Molecular species specificity of phospholipid breakdown in microsomal membranes of senescing carnation flowers

During senescence of cut carnation flowers, there is extensive breakdown of microsomal phospholipid. This is attributable, at least in part, to lipolytic activity associated directly with the microsomal membranes. Evidence indicating that one or more of the lipid-degrading enzymes in these membranes preferentially degrade phospholipid molecular species containing two diunsaturated acyl chains or at least one polyunsaturated acyl chain has been obtained by using radiolabeled phosphatidylcholine substrates. 16:0^*/16:0^*, 16:0/18:2^*, and 18:1^*/18:1^* phosphatidylcholine were degraded only minimally over a 3 hour period by microsomes isolated from senescing flowers. By contrast, [U-¹⁴C]phosphatidylcholine, which comprises various molecular species including those containing polyunsaturated acyl chains, and 18:0/20:4^* phosphatidylcholine were extensively degraded. Under identical conditions, but in the absence of added radiolabeled substrate, endogenous 18:2/18:2, 18:1/18:3, and 18:2/18:3 phosphatidylcholine were selectively depleted from the membranes. During natural senescence of the flowers, there was a sharp decline in microsomal 16:0/18:1 and 18:1/18:2 phosphatidylcholine, whereas molecular species containing two diunsaturated acyl chains or at least one polyunsaturated acyl chain remained unchanged or decreased only slightly. The data have been interpreted as indicating that provision of particular molecular species susceptible to lipase attack is a prerequisite to phospholipid catabolism in senescing membranes.