Ultraviolet radiation induces stress in etiolated Landoltia punctata, as evidenced by the presence of alanine, a universal stress signal: a 15N NMR study

• Published in: Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany) Vol. 17; no. s1; pp. 101 - 107
• Main Authors: Monselise, E. B.-I., Levkovitz, A., Kost, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-2015
• Subjects: 15N-NMR analysis; Alanine - metabolism; Araceae - drug effects; Araceae - metabolism; Araceae - radiation effects; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; D-alanine accumulation; etiolated plants; Etiolation - drug effects; Etiolation - radiation effects; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; nitrogen assimilation; Nitrogen Isotopes; radical scavenger; Solutions; Stress, Physiological - drug effects; Stress, Physiological - radiation effects; Tartrates - pharmacology; Ultraviolet Rays; vitamin C; radical scavenger; etiolated plants; D-alanine accumulation; vitamin C; 15N-NMR analysis; nitrogen assimilation
• ISSN: 1435-8603; 1438-8677
• DOI: 10.1111/plb.12198

Analysis with 15N NMR revealed that alanine, a universal cellular stress signal, accumulates in etiolated duckweed plants exposed to 15‐min pulsed UV light, but not in the absence of UV irradiation. The addition of 10 mm vitamin C, a radical scavenger, reduced alanine levels to zero, indicating the involvement of free radicals. Free D‐alanine was detected in 15N NMR analysis of the chiral amino acid content, using D‐tartaric acid as solvent. The accumulation of D‐alanine under stress conditions presents a new perspective on the biochemical processes taking place in prokaryote and eukaryote cells.