Photomodulation of fatty acid composition and lipoxygenase activity in sunflower seedling cotyledons

Abstract

The dynamics of fatty acid composition is an important metabolic index of seed germination and seedling development process. Present investigations indicate a preferential mobilization of fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid, out of the oil bodies in sunflower seedling cotyledons. A lack of selectivity in the utilization of saturated fatty acids during seed germination is also evident. Lipoxygenase (LOX) may play a role in the reconstitution of membrane lipid composition as cells expand during seed germination. LOX activity is absent in sunflower seeds and appears during germination. Photo modulation of LOX activity is evident by its enhanced expression in light-grown seedling cotyledons. Since sunflower LOX activity is easily solubilized by mild detergent, such as 2 % Triton X-100, the association of LOX with the membrane does not seem to be very strong unlike other membrane proteins, such as oleosins, which can be extracted only by stringent procedures. Sunflower LOX has only one pH optimum with linoleic and linolenic acids as substrates, indicating the presence of single isoform in the total soluble protein (TSP) and oil body (OB) extracts. OB-associated LOX exhibits substrate-dependent variation in its pH optima. Specific activity of TSP and OB-associated LOX increases as seedling growth progresses. Sunflower TSP-LOX activity is inhibited by some hydrophobic thiols. TSP as well as OB-associated LOX activity in sunflower cotyledons is modulated by Ca2+ availability in a negative way. A critical role of LOX is, thus, evident during seed germination in sunflower.