| Abstract Detail
Metabolism Nakata, Paul [1], McConn, Michele [2]. Genetic evidence for differences in the pathways of druse and prismatic calcium oxalate crystal formation in Medicago truncatula. Current evidence supports a single pathway of oxalate biosynthesis utilising ascorbic acid as the precursor. In this study, we begin to address the possibility that more than one pathway of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation occurs in Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (cv. Jemalong genotype A17). Like wildtype, developing leaves of the calcium oxalate defective (cod) 4 mutant contains prismatic crystal along the vascular strand, but this mutant also hyper-accumulates druse crystals within the mesophyll cells. A second mutant, cod5, fails to accumulate prismatic crystals along the vascular strand, but is capable of wildtype druse crystal accumulation in maturing leaves. To assess whether a single pathway of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation occurs in M. truncatula we generated and characterised the cod4/cod5 double mutant. Microscopic examination of the cod4/cod5 revealed that the double mutant exhibits both cod4 and cod5 mutant crystal phenotypes simultaneously suggesting there are differences in the pathways leading to the two crystal types. Measured ascorbic acid levels and ascorbate induction studies were consistent with the acid as precursor to oxalate in druse crystal formation but not necessarily prismatic crystal formation. Based on these findings, we propose a working model depicting possible pathways of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation.
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX, 77030-2600, USA
2 - Baylor College of Medicine, Pediatrics
Keywords:
Calcium
oxalate
Medicago truncatula.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P19023
Abstract ID:824 |
