The biochemistry of plant cuticular lipids

Kolattukudy, Pappachan E.; Walton, Terence J.

doi:10.1016/0079-6832(73)90006-2

Cited by 124 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 338 publications

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“…The various lipid classes present in plant epicuticular waxes are most likely synthesized via an elongation-decarboxylation mechanism [ 1 ]. In barley the deposition of these long chain lipid molecules on the cuticle surfaces is controlled by at least 59 genes [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene mutation in barley inhibiting the production and use of C₂₆ chains in epicuticular wax formation

Wettstein-Knowles

1974

FEBS Letters

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene mutation in barley inhibiting the production and use of C₂₆ chains in epicuticular wax formation

Wettstein-Knowles

1974

FEBS Letters

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“…On the basis of structural considerations, a head-to-head condensation pathway had been suggested for the biosynthesis of alkanes (5). However, experimental evidence thus far obtained is not consistent with such a hypothesis (12). On the basis of a variety of experimental results summarized elsewhere (12), it was proposed that alkanes are formed by elongation of a fatty acid followed by decarboxylation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 83%

“…The nature of the protective polymer on other parts of the plant such as flowers and roots still remains unknown. Even though recent work on the biochemistry of the cuticular lipids has enabled us to propose the most probable pathways involved in their biosynthesis, several key enzymatic steps still remain to be elucidated in cell-free preparations (12). If the flower petal synthesizes the same cuticular lipids as those found on the other parts of the plant, it might offer certain advantages as an experimental material for enzyme level studies.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…C28, and CG n-alkanes. [G-3H] elongation-decarboxylation mechanism for the biosynthesis of alkanes.Plant cuticle consists of a cross-esterified hydroxytatty acid polymer, cutin, which is embedded in a mixture of relatively nonpolar, very long chain compounds collectively called wax (12,14). In recent years much progress has been made in the determination of the structure of plant cuticular lipids.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Structure and Biosynthesis of Cuticular Lipids

Kolattukudy¹,

Croteau²,

Brown³

1974

Plant Physiol.

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The structure and composition of the cutin monomers from the flower petals of Vicia faba were determined by hydrogenolysis (LiAlH4) or deuterolysis (LiAID4) followed by thin layer chromatography and combined gas-liquid chromatography and niass spectrometry. The major components were 10, 16-di. hvdroxvhexadecanoic acid (79.8%), 9,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid (4.2 % ), 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid (4.2 %), 18-hvdroxvoctadecanoic acid (1.6%), and hexadecanoic acid (2.4%). These results show that flower petal cutin is very similar to leaf cutin of V. faba. Developing petals readily incorporated exogenous [1-_4C]palmitic acid into cutin. Direct conversion of the exogeneous acid into 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, 10, 16-dihydroxy-, and 9,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid was demonstrated by radio gas-liquid chromatography of their chemical degradation products. About 1 % of the exogenous J_14C]palmitic acid was incorporated into C27, C29, and C31 nalkanes, which were identified by combined gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry as the major components of the hydrocarbons of V. faba flowers. The radioactivity distribution among these three alkanes (C27, 15 %; C29, 48%; C31, 38%) was similar to the per cent composition of the alkanes (C27, 12%; C29, 43%; Cai, 44%). [1-_4C]Stearic acid was also incorporated into C27, C29, and CG1 n-alkanes in good yield (3 % ). Trichloroacetate, which has been postulated to be an inhibitor of fattv acid elongation, inhibited the conversion of [1.14C]-stearic acid to alkanes, and the inhibition was greatest for the longer alkanes. Developing flower petals also incorporated exogenous C28, C30, and C31 acids into alkanes in 0.5 % to 5 % yields. [G-3H]n-octacosanoic acid (C28) was incorporated into C27. C28, and CG n-alkanes. [G-3H] elongation-decarboxylation mechanism for the biosynthesis of alkanes.Plant cuticle consists of a cross-esterified hydroxytatty acid polymer, cutin, which is embedded in a mixture of relatively nonpolar, very long chain compounds collectively called wax (12,14). In recent years much progress has been made in the determination of the structure of plant cuticular lipids. However, much of the work has been confined to leaves and fruits from which fairly intact cuticles can be isolated. The nature of the protective polymer on other parts of the plant such as flowers and roots still remains unknown. Even though recent work on the biochemistry of the cuticular lipids has enabled us to propose the most probable pathways involved in their biosynthesis, several key enzymatic steps still remain to be elucidated in cell-free preparations (12). If the flower petal synthesizes the same cuticular lipids as those found on the other parts of the plant, it might offer certain advantages as an experimental material for enzyme level studies. The results presented here constitute the first analysis of a flower cutin and show that the cutin on the V. faba flower petals is very similar, if not identical, to that found on the leaves of the same plant.One of the most common c...

