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Phytogenic biosynthesis and emission of methyl acetate
Author(s) -
JARDINE KOLBY,
WEGENER FREDERIK,
ABRELL LEIF,
VAN HAREN JOOST,
WERNER CHRISTIANE
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12164
Subject(s) - decarboxylation , pyruvate carboxylase , pyruvate dehydrogenase complex , biosynthesis , chemistry , pyruvate decarboxylation , environmental chemistry , biochemistry , botany , photochemistry , biology , catalysis , enzyme
Abstract Acetylation of plant metabolites fundamentally changes their volatility, solubility and activity as semiochemicals. Here we present a new technique termed dynamic 13 C ‐pulse chasing to track the fate of C 1–3 carbon atoms of pyruvate into the biosynthesis and emission of methyl acetate ( MA ) and CO 2 . 13 C ‐labelling of MA and CO 2 branch emissions respond within minutes to changes in 13 C ‐positionally labelled pyruvate solutions fed through the transpiration stream. Strong 13 C ‐labelling of MA emissions occurred only under pyruvate‐2‐ 13 C and pyruvate‐2,3‐ 13 C feeding, but not pyruvate‐1‐ 13 C feeding. In contrast, strong 13 CO 2 emissions were only observed under pyruvate‐1‐ 13 C feeding. These results demonstrate that MA (and other volatile and non‐volatile metabolites) derive from the C 2,3 atoms of pyruvate while the C 1 atom undergoes decarboxylation. The latter is a non‐mitochondrial source of CO 2 in the light generally not considered in studies of CO 2 sources and sinks. Within a tropical rainforest mesocosm, we also observed atmospheric concentrations of MA up to 0.6 ppbv that tracked light and temperature conditions. Moreover, signals partially attributed to MA were observed in ambient air within and above a tropical rainforest in the Amazon. Our study highlights the potential importance of acetyl coenzyme A ( CoA ) biosynthesis as a source of acetate esters and CO 2 to the atmosphere.