Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 54, No. 381, pp. 249-258,
January 2, 2003
© 2003 Oxford University Press
Redox regulation and storage processes during maturation in kernels of Triticum durum
Received 9 April 2002; Accepted 27 August 2002
1 Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Vegetale, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
2 Interdisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research (CIR), Università Campus Biomedico, Via Longoni 83, I-00155 Roma, Italy
3 Istituto Sperimentale di Cerealicoltura, Via Cassia 176, I-00191 Roma, Italy
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: +39 80 5442155. E-mail: degara{at}botanica.uniba.it
5 Present address: Istituto Sperimentale per le Colture Industriali, Via di Corticella 133, I-40129 Bologna, Italy.
Abbreviations: ASC, ascorbate; AFR, ascorbic free radical; AFRR, ascorbic free radical reductase; APX, ascorbate peroxidase; CAT, catalase; DAA, days after anthesis; DHA, dehydroascorbate; DHAR, dehydroascorbate reductase; GR, glutathione reductase; GSH, glutathione; GSSG, glutathione disulphide.
Metabolic changes during the development and maturation of Triticum durum Desf. (L.) kernels were studied, with particular emphasis on changes in the redox state of ascorbate and glutathione, as well as in the activities of the enzymes responsible for the recycling of their oxidized forms (ascorbic free radical reductase, EC 1.6.5.4; dehydroascorbate reductase, EC 1.8.5.1; glutathione reductase, EC 1.6.4.2) and for detoxification or utilization of hydrogen peroxide (ascorbate peroxidase, EC 1.11.1.11; catalase, EC 1.11.1.6). In parallel with this analysis, the production and storage of reserve compounds was studied, in particular, soluble carbohydrates (mono- di-saccharides and fructans) and the transition from sulphydryl groups to disulphide bridges into proteins. The results indicate that both the activities of the ascorbate and glutathione redox enzymes and that of catalase are high before the start of drying maturation, after which they decrease. Moreover, analysis of the redox state of ascorbate and glutathione pairs and the sulphydryl to disulphide transition into proteins suggests that these three parameters are tightly related during kernel maturation, thus confirming the involvement of the two redox pairs in protein maturation as well as in protection against reactive oxygen species. The physiological implications of the changes in cellular redox state and in soluble carbohydrates for the acquisition of desiccation tolerance and reaching the resting phase in orthodox seeds are also discussed.
Key words: Ascorbate, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, glutathione, kernel maturation, Triticum.
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