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“…Long-chain n-alkanes (C25-C35) are produced as part of the epicuticular leaf waxes by terrestrial plants and serve as valuable biomarkers (Eglinton et al, 1962;Eglinton and Hamilton, 1967;Kolattukudy and Walton, 1973). Typically, leaf wax nalkanes show a distinct odd-over-even predominance (OEP) (Eglinton and Hamilton, 1967), and their relative odd homologue distribution might be used to differentiate between vegetation forms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf wax <i>n</i>-alkanes in modern plants and topsoils from eastern Georgia (Caucasus) – implications for reconstructing regional paleovegetation

Bliedtner¹,

Schäfer²,

Zech³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract. 10Long-chain n-alkanes became increasingly used for paleoenvironmental studies during the last years as they have the great potential to reconstruct past changes in vegetation and climate. They mostly originate from leaf waxes of higher terrestrial plants, are relatively resistant against physical and chemical degradation and can thus serve as valuable biomarkers that are preserved in various sedimentary archives for at least millennial timescales. However, before any robust interpretation of the long-chain n-alkane patterns in sedimentary archives, reference samples from modern vegetation and topsoil material should 15 be investigated at a regional scale. Apart from Central and South-Eastern Europe, such systematic regional studies on modern plant and topsoil material are still largely lacking.To test the potential of leaf wax derived n-alkane patterns for paleoenvironmental studies in the semi-humid to semi-arid southern Caucasus region, we investigated the influence of different vegetation types on the leaf wax n-alkane signal in modern plants and topsoil material (0-5 cm) from eastern Georgia. We sampled (i) sites with grassland that included steppe, 20 cultivated grassland and meadows, and (ii) sites that are dominated by deciduous hornbeam forests.The n-alkane results show distinct and systematic differences between samples from sites with the different vegetation types:n-alkanes derived from sites with grassland are mainly dominated by C31, while n-alkanes derived from sites with deciduous trees show high abundances of C29. Thus, chain-length ratios allow to discriminate between these two different vegetation types and have a great potential when used for regional paleoenvironmental reconstructions. As degradation of organic mat-25 ter can affect the leaf wax n-alkane distribution, we further present an updated end-member model that includes our results, accounts for degradation effects and enables semi-quantitative reconstructions of past vegetation changes in the southern Caucasus region.Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi

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The biochemistry of plant cuticular lipids

Cited by 124 publications

References 338 publications

Gene mutation in barley inhibiting the production and use of C₂₆ chains in epicuticular wax formation

Gene mutation in barley inhibiting the production and use of C₂₆ chains in epicuticular wax formation

Structure and Biosynthesis of Cuticular Lipids

Leaf wax <i>n</i>-alkanes in modern plants and topsoils from eastern Georgia (Caucasus) – implications for reconstructing regional paleovegetation

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The biochemistry of plant cuticular lipids

Cited by 124 publications

References 338 publications

Gene mutation in barley inhibiting the production and use of C26 chains in epicuticular wax formation

Gene mutation in barley inhibiting the production and use of C26 chains in epicuticular wax formation

Structure and Biosynthesis of Cuticular Lipids

Leaf wax &lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt;-alkanes in modern plants and topsoils from eastern Georgia (Caucasus) – implications for reconstructing regional paleovegetation

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Gene mutation in barley inhibiting the production and use of C₂₆ chains in epicuticular wax formation

Gene mutation in barley inhibiting the production and use of C₂₆ chains in epicuticular wax formation

Leaf wax <i>n</i>-alkanes in modern plants and topsoils from eastern Georgia (Caucasus) – implications for reconstructing regional paleovegetation