were analysed separately for total fatty acid composition. Mono- and digalactosyl diglycerides (MGDG, DGDG) were the predominant acyl lipids in leaves and siliques. In developing seeds they also were more abundant than the phospholipids, but in this case the neutral lipids, mainly triacylglycerols, contained about 95% of the total fatty acids. Large variations were found in the fatty acid composition of monogalactosyl diglyceride and digalactosyl diglyceride, isolated from leaves, siliques and immature seeds. The palmitic acid content of leaf MGDG was about 15 %, atypically high for MGDG from photosynthetic tissue. The linolenic acid content of the MGDG was about 45 %, 30 % and 10 % in the leaf, silique and seed tissues respectively. A hexadecatrienoic acid (16: 3) was found almost exclusively in the MGDG samples of leaves, siliques and immature seeds (about 25 %, 10 % and 3 % 16:3 respectively). The lipids of siliques — mainly photosynthetising tissue — were different from those of leaves and had especially high contents of stearic acid (6–12 % in the different lipids). For all lipid classes studied, leaves grown at the lowest day temperature had a slightly lower oleic and higher linolenic acid content than those grown at the highest temperature. On the other hand, increasing the day temperature caused a decreased level of oleic, an increased level of linoleic and an essentially unchanged level of linolenic acids in the mature seeds from both selections.     

Effect of Growth Temperature on the Biosynthesis of Chloroplastic Galactosyldiacylglycerol Molecular Species in Brassica napus Leaves

Brassica napus leaves developed at low temperature display rapid in situ desaturation of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) fatty acids leading to the production of hexadecatrienoic/linolenic acid. This was shown by radioactivity-tracer experiments to occur via a sequence of desaturations proceeding from the initially synthesized palmitic/oleic acid molecular species to palmitic/linoleic acid, palmitoleic/linoleic acid, hexadecadienoic/linoleic acid, hexadecadienoic/linolenic acid, and finally to hexadecatrienoic/linolenic acid. The results suggest that there is increased activity in all five desaturation steps in leaves developed at low temperatures. Labeling data also indicate that there is another pool of MGDG which is more slowly desaturated before galactosylation to digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG). Our data further suggest that relative rates of galactosylation of chloroplastic and cytosolic MGDG molecular species may regulate the final amounts of chloroplastic and cytosolic MGDG and DGDG in the leaf. We have proposed a model for chloroplastic biosynthesis and desaturation of galactosyldiacylglycerols in the leaves of Brassica napus, a 16:3 plant.     

Changes in Lipid Composition during Greening of Etiolated Pea Seedlings

After 7 days of germination in the dark, the three sections of pea seedlings studied (cotyledons, stems, and young leaves) are rich in linoleic acid; after illumination of the seedlings a very significant increase in linolenic acid is observed in the young leaves section, whereas only small variations are noted in the fatty acid composition of the other sections. The increase in linolenic acid results from the increase in galactolipid content of the young leaves; these already linolenic acid-rich galactolipids are present but only in small amounts in the etiolated seedlings (10% of total lipid).     

Changes in Total and Polar Lipids and Their Fatty Acid Composition in Tobacco Leaves during Growth and Senescence

Total lipids, total fatty acids and most polar lipids of tobaccoleaves increased and decreased almost concomitantly with changesin chlorophyll during leaf development and senescence. In individualpolar lipids, marked changes were observed in compounds associatedwith chloroplast membranes, i.e., monogalactosyldiglyceride(MGDG), digalactosyldiglyceride and sulfoquinovosyldiglyceride.Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) was the first to decrease during leafdvelopment. Green leaves contained a considerable amount ofhexadecatrienoic acid (16: 3) in MGDG, which suggests that tobaccobelongs to 16: 3- plants. The proportion of linolenic acid infour chloroplast lipids was lower in senescent leaves than ingreen leaves. Similar phenomena were also observed in 16: 3of MGDG and in hexadecenoic acid of PG. (Received April 27, 1981; Accepted July 11, 1981)     

Formation of 2-hexenal from linolenic acid by macerated Ginkgo leaves

The content of linolenic acid and its fat-soluble derivatives in Ginkgo leaves has been determined. By utilization of uniformly ¹⁴C-labelled linolenic acid it has been shown that the linolenic acid in Ginkgo leaves is converted into 2-hexenal when the leaves are macerated in the presence of air. The conversion of linolenic acid to 2-hexenal under the conditions of temperature and pH existing in the Ginkgo leaf requires the presence in the leaves of an enzyme or other catalyst. This is not lipoxidase but is a hexane-insoluble, water-soluble substance. A preparation of this substance strongly catalyzes the absorption of oxygen by linolenic acid in water at 20°.     

