Evidence for a Functional myo-Inositol Oxidation Pathway in Lilium longiflorum Pollen

Addition of myo-inositol to pentaerythritol-based germination media repressed the conversion of d-[1-(14)C]glucose to labeled uronosyl and pentosyl units of tube wall pectic substance in lily pollen (Lilium longiflorum Thunb.). Conversion of d-[1-(14)C]glucose to labeled glucosyl, galactosyl, and rhamnosyl units was unaffected. The reverse experiment, addition of d-glucose to pentaerythritol-based media, failed to affect the conversion of myo-[2-(3)H]inositol to uronosyl and pentosyl units although the flow of label into products of myo-inositol-linked glucogenesis was blocked. Results of these experiments are discussed in terms of a functional myo-inositol oxidation pathway.d-[1-(14)C]Glucose-labeled pollen tubes contain a labeled, 70% ethyl alcohol-soluble, acidic compound whose formation is blocked by the myo-inositol antagonist, 2-O,C-methylene-myo-inositol (Chen et al. 1977 Plant Physiol. 59: 658). This compound has been identified as l-malic acid.