Skip to main content
Log in

The control of food mobilisation in seeds of Cucumis sativus L.

V. The effect of light on lipid degradation

  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The degradation of neutral lipid and the development of lipase activity in cucumber cotyledons is stimulated by white light. Malate synthase and isocitrate lyase activities show no stimulation. Lipase activity and neutral lipid breakdown are also enhanced by red light, far-red light proving ineffective. Far-red light reverses the effect of red light indicating the involvement of phytochrome in the control of lipase activity. Although light stimulates neutral lipid degradation it appears that much of the additional lipid lost is used in the synthesis of polar lipid constituents. Furthermore, the influence of light on lipid degradation appears to be species dependent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

WL:

white light

RL:

red light

FRL:

far-red light

References

  • Bajracharya, D., Schopfer, P. (1979) Effect of light on the development of glyoxysomal functions in the cotyledons of mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seedlings. Planta 145, 181–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, W.M., Lever, C.J., Weir, E.M., Riezman, H. (1978) Regulation of glyoxysomal enzymes during germination of cucumber 1. Developmental changes in cotyledonary protein, RNA, and enzyme activities during germination. Plant Physiol. 62, 542–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, M., Shuttleworth, J.E. (1974) Role of the cotyledons in the photocontrol of hypocotyl extension in Cucumis sativus L. Planta 117, 57–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Castlefranco, P., Lott, J., Sabor, N. (1969) Respiratory changes during seed germination. Histological distribution of respiratory enzymes and mobilization of fat reserves in castor bean endosperm and peanut cotyledons. Plant Physiol. 44, 789–795

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, H.V., Chapman, J.M. (1979) The control of food mobilisation in seeds of Cucumis sativus L. 1. The influence of embryonic axis and testa on protein and lipid degradation. Planta 146, 579–584

    Google Scholar 

  • Folch, J., Lees, M., Sloane Stanley, G.H. (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J. Biol. Chem. 226, 497–509

    Google Scholar 

  • Harborne, J.B. (1973) Phytochemical methods, pp 204–208. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hock B (1969) Die Hemmung der Isocitrat-Lyase bei Wassermelonen-Keimlingen durch Weißlicht. Planta 85, 340–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Kagawa, T., McGregor, D.I., Beevers, H. (1973) Development of enzymes in the cotyledons of watermelon seedlings. Plant Physiol. 51, 66–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasemir, H., Bergfeld, R., Mohr, H. (1975) Phytochrome-mediated control of prolamellar body reorganization and plastid size in mustard cotyledons. Photochem. Photobiol. 21, 111–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyman, B. (1966) Studies on the fat metabolism of light and dark-germinated seeds of Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.). Physiol. Plant. 19, 63–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Slack, P.T., Black, M., Chapman, J.M. (1977) The control of lipid mobilisation in Cucumis cotyledons. J. Exp. Bot. 28, 569–577

    Google Scholar 

  • Smolenska, G., Lewak, St. (1974) The role of lipases in the germination of dormant apple embryos. Planta 116, 361–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Surrey, K., Barr, E.M. (1966) Light-dependent modifications in the metabolic responses of squash seedlings. Plant Physiol. 41, 780–786

    Google Scholar 

  • Theimer, R.R., Rosnitchek, I. (1978) Development and intracellular localization of lipase activity in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Planta 139, 249–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolbert, N.E., Oeser, A., Kisaki, T., Hageman, R.H., Yamazaki, R.K. (1968) Peroxisomes from spinach leaves containing enzymes related to glycolate metabolism. J. Biol. Chem. 243, 5179–5184

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tolbert, N.E. (1971) Isolation of leaf peroxisomes. In: Methods in enzymology. Vol. XX111, pp. 665–682, San Pietro, A. ed. Academic Press, New York and London

    Google Scholar 

  • Trelease, R.M., Becker, W.M., Gruber, P.J., Newcomb, E.H. (1971) Microbodies (glyoxysomes and peroxisomes) in cucumber cotyledons. Plant Physiol. 48, 461–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarska-Maciejewska, B., Lewak, St. (1976) The role of lipases in the removal of dormancy in apple seeds. Planta 132, 177–181

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Davies, H.V., Gaba, V., Black, M. et al. The control of food mobilisation in seeds of Cucumis sativus L.. Planta 152, 70–73 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384987

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384987

Key words

Navigation