Effect of Low Temperature upon Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition of Roots and Leaves of Winter Rape Plants

When winter rape plants were transferred from favourable temperature conditions (25/20°C day/night temperature) to 5°C, the frost resistance of the leaves was increased whereas the frost tolerance of the roots remained unaffected. This permitted an analysis of the changes in lipid and fatty acid composition both as related to functioning of the plant at low temperature alone (roots) and as related to adaptation to freezing and functioning at low temperature (leaves). — Transfer of the plants to 5°C lead to an increase in the level of linolenic acid in roots and leaves. This increase was most evident in the phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine fractions of the leaves, and in the neutral lipids and in an unidentified phospholipid from the roots. It was concluded that upon transfer of the plants to 5°C a general and non-specific increase in linolenic acid level contributed to functioning of the rape plants at low temperature; and that parallel but minor increases in linolenic acid level of digalactosyl diglyceride, phosphatidyl inositol and the unknown phospholipid in roots and leaves could only contribute to low-temperature functioning in specific membrane enzyme locations. Combined adaptation of the leaves to freezing tolerance and low-temperature functioning was correlated with a higher level of phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine, predominantly esterified with linolenic acid.     

Lipid utilization in adult Pieris brassicae with special reference to the rôle of linolenic acid

Fatty acids of adult Pieris brassicae and the incorporation of dietary linolenic acid-1-¹⁴C into adult (and egg) lipids were analysed 1 and 9 days after ecdysis. Females grown on a leaf diet retained palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids but lost linoleic and linolenic acids during adult life, while males utilized their fatty acids more evenly. On an artificial diet both sexes retained palmitic acid but utilized palmitoleic and oleic acids. In both cases females laid eggs with a high palmitic and oleic acid content.Analysis of thorax flight muscles (artificial diet) revealed that 67·9% of the lipids in 1-day females and 83·6% in 9-day females was phospholipid (PL). During adult life linolenic acid increased in thorax neutral lipids (NL) from 14·6 to 20·0% in females and from 18·5 to 30·0% in males. Males incorporated more linolenic acid-1-¹⁴C especially in fat body and flight muscle PL than females. The majority of this was recovered from phosphatidyl cholines (PTC) in 1-day adults whereas in 9-day adults phosphatidyl ethanolamines (PTE) and another compound, most likely cardiolipin, contained more label (29·0% in PTC, 33·1% in PTE, 34·9% in cardiolipin, and 2·0% in sphingomyelin in the thorax of females). The females also incorporated the label into egg lipids (42·2% in PL, 57·8% in NL). There was recovered from PTC 54·5% of the label in egg PL.Most of the label in thorax NL was found to be in free fatty acids (FFA). The label disappeared from triglycerides during adult life and tended to accumulate in FFA (82·7% in 9-day females) while in diglycerides the label did not vary during adult life (17·2% in 9-day post-emergence females). PTC apparently is a fairly labile PL type which is utilized in muscle whereas PTE and cardiolipin may be more structural in function and accumulated more label from linolenic acid with increasing adult age. Linolenic acid, then, essentially is a structural fatty acid and its rôle appears to be mainly in the structures of flight muscle membranes and organelles.     

Is lipoxygenase involved in the formation of ethylene from ACC?

Freezing or desiccation of winter rape leaves ( Brassica napus L. var. oleifera (cv. Górczanski) stimulated both lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.12) activity and ethylene formation during the post-stress period. The effect depended on the degree of membrane injury. In tissues showing injury less than 50% (as checked with the electrical conductivity method) both activities increased according to the degree of stress-induced damage. In leaves injured to a higher degree both activities decreased. Light and low temperature (5°C) inhibited the development of both lipoxygenase activity and ethylene formation in leaf disks stored for 20 h. Ethylene formation was also observed in a model system where soybean lipoxygenase was added to a mixture containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and linoleic or linolenic acid as substrate for lipoperoxide formation. Changes in pH and temperature conditions of the incubation mixture caused similar differences in the lipoxygenase activity and ethylene formation. We propose that the stimulation of lipoxygenase-catalysed oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (increasing free radical formation) leads to an increased ethylene production from ACC.     

