Intramolecular carbon isotope signals reflect metabolite allocation in plants. (27th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wieloch, Thomas; Sharkey, Thomas David; Werner, Roland Anton; Schleucher, Jürgen
• Editors: Rogers, Alistair
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental botany. Volume 73:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 2558
• Page End: 2575
• Publication Date: 2022-01-27
• Subjects: Carbon allocation -- carbon stable isotopes -- intramolecular isotope analysis -- long time scales -- ozone stress -- primary carbon metabolism -- triose-phosphate isomerase; Botany -- Periodicals; Botany, Experimental -- Periodicals; Plant physiology -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0957

Abstract

Abstract: Stable isotopes at natural abundance are key tools to study physiological processes occurring outside the temporal scope of manipulation and monitoring experiments. Whole-molecule carbon isotope ratios ( 13 C/ 12 C) enable assessments of plant carbon uptake yet conceal information about carbon allocation. Here, we identify an intramolecular 13 C/ 12 C signal at tree-ring glucose C-5 and C-6 and develop experimentally testable theories on its origin. More specifically, we assess the potential of processes within C3 metabolism for signal introduction based ( inter alia ) on constraints on signal propagation posed by metabolic networks. We propose that the intramolecular signal reports carbon allocation into major metabolic pathways in actively photosynthesizing leaf cells including the anaplerotic, shikimate, and non-mevalonate pathway. We support our theoretical framework by linking it to previously reported whole-molecule 13 C/ 12 C increases in cellulose of ozone-treated Betula pendula and a highly significant relationship between the intramolecular signal and tropospheric ozone concentration. Our theory postulates a pronounced preference for leaf cytosolic triose-phosphate isomerase to catalyse the forward reaction in vivo (dihydroxyacetone phosphate to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate). In conclusion, intramolecular 13 C/ 12 C analysis resolves information about carbon uptake and allocation enabling more comprehensive assessments of carbon metabolism than whole-molecule 13 C/ 12 C analysis. Abstract : Intramolecular 13 C/ 12 C analysis resolves information about carbon uptake and allocation (and associated environmental controls), enabling more comprehensive assessments of carbon metabolism, plant–environment interactions, and environmental variability than whole-molecule 13 C/ 12 C analysis.