Dependence of Wound-induced Respiration in Potato Slices on the Time-restricted Actinomycin-sensitive Biosynthesis of Phospholipid

Actinomycin D prevents the full development in a 24-hour period of both wound respiration and cyanide resistance only when given in the first 10 to 12 hours following the cutting of potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum var. Russet) slices. The capacity for choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine increases with slice aging and is inhibited by actinomycin D in the same time-restricted way. The time-restricted effectiveness of actinomycin D applies to the cutting-elicited enhanced synthesis of three critical enzymes of phosphatidylcholine synthesis, namely phosphorylcholine-glyceride transferase, phosphorylcholine-cytidyl transferase, and phosphatidylphosphatase. By contrast, actinomycim D given at any time is without effect on the measurable levels after 24 hours of a selection of glycolytic and mitochondrial respiratory enzymes. Neither succinic dehydrogenase nor cytochrome oxidase activity increases with time in aging potato slices in the presence or absence of chloramphenicol. The foregoing observations emphasize the central role of phospholipid, and ultimately membrane biosynthesis, in the development of wound-induced respiration.