Comparison of fatty acid patterns in plant parts and respective callus cultures of Cucumis melo

Root, hypocotyl, cotyledon, stem and leaf of Cucumis melo var. utilissimus seedlings were used for callus induction. Comparison was made between these parts, between callus tissues originating from all the parts and between each part and its callus, with respect to the fatty acid composition of total lipids. In all the parts there was a greater proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, the predominant fatty acid in root, stem and leaf being linolenic acid whilst in the cotyledon linoleic predominated. In the hypocotyl these two acids were present in equal amounts. In callus cultures the proportion of saturated acids was greater and the predominant fatty acid was palmitic. The major unsaturated fatty acid in callus cultures was linolenic. The analysis showed that callus tissue and its respective plant part had different fatty acid patterns and that all the callus cultures had very similar patterns irrespective of their origin.     

Fatty acid synthesis by slices from developing leaves

Fatty acid synthesis was studied in successive leaf sections from the base to the tip of developing barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), maize (Zea mays L.), rye grass (Lolium perenne L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) leaves. The basal regions of the leaves had the lowest rates of fatty acid synthesis and accumulated small amounts of very long chain fatty acids. Fatty acid synthesis was highest in the middle leaf sections in all four plants. Linolenic acid synthesis from [1-¹⁴C]acetate was highest in the distal leaf sections of rye grass. The labelling of the fatty acids of individual lipids of rye grass was examined and it was found that [¹⁴C]linolenic acid was highest in the galactolipids. Synthesis of this acid in the galactolipids was most active in leaf segment C. Only traces of [¹⁴C]linolenic acid were ever found in phosphatidylcholine and it is concluded that this phospholipid cannot serve as a substrate for linoleic acid desaturation in rye grass. The synthesis of fatty acids was sensitive to arsenite, fluoride and the herbicide EPTC. The latter was only inhibitory towards those leaf segments which made very long chain fatty acids. Formation of fatty acids from [1-¹⁴C]acetate was also studied in chloroplasts prepared from successive leaf sections of rye grass. Chloroplasts isolated from the middle leaf sections had the highest activity. Palmitic and oleic acids were the main fatty acid products in all chloroplast preparations. Linolenic acid synthesis was highest in chlorplasts isolated from the distal leaf sections of rye grass.     

Chemotaxonomic Screening of Seed Oils from the Family Saxifragaceae and Comparison with Data on Seed Oils from Grossulariaceae Obtained from Literature

Seeds of 25 members of the family Saxifragaceae, 1 × Astilbe, 1 × Darmera, 1 × Leptarrhena, 1 × Tellima, 3 × Mitella, and 18 × Saxifraga were investigated regarding oil content, as well as composition and content of fatty acids and vitamin E active compounds. The results were compared with results obtained from literature for members of the genus Ribes belonging to the closely related family Grossulariaceae to find chemometric differences between the different genera and between members of the family Saxifragaceae and Grossulariaceae, respectively. Members of the family Saxifragaceae are dominated by high amounts of linoleic and α‐linolenic acid which together account for about 80% of the total fatty acids. While α‐linolenic acid is characteristic for members of the genus Saxifraga, in other genera, linoleic acid is predominant. In comparison to members of the family Saxifragaceae members of the family Grossulariaceae also contain γ‐linolenic acid and stearidonic acid which allow a significant differentiation between both families. By principle component analysis, members of both families were divided into three distinct groups, i) species with a high content of α‐linolenic acid (genus Saxifraga), ii) species with high amounts of γ‐linolenic acid and stearidonic acid (genus Ribes), and iii) species with higher amounts of linoleic acid (other members of the family Saxifragaceae). The composition of the vitamin E active compounds was characterized by a high content of γ‐tocopherol in most members of the family Saxifragaceae, but no chemotaxonomic relevance.     

An increase in ethylene sensitivity is associated with jasmonate-promoted senescence of detached rice leaves

The role of ethylene in jasmonate-promoted senescence of detached rice leaves was investigated. Ethylene production in methyl jasmonate-treated leaf segments of rice was lower than in the control leaves. Treatment of leaf segments with silver nitrate or/and silver thiosulfate, inhibitors of ethylene action, inhibited methyl jasmonate-, jasmonic acid-, linolenic acid-, and abscisic acid-promoted senescence of detached leaves. We suggest that an increase in ethylene sensitivity, but not ethylene level, is the initial event triggering the enhanced senescence by jasmonates of detached rice leaves.Abbreviations JA jasmonic acid - MJ methyl jasmonate - STS silver thiosulfate - ABA abscisic acid     

Effects of CO2 enrichment on soluble amino acids and organic acids in barley primary leaves as a function of age, photoperiod and chlorosis

Responses of soluble amino acids and organic acids to either ambient (36 Pa) or elevated (100 Pa) CO₂ treatments were determined using barley primary leaves (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Brant). Total soluble amino acids were increased 33% by CO₂ enrichment 9 days after sowing (DAS), but a decrease relative to the ambient CO₂ treatment was observed with increasing leaf age. Marked declines of glutamine and asparagine were observed under CO₂ enrichment, both diurnally and with advancing leaf age. Consequently, total soluble amino acids were 59% lower in the elevated compared to the ambient CO₂ treatment 17 DAS. It was likely that chlorosis in response to CO₂ enrichment negatively impacted soluble amino acid levels in older barley primary leaves. In contrast to the ambient CO₂ treatment, glutamine and most other soluble amino acids decreased as much as 60% during the latter half of a 12 h photoperiod in primary leaves of 13-day-old seedlings grown under enhanced CO₂. Malate was decreased about 9 percent by CO₂ enrichment and citrate and succinate were increased by similar amounts when measured 9 and 13 DAS. Malate accumulation was also decreased about 20% by CO₂ enrichment on a diurnal basis. The onset of CO₂-dependent leaf yellowing had much less of an effect on organic acids than on soluble amino acids. This above results emphasized the sensitivity of N metabolism to CO₂ enrichment in barley. Increased levels of citrate and succinate in response to CO₂ enrichment suggested that the tricarboxylic acid cycle was upregulated in barley by CO₂ enrichment. In summary, organic and amino acid levels in barley primary leaves were dynamic and were altered by age, diurnally and in response to CO₂ enrichment.     

Dietary linolenic acid and fasting glucose and insulin: the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study

Objective: To assess whether dietary linolenic acid is associated with fasting insulin and glucose. Research Methods and Procedures: In a cross‐sectional design, we studied 3993 non‐diabetic participants of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study 25 to 93 years of age. Linolenic acid was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire, and laboratory data were obtained after at least a 12‐hour fast. We used generalized linear models to calculate adjusted means of insulin and glucose across quartiles of dietary linolenic acid. Results: From the lowest to the highest sex‐specific quartile of dietary linolenic acid, means ± standard error for logarithmic transformed fasting insulin were 4.06 ± 0.02 (reference), 4.09 ± 0.02, 4.13 ± 0.02, and 4.17 ± 0.02 pM, respectively (trend, p < 0.0001), after adjustment for age, sex, energy intake, waist‐to‐hip ratio, smoking, and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol. When dietary linolenic acid was used as a continuous variable, the multivariable adjusted regression coefficient was 0.42 ± 0.08. There was no association between dietary linolenic acid and fasting glucose (trend p = 0.82). Discussion: Our data suggest that higher consumption of dietary linolenic acid is associated with higher plasma insulin, but not glucose levels, in non‐diabetic subjects. Additional studies are needed to assess whether higher intake of linolenic acid results in an increased insulin secretion and improved glucose use in vivo.     

Lipid biosynthesis in relation to chloroplast development in barley

During greening of detached leaves from dark-grown barley seedlings, the linolenic acid content of the lipids increases in the early stages of the formation of the chloroplast lamellar system. Primarily the fraction containing monogalactosyl diglyceride is enriched with linolenic acid. Incorporation of (14)C-labeled acetate into the leaf lipids of detached whole leaves is low, but increases 10- to 20-fold during greening. Increasing percentages of label appear in linolenic acid during the first 15 hr of greening, whereafter they remain constant. A constant, relatively high amount of acetate is incorporated into lipids when slices of leaves at various stages of greening are incubated by submersion in acetate solution, a treatment that blocks further chlorophyll synthesis during incubation. At the initial greening stages 75% of the label is channeled into steroids and other unsaponifiable lipids, but in advanced stages of chloroplast development 75% of the incorporated acetate is built into phospho-, sulfo- and galacto-lipids, and only 25% is channeled into unsaponifiable lipids. Experimental variation of the physiological conditions of the tissue during incubation resulted in differences in the amount of label found in the various phospho- and galacto-lipids. The amounts of labeling of the individual fatty acids in the lipid classes studied differ markedly and could be changed by varying the conditions of incubation. Labeling of linolenic acid was found to be highest in the monogalactosyl diglyceride fraction at all stages of greening.